T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp weather in December

In December, T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp sees average daytime highs of 5°C and overnight lows near 1°C, with 44 mm of precipitation across 5.6 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 6°C in the first days to 3°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 61% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp's 1st-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp's year-round climate.

Daytime high
10th warmest
Overnight low
3rd coldest
Precipitation
44 mm
5.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:46 AM – 5:03 PM
Cloud cover
36%
1st clearest
Wind
22 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
2.23 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.1
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 6°C in the first days to 3°C by the end.

A typical December day in T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp reaches about 5°C in the afternoon and slips back to 1°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -0°C and 8°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-10°-5°10°15°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
173
273
363
463
562
662
762
852
952
1051
1151
1251
1351
1451
1541
1641
1740
1840
1940
2040
2140
2240
2340
2440
2530
2630
273-1
283-1
293-1
303-1
313-1

How December really feels in T’ongch’ŏn-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.

T’ongch’ŏn-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 / -2°415.84.99.60.0
Feb / -1°3453.910.50.0
Mar / 446.62.911.70.8
Apr11° / 656.80.3133.2
May16° / 12°998014.15.4
Jun20° / 17°959.1014.76.4
Jul24° / 21°22313.1014.56.2
Aug25° / 22°22213.8013.56.3
Sep21° / 19°1449.3012.36.7
Oct17° / 14°747.20115.9
Nov10° / 807.90.59.92.7
Dec / 445.62.79.30.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 61% of the time in December, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 28%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16733
26733
36832
46832
56931
67030
77030
87129
97129
107228
117327
127327
137327
147327
157327
167327
177327
187327
197327
207327
217426
227426
237426
247327
257327
267327
277327
287327
297327
307426
317327

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp gets around 44 mm of rain and snow over 5.6 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 19% and peaks near 25% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1255
2256
3256
4247
5237
6238
7228
8228
9219
10219
11209
122010
131910
141910
151810
16189
17179
18179
19169
20169
21169
22169
23169
24169
25169
26169
27169
28169
29169
301610
311610

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

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 21 km/h on the calmest days to 22 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
121breezy
221breezy
321breezy
421breezy
521breezy
621breezy
721breezy
822breezy
922breezy
1022breezy
1122breezy
1222breezy
1322breezy
1422breezy
1522breezy
1622breezy
1722breezy
1822breezy
1922breezy
2021breezy
2121breezy
2221breezy
2321breezy
2421breezy
2521breezy
2621breezy
2721breezy
2821breezy
2921breezy
3022breezy
3122breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 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 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:34 AM to 7:53 AM, and sunset from 5:02 PM to 5:11 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:345:02
29.47:355:02
39.47:365:02
49.47:375:02
59.47:385:02
69.47:395:02
79.47:405:02
89.47:405:02
99.37:415:02
109.37:425:02
119.37:435:02
129.37:435:02
139.37:445:02
149.37:455:03
159.37:465:03
169.37:465:03
179.37:475:03
189.37:475:04
199.37:485:04
209.37:485:04
219.37:495:05
229.37:495:05
239.37:505:06
249.37:505:06
259.37:515:07
269.37:515:07
279.37:515:08
289.37:525:09
299.37:525:09
309.37:525:10
319.37:535:11

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.23 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.23 kWh/m² to a high of 5.87 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.23 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
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp

In seasonPeak

In December, T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

T’ongch’ŏn-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 T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp?

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

0.1
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 T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp.

What to pack for T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp in December

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

In December, T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp sees daytime highs around 5°C and nights near 1°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and a windbreaker. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coata windbreaker

Sea temperature near T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp in December

The nearest coast averages about 9°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 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
Jan6Bracing
Feb4Bracing
Mar5Bracing
Apr9Bracing
May13Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug24Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct18Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec9Bracing

UV index in T’ongch’ŏn-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 T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp peaks around August 17 at about 9 (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 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highVery highHighModerateLowAug 17UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May6High
Jun7Very high
Jul7High
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in T’ongch’ŏn-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 T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp is worst in March — around 44 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.9× the cleanest month (September, 15 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateMar 1944 µg/m³Sep 1016 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan33Moderate
Feb36Poor
Mar44Poor
Apr40Poor
May32Moderate
Jun22Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct22Moderate
Nov27Moderate
Dec27Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp?

T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp sits at 39.0°N, 127.9°E, 6 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Anbyŏn-ŭp, 33 km away.

HoeyangKosanWŏnsanKowŏn-ŭpKosongYangguHwacheon

Topography around T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp.

Within 3 km, the terrain around T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 168 m around an average of 12 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,075 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,642 m.

The land around T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp is covered by water (41%) and cropland (37%) within 3 km, water (48%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and trees (48%) and water (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
168 m
16 km
1,075 m
80 km
1,642 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Anbyŏn-ŭp 33 km · Hoeyang 37 km · Kosan 42 km · Wŏnsan 45 km · Kowŏn-ŭp 78 km · Kosong 81 km · Yanggu 95 km · Hwacheon 96 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 T’ongch’ŏn-ŭp (38.9539°, 127.8917°, elevation 6 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).