León weather in December

In December, León sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 8 mm of rain across 2.3 wet days and about 11.3 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is León's 4th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see León's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
8th warmest
Overnight low
24°
1st coldest
Rainfall
8 mm
2.3 wet days
Daylight
11 h 18 min
6:05 AM – 5:22 PM
Cloud cover
34%
4th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
5.35 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.6
out of 10

León is colonial city and capital of the León 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 31°C through the month.

A typical December day in León reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 30°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13124
23124
33124
43124
53124
63124
73124
83124
93124
103124
113124
123124
133124
143124
153124
163124
173124
183124
193124
203124
213124
223124
233124
243124
253124
263124
273124
283124
293124
303124
313124

How December really feels in León

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 31 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
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

León weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 8th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 24°40.811.45.5
Feb32° / 24°20.711.65.2
Mar33° / 25°61.511.94.7
Apr33° / 26°387.812.34.0
May31° / 25°28121.312.63.1
Jun31° / 25°27822.912.73.1
Jul32° / 25°14916.512.73.5
Aug31° / 25°23122.812.43.1
Sep30° / 24°37027.412.12.9
Oct29° / 24°40925.811.73.3
Nov30° / 24°11512.611.44.6
Dec31° / 24°82.311.35.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 66% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 17%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27426
37525
47624
57723
67822
77921
87921
98020
108119
118119
128218
138218
148317
158317
168416
178416
188416
198515
208614
218713
228713
238713
248812
258812
268812
278911
288911
298911
308911
318911

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

León gets around 8 mm of rain over 2.3 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 8% and peaks near 17% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
117
215
313
412
511
610
79
89
98
108
118
128
138
148
158
168
178
188
198
208
217
227
237
247
256
266
276
286
295
305
315

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 56% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 86% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11641503
21643482
31645462
41648442
51649421
61751401
71752391
81754371
91854361
101856350
111956340
1211056330
1311057320
1411157310
1511158300
1611258290
1721257290
1821357280
1921457270
2021458260
2121558250
2221559240
2321659230
2421660220
2521760210
2621761200
2721762190
2821862180
2921961180
3021962170
3132061160

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 18 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 5:58 AM to 6:12 AM, and sunset from 5:17 PM to 5:29 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.35:585:17
211.35:585:17
311.35:595:17
411.35:595:18
511.36:005:18
611.36:005:18
711.36:015:19
811.36:015:19
911.36:025:19
1011.36:025:20
1111.36:035:20
1211.36:035:20
1311.36:045:21
1411.36:045:21
1511.36:055:21
1611.36:055:22
1711.36:065:22
1811.36:065:23
1911.36:075:23
2011.36:075:24
2111.36:085:24
2211.36:085:25
2311.36:095:25
2411.36:095:25
2511.36:105:26
2611.36:105:26
2711.36:115:27
2811.36:115:27
2911.36:125:28
3011.36:125:29
3111.36:125:29

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.35 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.09 kWh/m² to a high of 6.9 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 5.35 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.3Bright
25.3Bright
35.3Bright
45.3Bright
55.3Bright
65.3Bright
75.3Bright
85.3Bright
95.3Bright
105.3Bright
115.3Bright
125.3Bright
135.3Bright
145.3Bright
155.3Bright
165.3Bright
175.3Bright
185.3Bright
195.3Bright
205.3Bright
215.3Bright
225.3Bright
235.4Bright
245.4Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
315.5Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for León

In seasonPeak

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

León sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

León's monsoon runs May–June, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Monsoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit León?

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

5.6
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
8.1
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit León for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for León in December

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

In December, León sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near León in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 28 km away) is warmest in August at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar28Warm
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Tropical

UV index in León 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 León peaks around March 21 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 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 21UV 13Dec 13UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in León 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 León 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).

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateApr 2234 µg/m³Jan 1511 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr35Moderate
May33Moderate
Jun24Moderate
Jul26Moderate
Aug22Moderate
Sep19Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov17Moderate
Dec12Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is León?

León sits at 12.4°N, 86.9°W, 102 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Chichigalpa, 22 km away.

CorintoChinandegaNagaroteEl ViejoMateareCiudad Sandino

Topography around León

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around León has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 92 m around an average of 100 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 341 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,751 m.

The land around León is covered by trees (39%) and artificial surfaces (34%) within 3 km, trees (39%), grassland (30%) and cropland (26%) within 16 km, and water (34%), trees (31%) and grassland (23%) within 80 km.

3 km
92 m
16 km
341 m
80 km
1,751 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: Chichigalpa 22 km · La Paz Centro 24 km · Corinto 32 km · Chinandega 35 km · Nagarote 39 km · El Viejo 40 km · Mateare 54 km · Ciudad Sandino 66 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 León (12.4353°, -86.8786°, elevation 102 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).