Kowŏn-ŭp weather in December

In December, Kowŏn-ŭp sees average daytime highs of 3°C and overnight lows near -6°C, with 36 mm of precipitation across 5 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 5°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 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Kowŏn-ŭp's 1st-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kowŏn-ŭp's year-round climate.

Daytime high
11th warmest
Overnight low
-6°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
36 mm
5 wet days
Daylight
9 h 12 min
7:50 AM – 5:04 PM
Cloud cover
36%
1st clearest
Wind
12 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
2.25 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 5°C in the first days to 1°C by the end.

A typical December day in Kowŏn-ŭp reaches about 3°C in the afternoon and slips back to -6°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -3°C and 7°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-20°-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
15-3
25-4
35-4
45-4
54-4
64-5
74-5
84-5
93-5
103-5
113-6
123-6
133-6
143-6
152-6
162-6
172-7
182-7
192-7
202-7
212-7
222-7
232-7
242-7
252-8
262-8
271-8
281-8
291-8
301-8
311-8

How December really feels in Kowŏn-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
23 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

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

Kowŏn-ŭp weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -10°334.859.50.0
Feb / -7°314.84.410.50.0
Mar / -2°426.94.311.72.2
Apr17° / 616.81135.6
May22° / 11°938.5014.17.0
Jun25° / 16°11310.3014.76.6
Jul27° / 20°23715.2014.55.4
Aug28° / 20°24015.8013.55.3
Sep24° / 14°1289.5012.36.9
Oct18° / 657.40116.4
Nov10° / 728.21.69.82.4
Dec / -6°3653.89.30.0

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 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 31%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16436
26535
36634
46634
56634
66733
76733
86832
96832
106931
116931
126931
137030
147030
156931
166931
176931
187030
197030
207030
217030
227030
237030
247030
257030
267129
277129
287129
297129
307129
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Kowŏn-ŭp gets around 36 mm of rain and snow over 5 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 17% and peaks near 24% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12412
22313
32313
42214
52114
62114
72014
82014
91914
101914
111914
121814
131814
141814
151713
161713
171613
181612
191512
201511
211511
221411
231411
241411
251311
261311
271311
281311
291211
301211
311211

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 12 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1012calm
1112calm
1212calm
1312calm
1412calm
1512calm
1612calm
1712calm
1812calm
1912calm
2012calm
2112calm
2212calm
2312calm
2412calm
2512calm
2612calm
2712calm
2812calm
2912calm
3012calm
3112calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 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 7:38 AM to 7:57 AM, and sunset from 5:03 PM to 5:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:385:03
29.47:395:03
39.47:405:03
49.47:415:03
59.47:425:03
69.37:435:03
79.37:445:03
89.37:445:03
99.37:455:03
109.37:465:03
119.37:475:03
129.37:475:03
139.37:485:03
149.27:495:04
159.27:505:04
169.27:505:04
179.27:515:04
189.27:515:05
199.27:525:05
209.27:535:06
219.27:535:06
229.27:545:06
239.27:545:07
249.27:545:07
259.27:555:08
269.27:555:09
279.27:565:09
289.27:565:10
299.27:565:10
309.27:565:11
319.37:575:12

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.25 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.25 kWh/m² to a high of 5.84 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.25 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.3Moderate
172.3Moderate
182.3Moderate
192.3Moderate
202.3Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.4Moderate
302.4Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Kowŏn-ŭp

In seasonPeak

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

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

Kowŏn-ŭp's rainy season runs June–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 Kowŏn-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
10th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Kowŏn-ŭp in December

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

In December, Kowŏn-ŭp sees daytime highs around 3°C and nights near -6°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Kowŏn-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 34 km away) is warmest in August at about 24°C and coldest in February near 4°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 2 to Sep 30 — about 3 months when the water holds above 20°C.

0°10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan5Bracing
Feb4Bracing
Mar5Bracing
Apr8Bracing
May13Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug24Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct18Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec8Bracing

UV index in Kowŏn-ŭp in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kowŏn-ŭp peaks around August 19 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighVery highModerateLowAug 19UV 8Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun7Very high
Jul6High
Aug8Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Kowŏn-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 Kowŏn-ŭp is worst in March — around 96 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.3× the cleanest month (July, 43 µg/m³).

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

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorUnhealthyMar 996 µg/m³Jul 1943 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan95Unhealthy
Feb96Unhealthy
Mar96Unhealthy
Apr80Unhealthy
May64Unhealthy
Jun51Poor
Jul43Poor
Aug46Poor
Sep62Unhealthy
Oct83Unhealthy
Nov87Unhealthy
Dec84Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Kowŏn-ŭp?

Kowŏn-ŭp sits at 39.4°N, 127.2°E, 9 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Wŏnsan, 36 km away.

WŏnsanAnbyŏn-ŭpHŭngnamHamhŭngKosanYŏnggwang-ŭpT’ongch’ŏn-ŭpSamho-rodongjagu

Topography around Kowŏn-ŭp

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kowŏn-ŭp has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,101 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,890 m.

The land around Kowŏn-ŭp is covered by cropland (86%) within 3 km, cropland (50%) and trees (37%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) and water (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
55 m
16 km
1,101 m
80 km
1,890 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Wŏnsan 36 km · Anbyŏn-ŭp 50 km · Hŭngnam 56 km · Hamhŭng 59 km · Kosan 66 km · Yŏnggwang-ŭp 67 km · T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp 78 km · Samho-rodongjagu 78 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 Kowŏn-ŭp (39.4381°, 127.2431°, elevation 9 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).