Samjiyŏn-ŭp weather in December

In December, Samjiyŏn-ŭp sees average daytime highs of -10°C and overnight lows near -21°C, with 19 mm of precipitation across 5.2 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about -8°C in the first days to -12°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 12 min at the start of December to 9 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Samjiyŏn-ŭp's 4th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Samjiyŏn-ŭp's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-10°
11th warmest
Overnight low
-21°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
19 mm
5.2 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:54 AM – 4:52 PM
Cloud cover
49%
4th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
2.2 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Samjiyŏn-ŭp is city of 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 -8°C in the first days to -12°C by the end.

A typical December day in Samjiyŏn-ŭp reaches about -10°C in the afternoon and slips back to -21°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -18°C and -4°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-30°-20°-10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1-7-18
2-8-18
3-8-19
4-8-19
5-9-19
6-9-19
7-9-19
8-9-20
9-10-20
10-10-20
11-10-20
12-10-20
13-10-20
14-10-20
15-10-21
16-11-21
17-11-21
18-11-21
19-11-21
20-11-21
21-11-21
22-11-21
23-11-21
24-11-21
25-11-22
26-11-22
27-12-22
28-12-22
29-12-22
30-12-22
31-12-22

How December really feels in Samjiyŏn-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
31 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

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

Samjiyŏn-ŭp weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-12° / -23°1034.39.30.0
Feb-9° / -20°204.66.110.30.0
Mar-2° / -13°409.210.211.70.0
Apr / -4°69129.713.10.9
May14° / 123173.314.33.5
Jun19° / 16019.30.1154.5
Jul22° / 13°22320.7014.74.9
Aug21° / 12°17117.1013.75.3
Sep16° / 799.30.112.35.2
Oct / -3°488.54.810.91.8
Nov-2° / -13°428.68.59.60.0
Dec-10° / -21°195.26.690.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 44%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25644
35644
45644
55644
65644
75644
85545
95545
105545
115545
125545
135545
145545
155644
165644
175743
185743
195743
205743
215842
225842
235842
245842
255743
265743
275743
285644
295644
305644
315644

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Samjiyŏn-ŭp gets around 19 mm of rain and snow over 5.2 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 23% on the wettest days, and about 7 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12326
22326
32225
42225
52125
62125
72124
82024
92024
102024
111924
121924
131923
141823
151823
161722
171722
181621
191621
201520
211520
221519
231419
241418
251418
261418
271317
281317
291317
301317
311317

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 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 12 min at the start of December to 9 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:41 AM to 8:00 AM, and sunset from 4:52 PM to 5:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:414:52
29.27:424:52
39.17:434:52
49.17:444:51
59.17:454:51
69.17:464:51
79.17:474:51
89.17:474:51
99.07:484:51
109.07:494:51
119.07:504:51
129.07:514:51
139.07:514:52
149.07:524:52
159.07:534:52
169.07:544:52
179.07:544:53
189.07:554:53
199.07:554:53
209.07:564:54
219.07:564:54
229.07:574:54
239.07:574:55
249.07:584:55
259.07:584:56
269.07:594:57
279.07:594:57
289.07:594:58
299.07:594:59
309.08:004:59
319.08:005:00

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.2 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.2 kWh/m² to a high of 5.64 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.2 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.3Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Samjiyŏn-ŭp

In seasonPeak

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

Samjiyŏn-ŭp's rainy season runs May–August, 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 Samjiyŏn-ŭp?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Samjiyŏn-ŭp in December

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

In December, Samjiyŏn-ŭp sees daytime highs around -10°C and nights near -21°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Samjiyŏn-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 Samjiyŏn-ŭp peaks around August 18 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighVery highModerateLowAug 18UV 8Dec 19UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun7Very high
Jul6High
Aug8Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Samjiyŏn-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 Samjiyŏn-ŭp is worst in March — around 32 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (August, 12 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMar 2332 µg/m³Aug 2212 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb23Moderate
Mar32Moderate
Apr31Moderate
May28Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug12Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct22Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec18Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Samjiyŏn-ŭp?

Samjiyŏn-ŭp sits at 41.8°N, 128.3°E, 1,364 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Hyesan, 46 km away.

HyesanHyesan-dongYŏnsa-ŭpKapsan-ŭpMusan-ŭpKyŏngsŏngRanamHwasŏng

Topography around Samjiyŏn-ŭp

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Samjiyŏn-ŭp has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 341 m around an average of 1,402 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,431 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,228 m.

The land around Samjiyŏn-ŭp is covered by trees (75%) within 3 km, trees (87%) within 16 km, and trees (87%) within 80 km.

3 km
341 m
16 km
1,431 m
80 km
2,228 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Hyesan 46 km · Hyesan-dong 47 km · Yŏnsa-ŭp 58 km · Kapsan-ŭp 79 km · Musan-ŭp 87 km · Kyŏngsŏng 110 km · Ranam 114 km · Hwasŏng 115 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 Samjiyŏn-ŭp (41.8036°, 128.3189°, elevation 1,364 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).