Saipan weather in December

In December, Saipan sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 67 mm of rain across 14.8 wet days and about 11.1 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 12 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Saipan's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Saipan's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
8th warmest
Overnight low
26°
7th coldest
Rainfall
67 mm
14.8 wet days
Daylight
11 h 06 min
6:40 AM – 5:46 PM
Cloud cover
43%
2nd clearest
Wind
30 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.72 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.0
out of 10

Saipan is city.

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

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Saipan reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

24°26°28°30°32°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12827
22827
32827
42827
52827
62827
72827
82827
92827
102827
112827
122827
132827
142827
152827
162827
172826
182826
192826
202826
212826
222826
232826
242726
252726
262726
272726
282726
292726
302726
312726

How December really feels in Saipan

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 3 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
3
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Saipan weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 26°6113.311.26.2
Feb27° / 26°3911.311.56.5
Mar27° / 26°389.811.96.9
Apr27° / 26°5010.412.36.7
May28° / 27°6413.212.76.0
Jun28° / 27°10017.912.94.7
Jul28° / 27°2232712.83.5
Aug28° / 26°34028.212.53.3
Sep28° / 26°29826.612.13.4
Oct28° / 27°30425.611.73.8
Nov28° / 27°1331911.34.9
Dec28° / 26°6714.811.16.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 60% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 24%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17624
27723
37723
47822
57822
67822
77921
87921
97921
107921
117921
127822
137822
147822
157723
167624
177624
187525
197525
207525
217525
227525
237525
247525
257426
267525
277525
287525
297426
307525
317525

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Saipan gets around 67 mm of rain over 14.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 48% and peaks near 53% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
153
252
351
450
550
649
749
849
949
1049
1149
1249
1349
1449
1549
1649
1749
1849
1949
2048
2148
2247
2346
2445
2545
2644
2744
2843
2943
3043
3144

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 57% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
114059
224157
324355
424454
534552
634651
734750
834849
934947
1035146
1135245
1235344
1335443
1435542
1535542
1635641
1745640
1845739
1945838
2045937
2146135
2246333
2346432
2456530
2556728
2656926
2766925
2867123
2977221
3077419
3187418

Wind in December

Winds average 30 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 29 km/h on the calmest days to 30 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0102030151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
129windy
229windy
329windy
429windy
529windy
629windy
729windy
829windy
930windy
1030windy
1130windy
1230windy
1330windy
1430windy
1530windy
1630windy
1730windy
1830windy
1930windy
2030windy
2130windy
2230windy
2330windy
2429windy
2529windy
2629windy
2729windy
2829windy
2929windy
3029breezy
3129breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 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 6:32 AM to 6:47 AM, and sunset from 5:42 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.26:325:42
211.26:325:42
311.26:335:42
411.16:345:42
511.16:345:43
611.16:355:43
711.16:355:43
811.16:365:43
911.16:365:44
1011.16:375:44
1111.16:375:44
1211.16:385:45
1311.16:385:45
1411.16:395:45
1511.16:405:46
1611.16:405:46
1711.16:415:47
1811.16:415:47
1911.16:425:47
2011.16:425:48
2111.16:435:48
2211.16:435:49
2311.16:445:49
2411.16:445:50
2511.16:445:50
2611.16:455:51
2711.16:455:51
2811.16:465:52
2911.16:465:52
3011.16:465:53
3111.16:475:53

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.72 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.72 kWh/m² to a high of 6.76 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 4.72 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.8Bright
24.8Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.7Bright
114.7Bright
124.7Bright
134.7Bright
144.7Bright
154.7Bright
164.7Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.8Bright
214.8Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.8Bright
254.8Bright
264.9Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
305.0Bright
315.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Saipan

In seasonPeak

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

Saipan sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Saipan's monsoon runs July–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Saipan?

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

6.0
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Saipan for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Saipan in December

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

In December, Saipan sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and a windbreaker. Worth having: sun protection. About 15 days see rain.

light clothesrain geara windbreakersun protection

Sea temperature near Saipan in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 16 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Saipan in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Saipan peaks around August 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 9 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highAug 16UV 13Dec 18UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul13Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec8Very high
Location & terrain

Where is Saipan?

Saipan sits at 15.2°N, 145.8°E, 5 m above sea level, in Northern Mariana Islands. The nearest listed city is Yigo Village, 208 km away.

Topography around Saipan

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Saipan has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 454 m around an average of 123 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 454 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 446 m.

The land around Saipan is covered by trees (74%) within 3 km, water (86%) within 16 km, and water (97%) within 80 km.

3 km
454 m
16 km
454 m
80 km
446 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Yigo Village 208 km · Dededo Village 213 km · Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Village 219 km · Tumon 219 km · Hagatna 221 km · Mangilao Village 221 km · Ngerulmud 1,485 km · Koror 1,509 km

Northern Mariana Islands travel facts

GDP per capita
$23,786
2022
Safe drinking water
81%
of population, 2024
Income group
High
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 Saipan (15.2123°, 145.7545°, elevation 5 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).