Papantla de Olarte weather in December

In December, Papantla de Olarte sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 65 mm of rain across 10.7 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 9th-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 23% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

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 Papantla de Olarte's 10th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Papantla de Olarte's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
11th warmest
Overnight low
17°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
65 mm
10.7 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
7:02 AM – 5:48 PM
Cloud cover
64%
10th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
3.18 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.7
out of 10

Papantla de Olarte is municipal seat of Papantla, State of Veracruz, Mexico.

Density
45/km²
people per km²
Founded
1250

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 Papantla de Olarte reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°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
42518
52518
62418
72418
82418
92418
102418
112418
122418
132418
142417
152417
162417
172417
182417
192417
202417
212317
222317
232317
242317
252317
262317
272317
282317
292317
302317
312317

How December really feels in Papantla de Olarte

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.

Papantla de Olarte weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan23° / 17°6310.210.96.7
Feb24° / 18°558.511.36.9
Mar26° / 20°588.711.96.8
Apr29° / 22°757.812.55.8
May31° / 24°8710.5134.7
Jun31° / 25°14217.813.23.7
Jul31° / 25°12418.413.13.6
Aug31° / 25°14019.512.73.4
Sep30° / 24°25722.212.13.4
Oct28° / 22°23015.811.55.0
Nov26° / 19°13112.9116.2
Dec24° / 17°6510.710.86.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% 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 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24753
34753
44753
54654
64654
74654
84555
94555
104555
114555
124456
134357
144357
154357
164258
174258
184159
194060
204060
214060
223961
233862
243862
253763
263763
273763
283763
293664
303664
313763

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Papantla de Olarte gets around 65 mm of rain over 10.7 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 35% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
137
237
336
436
536
635
735
835
934
1034
1134
1233
1333
1433
1533
1633
1733
1834
1934
2034
2135
2235
2335
2436
2536
2636
2736
2836
2936
3036
3136

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 36% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 48% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1713194020
2813194020
3814194019
4814194019
5814194019
6914193918
7915203918
8915203818
91015203817
101016203717
111116213616
121116213616
131116213615
141217223515
151217223514
161217233513
171218243412
181218243412
191218253311
201218263310
211219273310
22121927339
23121928338
24121929338
25121929337
26121929347
27121929346
28121929346
29131929345
30131929345
31131929345

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

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 6:54 AM to 7:09 AM, and sunset from 5:45 PM to 5:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:545:45
210.86:545:45
310.86:555:45
410.86:555:45
510.86:565:45
610.86:575:45
710.86:575:46
810.86:585:46
910.86:585:46
1010.86:595:46
1110.87:005:47
1210.87:005:47
1310.87:015:47
1410.87:015:48
1510.87:025:48
1610.87:025:48
1710.87:035:49
1810.87:045:49
1910.87:045:50
2010.87:055:50
2110.87:055:51
2210.87:055:51
2310.87:065:52
2410.87:065:52
2510.87:075:53
2610.87:075:53
2710.87:085:54
2810.87:085:54
2910.87:085:55
3010.87:095:55
3110.87:095:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.18 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.18 kWh/m² to a high of 6.02 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.18 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.3Moderate
23.3Moderate
33.3Moderate
43.3Moderate
53.3Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.2Moderate
123.2Moderate
133.2Moderate
143.2Moderate
153.2Moderate
163.2Moderate
173.1Moderate
183.1Moderate
193.1Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.1Moderate
223.1Moderate
233.1Moderate
243.1Moderate
253.1Moderate
263.1Moderate
273.1Moderate
283.1Moderate
293.1Moderate
303.1Moderate
313.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Papantla de Olarte

In seasonPeak

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

Papantla de Olarte sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Papantla de Olarte's rainy season runs June–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 Papantla de Olarte?

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

6.7
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
5.6
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Papantla de Olarte for sightseeing.

What to pack for Papantla de Olarte in December

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

In December, Papantla de Olarte sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 17°C. Worth packing: light clothes and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Papantla de Olarte 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 29 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°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan23Refreshing
Feb22Refreshing
Mar23Refreshing
Apr25Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov26Warm
Dec24Warm

UV index in Papantla de Olarte 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 Papantla de Olarte peaks around June 20 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 20UV 12Dec 20UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan7High
Feb9Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr12Extreme
May7High
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Papantla de Olarte 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 Papantla de Olarte is worst in May — around 68 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 38 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorUnhealthyMay 1068 µg/m³Oct 1038 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan58Unhealthy
Feb60Unhealthy
Mar60Unhealthy
Apr67Unhealthy
May68Unhealthy
Jun49Poor
Jul46Poor
Aug42Poor
Sep39Poor
Oct38Poor
Nov49Poor
Dec65Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Papantla de Olarte?

Papantla de Olarte sits at 20.4°N, 97.3°W, 184 m above sea level, in Mexico. The nearest listed city is El Tajín, 6.0 km away.

Topography around Papantla de Olarte

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Papantla de Olarte has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 168 m around an average of 195 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 311 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,038 m.

The land around Papantla de Olarte is covered by trees (54%), grassland (26%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 3 km, trees (50%) and grassland (44%) within 16 km, and trees (49%), grassland (27%) and water (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
168 m
16 km
311 m
80 km
3,038 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: El Tajín 6.0 km · Coatzintla 16 km · Poza Rica de Hidalgo 17 km · Martínez de la Torre 50 km · Villa Independencia 52 km · Tlapacoyan 55 km · Túxpam de Rodríguez Cano 58 km · Alto Lucero 58 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 Papantla de Olarte (20.4465°, -97.3249°, elevation 184 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).