Iwŏn-ŭp weather in December

In December, Iwŏn-ŭp sees average daytime highs of 2°C and overnight lows near -3°C, with 37 mm of precipitation across 6.9 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 4°C in the first days to 1°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Iwŏn-ŭp's 1st-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Iwŏn-ŭp's year-round climate.

Daytime high
10th warmest
Overnight low
-3°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
37 mm
6.9 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:47 AM – 4:56 PM
Cloud cover
38%
1st clearest
Wind
15 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.06 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Iwŏn-ŭp is human settlement in North Korea.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 4°C in the first days to 1°C by the end.

A typical December day in Iwŏn-ŭp reaches about 2°C in the afternoon and slips back to -3°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -2°C and 6°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
150
250
340
44-1
54-1
64-1
74-1
83-1
93-2
103-2
113-2
123-2
133-2
142-3
152-3
162-3
172-3
182-3
192-3
202-3
212-3
222-4
232-4
242-4
251-4
261-4
271-4
281-4
291-4
301-4
311-5

How December really feels in Iwŏn-ŭp

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 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
31
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Iwŏn-ŭp weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -6°316.67.39.50.0
Feb / -4°235.15.410.40.0
Mar / 285.23.811.70.5
Apr11° / 406.10.8132.9
May15° / 10°667.2014.25.1
Jun19° / 15°626.1014.86.5
Jul23° / 20°14110.1014.66.6
Aug24° / 21°15011.2013.66.7
Sep21° / 17°896.8012.37.0
Oct16° / 11°465.70.110.95.8
Nov / 497.229.81.9
Dec / -3°376.95.89.20.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 59% of the time in December, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 32%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16139
26139
36139
46337
56337
66436
76436
86535
96535
106733
116733
126832
136832
146931
156931
166931
176931
187129
197129
207129
217129
227129
237129
247129
257129
267129
277129
287129
297030
307129
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Iwŏn-ŭp gets around 37 mm of rain and snow over 6.9 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 22% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days, and about 6 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12817
22817
32717
42718
52718
62618
72618
82518
92418
102418
112318
122218
132218
142118
152117
162017
172017
182017
192017
202018
212018
222018
232019
242019
252019
262019
272019
282019
292019
302019
311920

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 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 15 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 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
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
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 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 7:35 AM to 7:54 AM, and sunset from 4:55 PM to 5:03 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:354:55
29.37:364:55
39.37:374:55
49.37:384:55
59.37:394:55
69.27:404:55
79.27:414:55
89.27:414:55
99.27:424:55
109.27:434:55
119.27:444:55
129.27:454:55
139.27:454:55
149.27:464:55
159.17:474:55
169.17:474:56
179.17:484:56
189.17:494:56
199.17:494:57
209.17:504:57
219.17:504:58
229.17:514:58
239.17:514:58
249.17:524:59
259.17:525:00
269.17:525:00
279.17:535:01
289.17:535:01
299.17:535:02
309.27:535:03
319.27:545:03

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.06 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.06 kWh/m² to a high of 5.87 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.06 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.0Moderate
22.0Moderate
32.0Moderate
42.0Moderate
52.0Moderate
62.0Moderate
72.0Moderate
82.0Moderate
92.0Moderate
102.0Moderate
112.0Moderate
122.0Moderate
132.0Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.0Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.1Moderate
232.1Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.1Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Iwŏn-ŭp

In seasonPeak

In December, Iwŏn-ŭp sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Iwŏn-ŭp sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Iwŏn-ŭp's rainy season runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Iwŏn-ŭp?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Iwŏn-ŭp.

What to pack for Iwŏn-ŭp in December

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

In December, Iwŏn-ŭp sees daytime highs around 2°C and nights near -3°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Iwŏn-ŭp in December

The nearest coast averages about 8°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 19 km away) is warmest in August at about 23°C and coldest in February near 5°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 15 to Sep 22 — about 2.3 months when the water holds above 20°C.

0°10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan6Bracing
Feb5Bracing
Mar5Bracing
Apr7Bracing
May11Bracing
Jun16Cool
Jul20Refreshing
Aug23Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct17Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec8Bracing

UV index in Iwŏn-ŭp in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Iwŏn-ŭp peaks around August 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 18UV 8Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun6High
Jul6High
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Iwŏn-ŭp 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 Iwŏn-ŭp is worst in April — around 47 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.7× the cleanest month (August, 17 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateApr 947 µg/m³Aug 2217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan29Moderate
Feb36Poor
Mar46Poor
Apr47Poor
May36Poor
Jun25Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct24Moderate
Nov26Moderate
Dec23Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Iwŏn-ŭp?

Iwŏn-ŭp sits at 40.3°N, 128.7°E, 2 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Changam-ch’on, 33 km away.

Changam-ch’onSinp’oYuktae-dongHongwŏnSamho-rodongjaguKapsan-ŭpKiljuHwadae

Topography around Iwŏn-ŭp

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Iwŏn-ŭp has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 100 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,000 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,358 m.

The land around Iwŏn-ŭp is covered by cropland (47%) and water (38%) within 3 km, trees (46%) and water (32%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and water (34%) within 80 km.

3 km
100 m
16 km
1,000 m
80 km
2,358 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Changam-ch’on 33 km · Sinp’o 50 km · Yuktae-dong 54 km · Hongwŏn 68 km · Samho-rodongjagu 79 km · Kapsan-ŭp 91 km · Kilju 91 km · Hwadae 91 km

North Korea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Safe drinking water
67%
of population, 2023
Road deaths
24.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank

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 Iwŏn-ŭp (40.3231°, 128.6553°, elevation 2 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).