Luang Prabang weather in December

In December, Luang Prabang sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 19 mm of rain across 2.8 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Luang Prabang's 3rd-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Luang Prabang's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
12th warmest
Overnight low
14°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
19 mm
2.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
6:43 AM – 5:32 PM
Cloud cover
39%
3rd clearest
Wind
4 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
4.03 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.5
out of 10

Luang Prabang is city located in north central Laos.

Founded
~698 CE

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month.

A typical December day in Luang Prabang reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C cooler than November and on par with January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12516
22515
32515
42515
52515
62515
72515
82515
92515
102515
112514
122414
132414
142414
152414
162414
172414
182414
192413
202413
212413
222413
232413
242413
252413
262413
272413
282413
292413
302413
312413

How December really feels in Luang Prabang

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Luang Prabang weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 13°172.610.98.4
Feb28° / 15°101.811.37.8
Mar30° / 17°355.611.95.7
Apr31° / 20°8011.912.44.3
May31° / 22°13619.112.93.5
Jun30° / 23°17422.413.23.1
Jul29° / 23°27225.413.13.2
Aug29° / 23°30227.612.73.1
Sep29° / 22°19122.412.13.7
Oct28° / 20°7111.311.55.9
Nov27° / 17°224.211.17.7
Dec24° / 14°192.810.88.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 26%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17228
27129
37030
47030
56931
66832
76832
86832
96832
106931
116931
127030
137129
147129
157327
167426
177525
187723
197723
207822
217921
227921
237921
247921
257921
267921
277723
287723
297624
307624
317426

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Luang Prabang gets around 19 mm of rain over 2.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 9% and peaks near 13% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
113
213
313
412
512
612
711
811
910
1010
119
129
138
148
157
167
177
187
197
207
217
227
237
247
257
268
278
288
299
309
319

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the comfortable band about 33% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 8% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1132839191
2142938181
3143037171
4153037171
5163136161
6163236151
7173235141
8183335130
9203334120
10213434110
11233434100
1224343390
1326333380
1428333270
1530323260
1632323150
1733323150
1835313040
1936312940
2037312930
2138312830
2239312830
2339312720
2439322620
2539332620
2638342620
2737352520
2836372520
2935382520
3033392530
3132412430

Wind in December

Winds average 4 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 3 km/h on the calmest days to 4 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
283calm
293calm
303calm
313calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:35 AM to 6:50 AM, and sunset from 5:28 PM to 5:39 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:355:28
210.96:355:28
310.96:365:28
410.96:365:28
510.96:375:28
610.86:385:29
710.86:385:29
810.86:395:29
910.86:395:29
1010.86:405:30
1110.86:415:30
1210.86:415:30
1310.86:425:31
1410.86:425:31
1510.86:435:31
1610.86:435:32
1710.86:445:32
1810.86:445:32
1910.86:455:33
2010.86:465:33
2110.86:465:34
2210.86:465:34
2310.86:475:35
2410.86:475:35
2510.86:485:36
2610.86:485:36
2710.86:495:37
2810.86:495:37
2910.86:495:38
3010.86:505:38
3110.86:505:39

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.03 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.03 kWh/m² to a high of 5.93 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.03 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Bright
24.0Moderate
34.0Moderate
44.0Moderate
54.0Moderate
64.0Moderate
74.0Moderate
84.0Moderate
94.0Moderate
104.0Moderate
114.0Moderate
124.0Bright
134.0Bright
144.0Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.1Bright
184.1Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.1Bright
234.1Bright
244.1Bright
254.1Bright
264.1Bright
274.1Bright
284.1Bright
294.1Bright
304.1Bright
314.1Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Luang Prabang

In seasonPeak

In December, Luang Prabang sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Luang Prabang sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Luang Prabang's monsoon runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Pacific typhoon
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Luang Prabang?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

8.5
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Luang Prabang for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Luang Prabang in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Luang Prabang sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 14°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

UV index in Luang Prabang in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Luang Prabang peaks around June 21 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 7 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highJun 21UV 13Dec 17UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb9Very high
Mar9Very high
Apr9Very high
May11Extreme
Jun14Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct10Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Luang Prabang in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Luang Prabang is worst in April — around 548 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 72.1× the cleanest month (September, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120150180210240270300330360390420450480510540JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery unhealthyGoodApr 13512 µg/m³Sep 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb27Moderate
Mar342Very unhealthy
Apr548Very unhealthy
May46Poor
Jun10Good
Jul9Good
Aug8Good
Sep8Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Luang Prabang?

Luang Prabang sits at 19.9°N, 102.2°E, 296 m above sea level, in Laos. The nearest listed city is Nong Khiaw, 89 km away.

Nong KhiawMuang XayVang ViengMuang PhônsavanLuang NamthaMuang SingBan HouakhouaDien Bien Phu

Topography around Luang Prabang

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Luang Prabang.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Luang Prabang has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 267 m around an average of 316 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,308 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,821 m.

The land around Luang Prabang is covered by trees (44%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, trees (70%) and grassland (22%) within 16 km, and trees (81%) within 80 km.

3 km
267 m
16 km
1,308 m
80 km
1,821 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Nong Khiaw 89 km · Muang Xay 91 km · Vang Vieng 112 km · Muang Phônsavan 119 km · Luang Namtha 141 km · Muang Sing 178 km · Ban Houakhoua 182 km · Dien Bien Phu 189 km

Laos travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C / E / F
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 23% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$2,325
2025
Happiness
5.5 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
35%
of population, 2024
Road deaths
17.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 461
Religion
Buddhist 65%none 31%other/not stated 2%Christian 2%

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 Luang Prabang (19.8933°, 102.1525°, elevation 296 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).