San Francisco El Alto in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), San Francisco El Alto sees average daytime highs around 20°C and overnight lows near 9°C, with 59 mm of rain over about 15 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 19°C in early December to 21°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is San Francisco El Alto's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Francisco El Alto's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 20°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 9°C
- Rainfall
- 59 mm
- 15 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in San Francisco El Alto in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 19°C in early December to 21°C by late February.
A typical winter day in San Francisco El Alto reaches about 20°C and drops to 9°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
San Francisco El Alto 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 | 19° / 9° | 16 | 5 | 11.2 | 7.2 |
| Feb | 21° / 9° | 16 | 4.1 | 11.5 | 7.6 |
| Mar | 22° / 10° | 42 | 9.7 | 11.9 | 7.0 |
| Apr | 22° / 11° | 94 | 17 | 12.3 | 5.7 |
| May | 22° / 12° | 258 | 27 | 12.7 | 4.0 |
| Jun | 20° / 12° | 344 | 28.4 | 12.9 | 3.4 |
| Jul | 20° / 11° | 203 | 25.7 | 12.8 | 3.9 |
| Aug | 20° / 12° | 244 | 27.8 | 12.5 | 3.6 |
| Sep | 20° / 12° | 322 | 29.3 | 12.1 | 3.3 |
| Oct | 20° / 12° | 231 | 26.3 | 11.7 | 3.8 |
| Nov | 19° / 10° | 66 | 13.7 | 11.3 | 5.6 |
| Dec | 19° / 9° | 27 | 6.2 | 11.1 | 6.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
San Francisco El Alto gets around 59 mm of rain over 15 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — 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 San Francisco El Alto
None of San Francisco El Alto's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
San Francisco El Alto's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit San Francisco El Alto?
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 San Francisco El Alto for general sightseeing.
What to pack for San Francisco El Alto in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, San Francisco El Alto sees daytime highs around 20°C and nights near 9°C. Worth packing: sun protection. About 15 days see rain.
UV index in San Francisco El Alto 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 San Francisco El Alto peaks around April 12 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 9 (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 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| 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 | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in San Francisco El Alto 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 San Francisco El Alto is worst in May — around 34 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), 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) | 23 | 22 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | Moderate |
| Feb | 22 | Moderate |
| Mar | 25 | Moderate |
| Apr | 34 | Moderate |
| May | 34 | Moderate |
| Jun | 23 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 22 | Moderate |
| Sep | 23 | Moderate |
| Oct | 23 | Moderate |
| Nov | 23 | Moderate |
| Dec | 25 | Moderate |
Where is San Francisco El Alto?
San Francisco El Alto sits at 14.9°N, 91.4°W, 2,642 m above sea level, in Guatemala. The nearest listed city is San Andrés Xecul, 6.0 km away.
Topography around San Francisco El Alto
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Francisco El Alto.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Francisco El Alto has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 655 m around an average of 2,576 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,396 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,175 m.
The land around San Francisco El Alto is covered by trees (54%) and cropland (25%) within 3 km, trees (55%) and cropland (25%) within 16 km, and trees (75%) 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 San Francisco El Alto (14.9449°, -91.4431°, elevation 2,642 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.