Monte Carlo weather in December

In December, Monte Carlo sees average daytime highs of 11°C and overnight lows near 8°C, with 87 mm of precipitation across 8.6 wet days and about 8.8 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 11°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Monte Carlo's 7th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Monte Carlo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
11°
10th warmest
Overnight low
3rd coldest
Precipitation
87 mm
8.6 wet days
Daylight
8 h 48 min
8:04 AM – 4:49 PM
Cloud cover
52%
7th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.54 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
out of 10

Monte Carlo is ward in the Principality of Monaco.

Density
56,889/km²
people per km²
Founded
1866

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 11°C through the month.

A typical December day in Monte Carlo reaches about 11°C in the afternoon and slips back to 8°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 8°C and 13°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 3°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

10°13°15°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1129
2129
3129
4129
5129
6129
7119
8119
9119
10119
11119
12119
13118
14118
15118
16118
17118
18118
19118
20118
21118
22118
23118
24108
25108
26108
27108
28108
29108
30108
31108

Monte Carlo weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan10° / 688.12.19.12.4
Feb10° / 577.4210.22.4
Mar12° / 627.21.411.63.4
Apr14° / 11°749.50.513.24.1
May17° / 14°529.2014.55.7
Jun21° / 18°407.5015.27.2
Jul24° / 21°215.4014.98.1
Aug24° / 21°215.1013.88.2
Sep21° / 18°657.3012.37.1
Oct17° / 15°1028.90.110.85.8
Nov14° / 11°12910.10.79.54.0
Dec11° / 878.61.88.82.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35743
45644
55644
65743
75743
85743
95743
105743
115644
125545
135545
145545
155545
165446
175347
185347
195248
205248
215248
225248
235248
245347
255347
265446
275446
285545
295545
305545
315545

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Monte Carlo gets around 87 mm of rain and snow over 8.6 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 28% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1294
2295
3295
4285
5285
6275
7275
8275
9275
10265
11265
12266
13266
14266
15276
16276
17276
18286
19286
20296
21296
22296
23296
24296
25296
26296
27296
28296
29296
30296
31296

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 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 12 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312calm
412calm
512calm
612calm
712calm
812calm
912calm
1012calm
1112calm
1212calm
1312calm
1412calm
1512calm
1612calm
1712calm
1812calm
1912calm
2012calm
2112calm
2212calm
2312calm
2412calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 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 7:51 AM to 8:10 AM, and sunset from 4:49 PM to 4:57 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.07:514:49
29.07:524:49
38.97:534:49
48.97:544:49
58.97:554:48
68.97:564:48
78.97:574:48
88.87:584:48
98.87:584:48
108.87:594:48
118.88:004:48
128.88:014:48
138.88:024:48
148.88:024:49
158.88:034:49
168.88:044:49
178.78:054:49
188.78:054:50
198.78:064:50
208.78:064:50
218.78:074:51
228.78:074:51
238.78:084:52
248.78:084:52
258.78:094:53
268.78:094:53
278.78:094:54
288.88:104:55
298.88:104:55
308.88:104:56
318.88:104:57

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.54 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.54 kWh/m² to a high of 6.67 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.54 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.6Dim
41.6Dim
51.6Dim
61.6Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.6Dim
131.6Dim
141.6Dim
151.5Dim
161.5Dim
171.5Dim
181.5Dim
191.5Dim
201.5Dim
211.5Dim
221.5Dim
231.5Dim
241.5Dim
251.5Dim
261.5Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.6Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Monte Carlo?

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

2.8
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Monte Carlo.

What to pack for Monte Carlo in December

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

In December, Monte Carlo sees daytime highs around 11°C and nights near 8°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Monte Carlo in December

The nearest coast averages about 15°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 13 km away) is warmest in August at about 25°C and coldest in February near 13°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 7 to Oct 13 — about 4.2 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan14Bracing
Feb13Bracing
Mar14Bracing
Apr15Bracing
May18Cool
Jun21Refreshing
Jul24Refreshing
Aug25Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct20Cool
Nov17Cool
Dec15Cool

UV index in Monte Carlo in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Monte Carlo peaks around July 14 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 14UV 9Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr7Very high
May6High
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7High
Sep5Moderate
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Monte Carlo 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 Monte Carlo is worst in March — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), and holds fairly steady the rest of the year.

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodMar 1816 µg/m³Nov 2110 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar16Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul13Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct12Moderate
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Monte Carlo?

Monte Carlo sits at 43.7°N, 7.4°E, 45 m above sea level, in Monaco. The nearest listed city is Monaco, 1.0 km away.

Monaco

Topography around Monte Carlo

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Monte Carlo has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 999 m around an average of 198 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,368 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,195 m.

The land around Monte Carlo is covered by water (45%) and trees (26%) within 3 km, water (50%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and trees (48%) and water (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
999 m
16 km
1,368 m
80 km
3,195 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Monaco 1.0 km · Menton 7.0 km · Saint-Roch 11 km · Nice 14 km · Ventimiglia 16 km · Plaine du Var 19 km · Les Moulins 19 km · Saint-Laurent-du-Var 20 km

Monaco travel facts

Power plugs
Type C / E
230 V · 50 Hz
GDP per capita
$288,002
2024
Safe drinking water
100%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.1
per 100k, 2001
Road deaths
0
per 100k/yr, 2013
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Roman Catholic 90%other 10%

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 Monte Carlo (43.7398°, 7.4273°, elevation 45 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).