Somoto in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Somoto sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 14 mm of rain over about 4 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels humid.
Winter is Somoto's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Somoto's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 17°C
- Rainfall
- 14 mm
- 4 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.8
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Somoto in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Somoto reaches about 27°C and drops to 17°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Somoto 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 | 27° / 17° | 5 | 1.4 | 11.3 | 8.0 |
| Feb | 28° / 17° | 3 | 0.5 | 11.6 | 7.5 |
| Mar | 30° / 18° | 5 | 1.2 | 11.9 | 6.2 |
| Apr | 32° / 20° | 26 | 4.5 | 12.3 | 4.8 |
| May | 30° / 20° | 172 | 15.3 | 12.6 | 4.0 |
| Jun | 28° / 20° | 168 | 19.8 | 12.8 | 4.3 |
| Jul | 28° / 20° | 71 | 13.1 | 12.7 | 5.5 |
| Aug | 29° / 20° | 107 | 15.8 | 12.4 | 4.7 |
| Sep | 29° / 20° | 166 | 19.8 | 12.1 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 28° / 19° | 177 | 18.8 | 11.7 | 4.9 |
| Nov | 27° / 18° | 33 | 6.1 | 11.4 | 6.9 |
| Dec | 27° / 17° | 7 | 1.9 | 11.2 | 7.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Somoto gets around 14 mm of rain over 4 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 13 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 4.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Somoto
None of Somoto's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Somoto's rainy season runs May–June, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Somoto?
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 one of the better times to visit Somoto for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Somoto in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Somoto sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 17°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.
UV index in Somoto in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Somoto 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Somoto 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 Somoto is worst in April — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.9× the cleanest month (December, 5 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) | 5 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 6 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 24 | Moderate |
| May | 24 | Moderate |
| Jun | 18 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Moderate |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 5 | Good |
Where is Somoto?
Somoto sits at 13.5°N, 86.6°W, 683 m above sea level, in Nicaragua. The nearest listed city is Ocotal, 20 km away.
Topography around Somoto
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Somoto.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Somoto has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 495 m around an average of 752 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,162 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,071 m.
The land around Somoto is covered by grassland (50%), trees (21%) and shrubs (21%) within 3 km, grassland (48%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and trees (57%) and grassland (37%) 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 Somoto (13.4841°, -86.5823°, elevation 683 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.