Smara weather in December

In December, Smara sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 5 mm of rain across 0.7 wet days and about 10.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% 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 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Smara's 11th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Smara's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
11th warmest
Overnight low
12°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
5 mm
0.7 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:33 AM – 5:53 PM
Cloud cover
33%
11th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
3.87 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.8
out of 10

Smara is city in Western Sahara.

Founded
1869

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 23°C through the month.

A typical December day in Smara reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 11°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 3°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12413
22412
32412
42312
52312
62312
72312
82312
92312
102312
112312
122312
132312
142312
152312
162312
172312
182312
192312
202312
212311
222311
232311
242311
252311
262311
272311
282311
292211
302211
312211

How December really feels in Smara

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.

Smara weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan22° / 10°30.910.58.6
Feb24° / 11°71.311.18.9
Mar26° / 13°30.611.88.7
Apr28° / 14°20.212.68.3
May30° / 16°00.113.36.9
Jun32° / 17°00.213.65.5
Jul36° / 20°0013.53.1
Aug36° / 21°10.412.92.5
Sep33° / 19°30.512.24.4
Oct30° / 18°90.711.46.3
Nov26° / 14°30.510.78.5
Dec23° / 12°50.710.48.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 25%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37327
47327
57327
67426
77426
87426
97525
107525
117525
127525
137525
147525
157624
167624
177624
187624
197624
207624
217624
227624
237624
247723
257723
267624
277624
287822
297822
307822
317822

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Smara gets around 5 mm of rain over 0.7 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 2% and peaks near 3% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
13
23
33
43
53
63
73
83
93
103
113
123
133
143
153
163
173
182
192
202
212
222
232
242
252
262
271
281
291
301
311

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 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19280
29370
39370
49460
59460
69460
79550
89550
99550
109550
119550
129550
139550
149451
159451
169361
179361
189361
199361
209361
219361
229361
239361
249451
259451
269451
279640
289640
299730
309730
319730

Wind in December

Winds average 15 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 18 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 7:23 AM to 7:40 AM, and sunset from 5:50 PM to 6:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.47:235:50
210.47:245:50
310.47:255:50
410.47:255:50
510.47:265:50
610.47:275:50
710.47:275:50
810.47:285:50
910.47:295:51
1010.47:295:51
1110.47:305:51
1210.37:315:51
1310.37:315:52
1410.37:325:52
1510.37:325:52
1610.37:335:53
1710.37:345:53
1810.37:345:53
1910.37:355:54
2010.37:355:54
2110.37:365:55
2210.37:365:55
2310.37:375:56
2410.37:375:56
2510.37:375:57
2610.37:385:57
2710.37:385:58
2810.37:395:58
2910.37:395:59
3010.37:395:59
3110.37:406:00

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.87 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.87 kWh/m² to a high of 7.9 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 3.87 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
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
273.9Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
303.9Moderate
314.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Smara

In seasonPeak

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

Smara sees seasonal dust haze (June–September), heaviest in July.

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

Is December a good time to visit Smara?

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

8.8
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Smara in December

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

In December, Smara sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

UV index in Smara 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 Smara peaks around August 18 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 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 highModerateAug 18UV 10Dec 17UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5High
Feb6High
Mar9Very high
Apr8Very high
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov5High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Smara 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 Smara is worst in July — around 66 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.8× the cleanest month (November, 24 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 2064 µg/m³Nov 1325 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan38Poor
Feb47Poor
Mar39Poor
Apr38Poor
May38Poor
Jun43Poor
Jul66Unhealthy
Aug58Unhealthy
Sep39Poor
Oct30Moderate
Nov24Moderate
Dec38Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Smara?

Smara sits at 26.7°N, 11.7°W, 188 m above sea level, in Morocco. The nearest listed city is Laayoune, 157 km away.

LaayouneEl MarsaTan-TanBoujdourPuerto del RosarioGuelmimPájaraAssa

Topography around Smara

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Smara has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m around an average of 183 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 144 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 418 m.

The land around Smara is covered by bare terrain (89%) within 3 km, bare terrain (99%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (100%) within 80 km.

3 km
55 m
16 km
144 m
80 km
418 m
artificial surfacesbare terrain
December weather nearby: Laayoune 157 km · El Marsa 177 km · Tan-Tan 197 km · Boujdour 288 km · Puerto del Rosario 291 km · Guelmim 296 km · Pájara 300 km · Assa 303 km

Morocco travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / E
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 42% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$4,672
2025
Happiness
4.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
80%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
17
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 492
Religion
Muslim 99%other 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 Smara (26.7384°, -11.6719°, elevation 188 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. 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).