Altamira weather in December

In December, Altamira sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 25 mm of rain across 5.8 wet days and about 10.7 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 24°C in the first days to 23°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Altamira's 10th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Altamira's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
11th warmest
Overnight low
17°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
25 mm
5.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
7:09 AM – 5:47 PM
Cloud cover
55%
10th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
3.27 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.6
out of 10

Altamira is municipal seat of Altamira, State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Founded
1749

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 24°C in the first days to 23°C by the end.

A typical December day in Altamira reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12518
22518
32518
42418
52418
62418
72418
82418
92418
102418
112418
122418
132417
142417
152417
162417
172417
182417
192317
202317
212317
222317
232317
242317
252317
262317
272317
282317
292317
302317
312317

How December really feels in Altamira

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.

Altamira weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan23° / 17°346.810.87.3
Feb24° / 18°224.211.27.8
Mar26° / 20°25511.87.5
Apr29° / 22°294.712.56.4
May31° / 24°418.713.15.1
Jun31° / 25°1161713.33.9
Jul31° / 25°12218.313.23.8
Aug31° / 25°11018.112.83.7
Sep30° / 25°17320.312.13.7
Oct29° / 23°9912.511.55.6
Nov26° / 20°447.810.97.1
Dec24° / 17°255.810.77.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% 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 46%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
26040
35941
45941
55941
65842
75941
85842
95842
105743
115743
125743
135644
145644
155644
165545
175545
185545
195446
205446
215347
225248
235149
245149
255050
264951
274951
284951
294852
304852
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Altamira gets around 25 mm of rain over 5.8 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 19% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
121
221
321
421
521
621
721
820
920
1020
1119
1219
1318
1418
1517
1617
1717
1817
1917
2017
2117
2217
2317
2418
2518
2618
2719
2819
2919
3019
3120

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 28% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 38% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
11912203316
22012203216
32012213215
42012213215
52112223115
62112223114
72212223114
82312223014
92312213013
102413213013
112513212912
122514202912
132614202911
142615202811
152715202810
162716202810
17281619289
18281719279
19281719278
20291819268
21291820267
22281920267
23281921256
24281921256
25282022255
26282022255
27282023255
28282023254
29281923254
30281923254
31281924253

Wind in December

Winds average 11 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 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 7:00 AM to 7:16 AM, and sunset from 5:43 PM to 5:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.77:005:43
210.77:005:43
310.77:015:44
410.77:025:44
510.77:025:44
610.77:035:44
710.77:045:44
810.77:045:45
910.77:055:45
1010.77:055:45
1110.77:065:45
1210.77:075:46
1310.67:075:46
1410.67:085:46
1510.67:085:47
1610.67:095:47
1710.67:095:47
1810.67:105:48
1910.67:105:48
2010.67:115:49
2110.67:115:49
2210.67:125:50
2310.67:125:50
2410.67:135:51
2510.67:135:51
2610.67:145:52
2710.67:145:52
2810.67:145:53
2910.67:155:53
3010.67:155:54
3110.67:165:54

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.27 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.27 kWh/m² to a high of 6.14 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.27 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.4Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.3Moderate
53.3Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.3Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.3Moderate
163.3Moderate
173.3Moderate
183.3Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.2Moderate
233.2Moderate
243.2Moderate
253.2Moderate
263.2Moderate
273.2Moderate
283.2Moderate
293.2Moderate
303.3Moderate
313.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Altamira

In seasonPeak

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

Altamira sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Altamira's rainy season runs June–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Altamira?

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

7.6
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Altamira in December

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

In December, Altamira sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 17°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 6 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Altamira in December

The nearest coast averages about 24°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 32 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 22°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan22Refreshing
Feb22Refreshing
Mar23Refreshing
Apr25Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov26Warm
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Altamira in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Altamira peaks around April 15 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 10 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highExtremeExtremeVery highHighApr 15UV 12Jan 10UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar9Very high
Apr12Extreme
May8Very high
Jun12Extreme
Jul10Very high
Aug12Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct9Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Altamira 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 Altamira is worst in May — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateMay 1926 µg/m³Nov 1110 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May27Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov10Good
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Altamira?

Altamira sits at 22.4°N, 97.9°W, 15 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Miramar, 5.0 km away.

Topography around Altamira

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Altamira has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 31 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 90 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 904 m.

The land around Altamira is covered by artificial surfaces (32%) and water (23%) within 3 km, water (33%) and grassland (26%) within 16 km, and grassland (35%) and water (31%) within 80 km.

3 km
31 m
16 km
90 m
80 km
904 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Miramar 5.0 km · Tampico 14 km · Ciudad Madero 19 km · Pánuco 45 km · Ébano 49 km · Tamuín 97 km · Ciudad Mante 113 km · Naranjos 119 km

Mexico travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 / 127 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 54% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$13,889
2025
Happiness
7.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
43%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
24.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.8
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 440
Religion
Catholic 78%no religion 11%other Evangelical Churches 8%Jehovah Witness 1%

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 Altamira (22.3931°, -97.9386°, 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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).