Tŏkch’ŏn weather in December

In December, Tŏkch’ŏn sees average daytime highs of -1°C and overnight lows near -11°C, with 34 mm of precipitation across 6.7 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 1°C in the first days to -3°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% 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 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Tŏkch’ŏn's 2nd-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Tŏkch’ŏn's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-1°
11th warmest
Overnight low
-11°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
34 mm
6.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 12 min
7:55 AM – 5:07 PM
Cloud cover
41%
2nd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
2.17 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 1°C in the first days to -3°C by the end.

A typical December day in Tŏkch’ŏn reaches about -1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -11°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -8°C and 4°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-20°-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12-7
22-7
31-7
41-8
51-8
61-8
70-9
80-9
90-9
100-10
11-1-10
12-1-10
13-1-11
14-1-11
15-1-11
16-1-11
17-1-12
18-1-12
19-2-12
20-2-12
21-2-12
22-2-13
23-2-13
24-2-13
25-2-13
26-2-13
27-2-14
28-2-14
29-3-14
30-3-14
31-3-14

How December really feels in Tŏkch’ŏn

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.

Tŏkch’ŏn 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-3° / -15°183.94.29.50.0
Feb / -11°274.74.510.40.0
Mar / -3°406.93.511.71.2
Apr15° / 738.50.9134.7
May21° / 10°12210.6014.26.5
Jun25° / 15°14813.5014.86.1
Jul27° / 19°38519.5014.55.0
Aug27° / 19°31116.8013.65.3
Sep23° / 13°1249.2012.36.9
Oct17° / 6980.110.95.6
Nov / -2°718.82.89.81.2
Dec-1° / -11°346.769.20.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 34%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
26040
36139
46139
56238
66337
76337
86436
96436
106535
116535
126634
136634
146733
156733
166832
176832
186832
196832
206832
216931
226931
236931
246931
256832
266832
276832
286832
296931
306931
316931

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Tŏkch’ŏn gets around 34 mm of rain and snow over 6.7 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 26% 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 (%)
12618
22618
32619
42619
52619
62620
72520
82520
92520
102521
112521
122521
132421
142421
152321
162320
172220
182120
192119
202019
212019
221919
231919
241818
251818
261718
271718
281718
291617
301617
311617

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 7 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 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 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:43 AM to 8:01 AM, and sunset from 5:06 PM to 5:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:435:06
29.47:445:06
39.47:455:06
49.37:465:06
59.37:475:06
69.37:485:06
79.37:485:06
89.37:495:06
99.37:505:06
109.37:515:06
119.27:525:06
129.27:525:06
139.27:535:06
149.27:545:07
159.27:555:07
169.27:555:07
179.27:565:07
189.27:565:08
199.27:575:08
209.27:575:09
219.27:585:09
229.27:585:09
239.27:595:10
249.27:595:10
259.28:005:11
269.28:005:11
279.28:005:12
289.28:015:13
299.28:015:13
309.28:015:14
319.28:015:15

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.17 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.17 kWh/m² to a high of 5.63 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.17 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.1Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
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 Tŏkch’ŏn

In seasonPeak

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

Tŏkch’ŏn's rainy season runs July–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 Tŏkch’ŏn?

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 Tŏkch’ŏn.

What to pack for Tŏkch’ŏn in December

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

In December, Tŏkch’ŏn sees daytime highs around -1°C and nights near -11°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Tŏkch’ŏn 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 Tŏkch’ŏn 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 highModerateLowAug 19UV 8Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun7High
Jul6High
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Tŏkch’ŏn 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 Tŏkch’ŏn is worst in January — around 159 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 2.3× the cleanest month (July, 70 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150180JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyJan 18156 µg/m³Jul 2271 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan159Very unhealthy
Feb137Unhealthy
Mar130Unhealthy
Apr111Unhealthy
May95Unhealthy
Jun85Unhealthy
Jul70Unhealthy
Aug73Unhealthy
Sep98Unhealthy
Oct118Unhealthy
Nov126Unhealthy
Dec125Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Tŏkch’ŏn?

Tŏkch’ŏn sits at 39.8°N, 126.3°E, 113 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Kujang-ŭp, 23 km away.

Sunch’ŏnAnjuSinanjuPaek'akP’yŏngsŏngSongwŏn-ŭp

Topography around Tŏkch’ŏn

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Tŏkch’ŏn.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Tŏkch’ŏn has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 495 m around an average of 208 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,148 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,000 m.

The land around Tŏkch’ŏn is covered by cropland (50%) and trees (29%) within 3 km, trees (71%) within 16 km, and trees (70%) and cropland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
495 m
16 km
1,148 m
80 km
2,000 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Kujang-ŭp 23 km · Kaech’ŏn 32 km · Sunch’ŏn 45 km · Anju 53 km · Sinanju 58 km · Paek'ak 64 km · P’yŏngsŏng 65 km · Songwŏn-ŭp 69 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 Tŏkch’ŏn (39.7526°, 126.258°, elevation 113 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).