Muang Xay weather in December

In December, Muang Xay sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 30 mm of rain across 4.6 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 48 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Muang Xay's 4th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Muang Xay's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
12th warmest
Overnight low
13°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
30 mm
4.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
6:46 AM – 5:31 PM
Cloud cover
43%
4th clearest
Wind
5 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
3.76 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.0
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month.

A typical December day in Muang Xay reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 13°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 26°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)
12414
22414
32414
42414
52414
62314
72314
82313
92313
102313
112313
122313
132313
142313
152313
162313
172312
182312
192312
202312
212312
222312
232312
242312
252312
262312
272312
282312
292312
302312
312312

How December really feels in Muang Xay

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.

Muang Xay weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 12°324.310.98.2
Feb26° / 13°203.811.38.0
Mar29° / 16°658.611.96.2
Apr30° / 19°14515.312.54.6
May30° / 21°23822.4133.6
Jun29° / 22°24825.613.23.1
Jul28° / 22°33128.613.13.1
Aug28° / 22°33428.112.73.3
Sep28° / 21°19922.612.14.1
Oct27° / 19°8814.211.55.9
Nov25° / 16°396.6117.6
Dec23° / 13°304.610.88.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 30%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16634
26634
36634
46535
56436
66436
76436
86436
96535
106535
116733
126733
136931
147030
157129
167228
177228
187426
197525
207525
217525
227624
237624
247624
257525
267525
277426
287426
297327
307228
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Muang Xay gets around 30 mm of rain over 4.6 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 15% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
120
221
321
421
520
620
720
819
919
1018
1117
1216
1315
1414
1513
1612
1712
1811
1911
2011
2111
2210
2310
2410
2511
2611
2711
2812
2912
3013
3113

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 46% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
12740267
22840257
32939247
43139247
53239236
63338236
73438226
83637225
93837215
103936204
114136194
124335194
134435183
144634173
154734163
164933162
175033152
185232142
195432131
205432131
215631121
225631121
235731111
245831110
255832100
265832100
275733100
285733100
295634100
305535100
315436100

Wind in December

Winds average 5 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 5 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 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 grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:37 AM to 6:52 AM, and sunset from 5:27 PM to 5:38 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:375:27
210.86:375:27
310.86:385:27
410.86:395:27
510.86:395:27
610.86:405:28
710.86:415:28
810.86:415:28
910.86:425:28
1010.86:425:29
1110.86:435:29
1210.86:435:29
1310.86:445:30
1410.86:455:30
1510.86:455:30
1610.86:465:31
1710.76:465:31
1810.76:475:32
1910.76:475:32
2010.76:485:32
2110.76:485:33
2210.76:495:33
2310.76:495:34
2410.76:505:34
2510.76:505:35
2610.76:515:35
2710.76:515:36
2810.86:515:36
2910.86:525:37
3010.86:525:37
3110.86:525:38

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.76 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.76 kWh/m² to a high of 5.76 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 3.76 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.7Moderate
33.7Moderate
43.7Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.7Moderate
123.7Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.8Moderate
153.8Moderate
163.8Moderate
173.8Moderate
183.8Moderate
193.9Moderate
203.9Moderate
213.9Moderate
223.9Moderate
233.9Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.8Moderate
283.8Moderate
293.8Moderate
303.8Moderate
313.8Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Muang Xay

In seasonPeak

None of Muang Xay's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

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

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

Is December a good time to visit Muang Xay?

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

8.0
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Muang Xay in December

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

In December, Muang Xay sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.

light clothes

UV index in Muang Xay 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 Muang Xay peaks around June 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 22UV 13Dec 19UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan7Very high
Feb9Very high
Mar10Extreme
Apr9Very high
May11Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Muang Xay 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 Muang Xay is worst in April — around 583 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 75.7× the cleanest month (September, 8 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150180210240270300330360390420450480510540JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery unhealthyGoodApr 15530 µg/m³Sep 118 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb24Moderate
Mar210Very unhealthy
Apr583Very unhealthy
May74Unhealthy
Jun10Good
Jul8Good
Aug8Good
Sep8Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Muang Xay?

Muang Xay sits at 20.7°N, 102.0°E, 652 m above sea level, in Laos. The nearest listed city is Nong Khiaw, 67 km away.

Nong KhiawLuang NamthaLuang PrabangMuang SingDien Bien PhuBan HouakhouaMöng YawngMuang Phônsavan

Topography around Muang Xay

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Muang Xay has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 372 m around an average of 683 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,283 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,540 m.

The land around Muang Xay is covered by trees (41%) and cropland (22%) within 3 km, trees (66%) and grassland (27%) within 16 km, and trees (85%) within 80 km.

3 km
372 m
16 km
1,283 m
80 km
1,540 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
December weather nearby: Nong Khiaw 67 km · Luang Namtha 67 km · Luang Prabang 91 km · Muang Sing 103 km · Dien Bien Phu 133 km · Ban Houakhoua 167 km · Möng Yawng 177 km · Muang Phônsavan 187 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 Muang Xay (20.6923°, 101.9837°, elevation 652 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. 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).