Empalme weather in December

In December, Empalme sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 13 mm of rain across 1.7 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 25°C in the first days to 23°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Empalme's 9th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Empalme's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
11th warmest
Overnight low
12°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
13 mm
1.7 wet days
Daylight
10 h 12 min
7:12 AM – 5:27 PM
Cloud cover
33%
9th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
3.9 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.7
out of 10

Empalme is municipal seat of Empalme, State of Sonora, Mexico.

Founded
1905

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 25°C in the first days to 23°C by the end.

A typical December day in Empalme reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 4°C cooler than November and on par with January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12613
22613
32513
42513
52513
62513
72513
82513
92513
102512
112412
122412
132412
142412
152412
162412
172412
182412
192411
202411
212411
222411
232311
242311
252311
262311
272311
282311
292311
302411
312411

How December really feels in Empalme

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.

Empalme weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 11°91.310.49.0
Feb25° / 13°131.7118.5
Mar27° / 15°60.611.88.2
Apr30° / 17°10.212.66.6
May33° / 20°10.113.44.8
Jun36° / 25°30.413.73.1
Jul36° / 28°204.613.62.2
Aug36° / 28°367.2132.2
Sep35° / 27°596.412.22.9
Oct33° / 22°192.411.34.6
Nov28° / 16°121.410.67.5
Dec24° / 12°131.710.38.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 8% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 26%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
27030
37030
46931
57030
67129
77129
87129
97228
107327
117426
127525
137525
147624
157624
167624
177723
187723
197723
207624
217624
227624
237624
247624
257624
267624
277525
287525
297525
307525
317525

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Empalme gets around 13 mm of rain over 1.7 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 6% and peaks near 8% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
17
28
38
48
57
67
77
87
97
106
116
126
136
146
156
165
175
185
195
205
215
225
235
245
255
265
275
285
295
305
315

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 82% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1692281
2712171
3712171
4712171
5722161
6732061
7742051
8752050
9771940
10771940
11781840
12791740
13811630
14811630
15821530
16841420
17851320
18861220
19871120
20881020
21881020
2289920
2389920
2490820
2590820
2690820
2790820
2890820
2990820
3090820
3190820

Wind in December

Winds average 10 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 10 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
110calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
810calm
910calm
1010calm
1110calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:02 AM to 7:19 AM, and sunset from 5:24 PM to 5:34 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.47:025:24
210.37:035:24
310.37:045:24
410.37:055:24
510.37:055:24
610.37:065:24
710.37:075:24
810.37:075:24
910.37:085:25
1010.37:095:25
1110.37:095:25
1210.37:105:25
1310.27:115:26
1410.27:115:26
1510.27:125:26
1610.27:125:27
1710.27:135:27
1810.27:135:27
1910.27:145:28
2010.27:145:28
2110.27:155:29
2210.27:155:29
2310.27:165:29
2410.27:165:30
2510.27:175:30
2610.27:175:31
2710.27:185:32
2810.27:185:32
2910.27:185:33
3010.27:195:33
3110.27:195:34

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.9 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.9 kWh/m² to a high of 8.16 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.9 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Moderate
24.0Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.9Moderate
93.9Moderate
103.9Moderate
113.9Moderate
123.9Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
163.9Moderate
173.9Moderate
183.9Moderate
193.9Moderate
203.9Moderate
213.9Moderate
223.9Moderate
233.9Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
274.0Moderate
284.0Moderate
294.0Moderate
304.0Bright
314.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Empalme

In seasonPeak

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

Empalme sits in the eastern Pacific hurricane zone; the season peaks August–September.

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

Is December a good time to visit Empalme?

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

8.7
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
7.4
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Empalme in December

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

In December, Empalme sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Empalme 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 30°C and coldest in January near 18°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 6 to Dec 15 — about 8.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar19Cool
Apr21Refreshing
May24Refreshing
Jun27Warm
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct28Warm
Nov23Refreshing
Dec20Cool

UV index in Empalme in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Empalme peaks around July 14 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 14UV 12Dec 19UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb6High
Mar8Very high
Apr10Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct7Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Empalme 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 Empalme is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.9× the cleanest month (January, 5 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1917 µg/m³Jan 115 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb5Good
Mar5Good
Apr6Good
May5Good
Jun8Good
Jul18Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep8Good
Oct5Good
Nov5Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is Empalme?

Empalme sits at 28.0°N, 110.8°W, 7 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is Heroica Guaymas, 10 km away.

Topography around Empalme

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Empalme has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 155 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 483 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,146 m.

The land around Empalme is covered by shrubs (31%), water (25%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 3 km, shrubs (53%) and water (27%) within 16 km, and shrubs (55%) and water (33%) within 80 km.

3 km
155 m
16 km
483 m
80 km
1,146 m
treesshrubscroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Heroica Guaymas 10 km · San Carlos 23 km · Esperanza 97 km · Ciudad Obregón 101 km · Miguel Alemán (La Doce) 117 km · Hermosillo 126 km · Navojoa 168 km · Huatabampo 171 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 Empalme (27.9617°, -110.8141°, elevation 7 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).