San Sebastián in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), San Sebastián sees average daytime highs around 31°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 61 mm of rain over about 15 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 30°C in early December to 32°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is San Sebastián's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Sebastián's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 31°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 22°C
- Rainfall
- 61 mm
- 15 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in San Sebastián in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 30°C in early December to 32°C by late February.
A typical winter day in San Sebastián reaches about 31°C and drops to 22°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in San Sebastián
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
San Sebastián 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 | 31° / 21° | 18 | 4.9 | 11.2 | 5.3 |
| Feb | 32° / 22° | 15 | 3.8 | 11.5 | 4.8 |
| Mar | 33° / 23° | 36 | 8.5 | 11.9 | 4.0 |
| Apr | 33° / 23° | 94 | 14.4 | 12.3 | 3.2 |
| May | 32° / 24° | 351 | 27 | 12.7 | 2.6 |
| Jun | 30° / 23° | 374 | 28.4 | 12.8 | 2.6 |
| Jul | 31° / 23° | 287 | 27 | 12.8 | 2.8 |
| Aug | 30° / 23° | 361 | 28.6 | 12.5 | 2.7 |
| Sep | 30° / 23° | 456 | 29.2 | 12.1 | 2.6 |
| Oct | 30° / 23° | 384 | 27.7 | 11.7 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 30° / 23° | 116 | 15.5 | 11.3 | 4.4 |
| Dec | 31° / 22° | 27 | 6.1 | 11.2 | 5.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 73% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
San Sebastián gets around 61 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 muggy — 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 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for San Sebastián
None of San Sebastián's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
San Sebastián sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
San Sebastián's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit San Sebastián?
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 a reasonable time to visit San Sebastián for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for San Sebastián in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, San Sebastián sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection. About 15 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San Sebastián 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 49 km away) is warmest in July at about 30°C and coldest in February near 29°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 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 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 | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | 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 San Sebastián in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (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 Sebastián peaks around March 21 at about 12 (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 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 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 | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 8 | Very high |
Air quality in San Sebastián 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 Sebastián is worst in December — around 45 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 1.6× the cleanest month (June, 28 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 44 | 45 | 41 | 44 | 40 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 37 | 45 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | Poor |
| Feb | 45 | Poor |
| Mar | 41 | Poor |
| Apr | 44 | Poor |
| May | 40 | Poor |
| Jun | 28 | Moderate |
| Jul | 29 | Moderate |
| Aug | 29 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 30 | Moderate |
| Nov | 37 | Poor |
| Dec | 45 | Poor |
Where is San Sebastián?
San Sebastián sits at 14.6°N, 91.6°W, 313 m above sea level, in Guatemala. The nearest listed city is Retalhuleu, 4.0 km away.
Topography around San Sebastián
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Sebastián.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Sebastián has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 150 m around an average of 314 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,200 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,178 m.
The land around San Sebastián is covered by trees (66%) and grassland (20%) within 3 km, trees (71%) within 16 km, and trees (53%) and water (20%) 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 Sebastián (14.5618°, -91.6487°, elevation 313 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.