Tripoli weather in December

In December, Tripoli sees average daytime highs of 18°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 72 mm of rain across 9.4 wet days and about 9.9 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 19°C in the first days to 17°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Tripoli's 12th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tripoli's year-round climate.

Daytime high
18°
9th warmest
Overnight low
15°
4th coldest
Rainfall
72 mm
9.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 48 min
8:08 AM – 5:59 PM
Cloud cover
44%
12th clearest
Wind
22 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
2.64 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Tripoli is capital city of Libya.

Density
417/km²
people per km²
Founded
~601 BCE

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

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 19°C in the first days to 17°C by the end.

A typical December day in Tripoli reaches about 18°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 15°C and 20°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 4°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11917
21916
31916
41916
51916
61916
71816
81816
91816
101816
111815
121815
131815
141815
151815
161815
171815
181715
191715
201715
211715
221715
231715
241714
251714
261714
271714
281714
291714
301714
311714

Tripoli weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan16° / 13°759.210.15.4
Feb16° / 13°516.510.85.7
Mar17° / 14°223.911.76.8
Apr19° / 16°121.912.87.8
May22° / 19°40.713.78.6
Jun24° / 22°10.214.19.4
Jul27° / 24°0013.99.2
Aug28° / 26°10.213.28.6
Sep27° / 25°101.712.28.4
Oct25° / 22°263.911.28.2
Nov21° / 19°516.810.37.4
Dec18° / 15°729.49.96.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 29%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17129
27228
37228
47228
57228
67228
77228
87228
97129
107228
117129
127129
137129
147129
157030
167129
177129
187129
197030
207030
217030
227030
236931
246931
257030
267030
277030
287030
297129
307129
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Tripoli gets around 72 mm of rain over 9.4 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 30% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
126
227
328
428
528
629
729
829
929
1029
1129
1229
1328
1428
1528
1628
1728
1828
1928
2029
2130
2230
2331
2432
2533
2633
2734
2834
2934
3034
3134

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 90% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
176231
277221
378211
480191
581181
682171
784151
885141
987130
1088120
1189110
1290100
1390100
149190
159280
169370
179370
189460
199460
209460
219550
229550
239640
249640
259640
269730
279730
289730
299730
309820
319820

Wind in December

Winds average 22 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 21 km/h on the calmest days to 23 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
121breezy
221breezy
321breezy
421breezy
521breezy
621breezy
721breezy
822breezy
922breezy
1022breezy
1122breezy
1222breezy
1322breezy
1422breezy
1522breezy
1622breezy
1722breezy
1822breezy
1922breezy
2022breezy
2123breezy
2223breezy
2323breezy
2423breezy
2523breezy
2623breezy
2723breezy
2823breezy
2923breezy
3023breezy
3123breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 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 7:57 AM to 8:15 AM, and sunset from 5:57 PM to 6:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.07:575:57
210.07:585:57
310.07:595:57
49.98:005:57
59.98:015:57
69.98:015:57
79.98:025:57
89.98:035:57
99.98:045:57
109.98:045:57
119.98:055:57
129.98:065:58
139.98:065:58
149.98:075:58
159.88:085:58
169.88:085:59
179.88:095:59
189.88:095:59
199.88:106:00
209.88:106:00
219.88:116:01
229.88:116:01
239.88:126:02
249.88:126:02
259.88:136:03
269.88:136:03
279.88:136:04
289.88:146:04
299.88:146:05
309.98:146:06
319.98:156:06

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.64 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 7.6 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.64 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.8Moderate
22.8Moderate
32.8Moderate
42.8Moderate
52.8Moderate
62.7Moderate
72.7Moderate
82.7Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.7Moderate
112.7Moderate
122.7Moderate
132.6Moderate
142.6Moderate
152.6Moderate
162.6Moderate
172.6Moderate
182.6Moderate
192.6Moderate
202.6Moderate
212.6Moderate
222.6Moderate
232.6Moderate
242.6Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.7Moderate
292.7Moderate
302.7Moderate
312.7Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Tripoli

In seasonPeak

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

Tripoli sees seasonal dust haze (March–June), heaviest in April.

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

Is December a good time to visit Tripoli?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
1.9
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Tripoli for sightseeing.

What to pack for Tripoli in December

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

In December, Tripoli sees daytime highs around 18°C and nights near 15°C. Worth packing: rain gear and a windbreaker. About 9 days see rain.

rain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Tripoli in December

The nearest coast averages about 20°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 27°C and coldest in February near 16°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 26 to Dec 11 — about 6.6 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan17Cool
Feb16Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr17Cool
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep27Warm
Oct25Warm
Nov23Refreshing
Dec20Cool

UV index in Tripoli in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Tripoli peaks around June 19 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highVery highModerateJun 19UV 11Jan 1UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar7High
Apr6High
May7High
Jun11Extreme
Jul9Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct7High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Tripoli 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 Tripoli is worst in April — around 38 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.6× the cleanest month (August, 15 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorModerateApr 938 µg/m³Aug 1015 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan36Poor
Feb35Poor
Mar37Poor
Apr38Poor
May28Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep20Moderate
Oct26Moderate
Nov32Moderate
Dec32Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Tripoli?

Tripoli sits at 32.9°N, 13.2°E, 15 m above sea level, in Libya. The nearest listed city is Tājūrā’, 15 km away.

Topography around Tripoli

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Tripoli has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 87 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 723 m.

The land around Tripoli is covered by artificial surfaces (62%) and water (27%) within 3 km, water (50%) and artificial surfaces (34%) within 16 km, and water (38%) and grassland (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
37 m
16 km
87 m
80 km
723 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Tājūrā’ 15 km · Janzūr 18 km · As Sawānī 22 km · Qaşr Bin Ghashīr 23 km · Qarqūzah 36 km · Az Zahrā’ 37 km · An Nāşirīyah 41 km · Al ‘Azīzīyah 43 km

Libya travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Power plugs
Type C / F / L
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,449
2025
Happiness
5.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Road deaths
21.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 395
Religion
Muslim 97%Christian 3%

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 Tripoli (32.8874°, 13.1873°, elevation 15 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. 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).