Malacatán in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Malacatán sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 103 mm of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 23°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Winter is Malacatán's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Malacatán's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 103 mm
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.0
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Malacatán in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 23°C.
A typical winter day in Malacatán reaches about 23°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Malacatán weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23° / 13° | 30 | 10.3 | 11.2 | 7.3 |
| Feb | 24° / 13° | 30 | 10.2 | 11.5 | 7.2 |
| Mar | 24° / 14° | 66 | 18.4 | 11.9 | 5.9 |
| Apr | 24° / 15° | 130 | 24.7 | 12.3 | 4.6 |
| May | 24° / 16° | 318 | 30.2 | 12.7 | 3.7 |
| Jun | 23° / 16° | 425 | 29.5 | 12.9 | 3.5 |
| Jul | 23° / 15° | 325 | 30.1 | 12.8 | 3.6 |
| Aug | 23° / 15° | 382 | 30.6 | 12.5 | 3.6 |
| Sep | 23° / 16° | 462 | 29.9 | 12.1 | 3.4 |
| Oct | 23° / 15° | 330 | 29.8 | 11.7 | 3.7 |
| Nov | 23° / 14° | 110 | 22.1 | 11.3 | 5.0 |
| Dec | 23° / 13° | 43 | 13.6 | 11.1 | 6.6 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Malacatán gets around 103 mm of rain over 34 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Malacatán
None of Malacatán's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Malacatán sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Malacatán's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Malacatán?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Malacatán for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Malacatán in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Malacatán sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Malacatán in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 47 km away) is warmest in August at about 30°C and coldest in February near 28°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 28 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 30 | Tropical |
| May | 30 | Tropical |
| Jun | 30 | Tropical |
| Jul | 30 | Tropical |
| Aug | 30 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 30 | Tropical |
| Dec | 29 | Tropical |
UV index in Malacatán in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Malacatán peaks around April 9 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 8 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 9 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in Malacatán in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Malacatán is worst in May — around 40 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 28 | 27 | 34 | 38 | 40 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Moderate |
| Feb | 27 | Moderate |
| Mar | 34 | Moderate |
| Apr | 38 | Poor |
| May | 40 | Poor |
| Jun | 29 | Moderate |
| Jul | 31 | Moderate |
| Aug | 30 | Moderate |
| Sep | 31 | Moderate |
| Oct | 29 | Moderate |
| Nov | 30 | Moderate |
| Dec | 29 | Moderate |
Where is Malacatán?
Malacatán sits at 14.9°N, 92.1°W, 395 m above sea level, in Guatemala. The nearest listed city is Cacahoatán, 15 km away.
Topography around Malacatán
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Malacatán.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Malacatán has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 437 m around an average of 391 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,157 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,178 m.
The land around Malacatán is covered by trees (78%) within 3 km, trees (85%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) within 80 km.
Guatemala travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 43% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 49%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 23.4
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 22.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 510
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Malacatán (14.9113°, -92.0579°, elevation 395 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.