Estelí weather in December

In December, Estelí sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 6 mm of rain across 1.6 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in December, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Estelí's 4th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Estelí's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
11th warmest
Overnight low
18°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
6 mm
1.6 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
6:05 AM – 5:19 PM
Cloud cover
43%
4th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
4.9 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.0
out of 10

Estelí is large urban settlement and municipal seat in Estelí Department, Nicaragua..

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 27°C through the month.

A typical December day in Estelí reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12719
22719
32719
42719
52718
62718
72718
82718
92718
102718
112718
122718
132718
142718
152718
162718
172718
182718
192718
202718
212718
222718
232718
242718
252718
262718
272718
282718
292718
302718
312718

Estelí 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
Jan27° / 18°30.711.38.2
Feb29° / 18°30.511.67.4
Mar30° / 19°61.411.96.2
Apr31° / 20°365.412.34.8
May30° / 21°23117.812.63.9
Jun28° / 20°1872112.84.3
Jul28° / 20°8314.712.75.2
Aug29° / 20°15018.912.44.4
Sep28° / 20°22723.712.13.9
Oct27° / 20°24822.911.74.4
Nov27° / 19°558.711.46.6
Dec27° / 18°61.611.28.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 28% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 23%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16535
26634
36832
46931
57129
67129
77327
87327
97426
107426
117426
127525
137624
147624
157723
167723
177822
187822
197822
207921
218020
228119
238119
248218
258218
268218
278218
288317
298317
308317
318317

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Estelí gets around 6 mm of rain over 1.6 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 10% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
110
29
38
47
57
66
76
85
95
105
115
125
135
145
156
166
176
186
196
206
216
226
236
246
256
266
276
285
295
305
315

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the humid band about 65% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 16% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
11105930
21106128
31116226
41116424
51126423
61136521
71136620
81146619
91156618
101156618
111166617
121166617
131176517
141186516
151186516
161196416
171196515
181196515
191206415
202206414
212206414
222206513
232206513
242206612
252206612
262206711
272206711
282206810
292206810
30321679
31321688

Wind in December

Winds average 14 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 12 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 5:57 AM to 6:11 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.35:575:14
211.35:575:14
311.35:585:14
411.35:585:14
511.35:595:15
611.35:595:15
711.36:005:15
811.36:005:16
911.26:015:16
1011.26:015:16
1111.26:025:17
1211.26:035:17
1311.26:035:17
1411.26:045:18
1511.26:045:18
1611.26:055:19
1711.26:055:19
1811.26:065:19
1911.26:065:20
2011.26:075:20
2111.26:075:21
2211.26:085:21
2311.26:085:22
2411.26:085:22
2511.26:095:23
2611.26:095:23
2711.26:105:24
2811.26:105:24
2911.26:115:25
3011.26:115:25
3111.26:115:26

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.9 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.68 kWh/m² to a high of 6.44 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.9 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.8Bright
24.8Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
174.9Bright
184.9Bright
194.9Bright
204.9Bright
214.9Bright
224.9Bright
234.9Bright
244.9Bright
254.9Bright
264.9Bright
275.0Bright
285.0Bright
295.0Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Estelí

In seasonPeak

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

Estelí's rainy season runs August–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Estelí?

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

8.0
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
8.1
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Estelí in December

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

In December, Estelí sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 18°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

UV index in Estelí in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Estelí peaks around March 24 at about 14 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 24UV 14Dec 14UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Estelí 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 Estelí is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.9× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1623 µg/m³Jan 176 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar9Good
Apr21Moderate
May23Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Estelí?

Estelí sits at 13.1°N, 86.4°W, 833 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Jinotega, 38 km away.

JinotegaSomotoMatagalpaSomotilloOcotalEl ParaísoLa Paz CentroCiudad Choluteca

Topography around Estelí

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Estelí has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 247 m around an average of 860 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,177 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,071 m.

The land around Estelí is covered by artificial surfaces (38%) and grassland (31%) within 3 km, grassland (49%) and trees (34%) within 16 km, and trees (53%) and grassland (39%) within 80 km.

3 km
247 m
16 km
1,177 m
80 km
2,071 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Jinotega 38 km · Somoto 50 km · Matagalpa 51 km · Somotillo 60 km · Ocotal 61 km · El Paraíso 89 km · La Paz Centro 91 km · Ciudad Choluteca 92 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
Roman Catholic 45%Protestant 39%none 14%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 Estelí (13.0929°, -86.3559°, elevation 833 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).