Chinandega in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Chinandega sees average daytime highs around 34°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 10 mm of rain over about 3 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 33°C in early December to 36°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels humid.
Winter is Chinandega's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Chinandega's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 34°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 10 mm
- 3 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.6
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Chinandega in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 33°C in early December to 36°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Chinandega reaches about 34°C and drops to 24°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in Chinandega
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Chinandega weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34° / 24° | 2 | 0.5 | 11.3 | 3.6 |
| Feb | 35° / 24° | 2 | 0.6 | 11.6 | 3.1 |
| Mar | 36° / 25° | 5 | 1.6 | 11.9 | 2.5 |
| Apr | 36° / 26° | 36 | 7.5 | 12.3 | 2.2 |
| May | 34° / 25° | 266 | 21.5 | 12.6 | 2.2 |
| Jun | 33° / 25° | 326 | 23 | 12.7 | 2.5 |
| Jul | 34° / 25° | 167 | 17.2 | 12.7 | 2.6 |
| Aug | 33° / 25° | 249 | 22.5 | 12.4 | 2.4 |
| Sep | 32° / 24° | 384 | 26.9 | 12.1 | 2.4 |
| Oct | 31° / 24° | 373 | 24.9 | 11.7 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 32° / 24° | 80 | 9.2 | 11.4 | 4.1 |
| Dec | 34° / 24° | 6 | 1.7 | 11.3 | 4.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Chinandega gets around 10 mm of rain over 3 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Chinandega
None of Chinandega's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Chinandega sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Chinandega's monsoon runs August–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Chinandega?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Chinandega. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Chinandega in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Chinandega sees daytime highs around 34°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
Sea temperature near Chinandega in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 28°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 26 km away) is warmest in August at about 30°C and coldest in January near 28°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 | Warm |
| Feb | 28 | Warm |
| Mar | 28 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 29 | Tropical |
| Jun | 30 | Tropical |
| Jul | 30 | Tropical |
| Aug | 30 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 29 | Tropical |
| Dec | 28 | Tropical |
UV index in Chinandega in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Chinandega peaks around March 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Chinandega in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Chinandega is worst in April — around 35 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (January, 11 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 33 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 12 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 19 | Moderate |
| Apr | 35 | Moderate |
| May | 33 | Moderate |
| Jun | 24 | Moderate |
| Jul | 26 | Moderate |
| Aug | 22 | Moderate |
| Sep | 19 | Moderate |
| Oct | 18 | Moderate |
| Nov | 17 | Moderate |
| Dec | 12 | Moderate |
Where is Chinandega?
Chinandega sits at 12.6°N, 87.1°W, 69 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is El Viejo, 5.0 km away.
Topography around Chinandega
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Chinandega.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Chinandega has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 73 m around an average of 66 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,767 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,751 m.
The land around Chinandega is covered by trees (43%), cropland (24%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, trees (41%) and cropland (39%) within 16 km, and water (38%), trees (28%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.
Nicaragua travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 34% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $3,173
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 11.3
- per 100k, 2021
- Road deaths
- 16.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 512
- Religion
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 Chinandega (12.6295°, -87.1313°, elevation 69 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.