Chetumal weather in December

In December, Chetumal sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 55 mm of rain across 13.2 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 hours at the start of December to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Chetumal's 5th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Chetumal's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
11th warmest
Overnight low
22°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
55 mm
13.2 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:23 AM – 5:16 PM
Cloud cover
47%
5th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
3.85 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.2
out of 10

Chetumal is capital of the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Founded
1898

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 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Chetumal reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12822
22822
32822
42822
52822
62822
72822
82822
92822
102822
112822
122822
132822
142822
152822
162822
172822
182822
192722
202722
212722
222722
232722
242722
252722
262722
272722
282722
292722
302722
312722

How December really feels in Chetumal

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.

Chetumal weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 21°5212.3116.4
Feb28° / 22°247.111.46.6
Mar29° / 23°266.811.96.1
Apr31° / 25°327.412.45.3
May31° / 25°9315.412.94.1
Jun31° / 26°19321.713.13.3
Jul31° / 26°12021.3133.4
Aug31° / 26°15823.212.63.2
Sep31° / 25°18625.112.12.9
Oct30° / 24°19021.911.63.7
Nov28° / 23°9614.711.15.2
Dec28° / 22°5513.210.96.2

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 30%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16832
27030
37030
47030
57129
67228
77228
87228
97228
107228
117228
127129
137129
147129
157030
167129
177129
187030
197030
206931
216931
226931
236832
246931
256832
266832
276832
286832
296832
306832
316832

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Chetumal gets around 55 mm of rain over 13.2 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 43% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
142
242
342
442
542
642
742
842
942
1043
1143
1243
1343
1443
1543
1643
1743
1843
1943
2043
2143
2243
2343
2443
2543
2643
2743
2843
2943
3043
3143

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 55% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 84% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1029225611
2029235610
3029235610
4029225710
5029225710
603922579
7031022569
8031021579
9031021578
10041121568
11041121568
12041121568
13041221567
14051221557
15051221557
16051321547
17051321547
18051321556
19061322536
20061322536
21061322536
22061222546
23061222546
24061222546
25061222546
26061122556
27161121565
28161121565
29161121565
30161121565
31161121565

Wind in December

Winds average 12 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612calm
712calm
812calm
912calm
1012calm
1112calm
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 hours at the start of December to 10 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 6:14 AM to 6:29 AM, and sunset from 5:12 PM to 5:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:145:12
211.06:155:12
311.06:155:12
410.96:165:13
510.96:165:13
610.96:175:13
710.96:185:13
810.96:185:13
910.96:195:14
1010.96:195:14
1110.96:205:14
1210.96:205:15
1310.96:215:15
1410.96:225:15
1510.96:225:16
1610.96:235:16
1710.96:235:17
1810.96:245:17
1910.96:245:17
2010.96:255:18
2110.96:255:18
2210.96:265:19
2310.96:265:19
2410.96:275:20
2510.96:275:20
2610.96:275:21
2710.96:285:21
2810.96:285:22
2910.96:295:22
3010.96:295:23
3110.96:295:23

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.85 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.85 kWh/m² to a high of 6.23 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 3.85 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.9Moderate
23.9Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.9Moderate
93.9Moderate
103.8Moderate
113.8Moderate
123.8Moderate
133.8Moderate
143.8Moderate
153.8Moderate
163.8Moderate
173.8Moderate
183.8Moderate
193.8Moderate
203.8Moderate
213.8Moderate
223.8Moderate
233.8Moderate
243.8Moderate
253.8Moderate
263.8Moderate
273.8Moderate
283.8Moderate
293.8Moderate
303.9Moderate
313.9Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Chetumal

In seasonPeak

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

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

Chetumal's rainy season runs May–November, 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 Chetumal?

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

6.2
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Chetumal for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Chetumal in December

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

In December, Chetumal sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Chetumal in December

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 22 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in January near 26°C.

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

24°26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in Chetumal 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 Chetumal peaks around April 11 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 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 highApr 11UV 13Dec 16UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec7Very high

Air quality in Chetumal 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 Chetumal is worst in June — around 30 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.5× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2130 µg/m³Dec 157 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr19Moderate
May24Moderate
Jun30Moderate
Jul29Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Chetumal?

Chetumal sits at 18.5°N, 88.3°W, 3 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Bacalar, 20 km away.

Topography around Chetumal

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Chetumal has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 19 m around an average of 8 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 32 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 223 m.

The land around Chetumal is covered by artificial surfaces (66%) and trees (20%) within 3 km, water (42%) and trees (40%) within 16 km, and trees (53%) and water (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
19 m
16 km
32 m
80 km
223 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Bacalar 20 km · Orange Walk 56 km · San Pedro 76 km · Crooked Tree 86 km · Caye Caulker 92 km · Belize City 114 km · Felipe Carrillo Puerto 121 km · Belmopan 149 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 Chetumal (18.5196°, -88.304°, elevation 3 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).