Muscat weather in December

In December, Muscat sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 13 mm of rain across 1.8 wet days and about 10.6 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 27°C in the first days to 25°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time in December, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Muscat's 7th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Muscat's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
11th warmest
Overnight low
18°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
13 mm
1.8 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
6:46 AM – 5:19 PM
Cloud cover
20%
7th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
4.32 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.8
out of 10

Muscat is capital of Oman.

Density
228/km²
people per km²

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 27°C in the first days to 25°C by the end.

A typical December day in Muscat reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 4°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12719
22719
32719
42719
52719
62619
72619
82619
92619
102619
112618
122618
132618
142618
152618
162618
172518
182518
192518
202518
212518
222518
232518
242517
252517
262517
272517
282517
292517
302517
312517

How December really feels in Muscat

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Muscat weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 17°182.510.79.0
Feb26° / 18°111.511.28.9
Mar29° / 21°182.311.87.3
Apr33° / 25°71.312.54.5
May37° / 30°10.413.11.7
Jun38° / 31°110.313.41.1
Jul37° / 31°40.213.31.7
Aug36° / 30°10.212.82.5
Sep35° / 28°00.112.13.2
Oct33° / 25°10.611.44.5
Nov29° / 21°120.910.97.5
Dec26° / 18°131.810.68.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 11%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1928
2928
3919
4919
59010
69010
79010
89010
98911
108911
118911
128911
138911
148911
158911
168911
178911
188911
198911
208911
218911
228911
238911
248911
258911
268911
278812
288812
298812
308812
318812

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Muscat gets around 13 mm of rain over 1.8 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 6% and peaks near 7% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
15
25
35
45
56
66
76
86
96
106
116
127
137
147
156
166
176
186
196
206
216
226
236
245
255
265
275
285
295
305
315

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the comfortable band about 34% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 7% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
12232389
22232378
32332368
42432358
52533348
62633338
72733338
82733328
92833318
102833308
112933308
122934298
132934288
143034288
153034288
163034278
173035278
183035277
193135277
203135277
213235276
223335266
233435256
243535245
253635245
263736235
273736224
283836224
293837214
303937213
313937203

Wind in December

Winds average 8 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 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 6:37 AM to 6:53 AM, and sunset from 5:16 PM to 5:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.76:375:16
210.66:375:16
310.66:385:16
410.66:395:16
510.66:395:16
610.66:405:16
710.66:415:17
810.66:415:17
910.66:425:17
1010.66:425:17
1110.66:435:17
1210.66:445:18
1310.66:445:18
1410.66:455:18
1510.66:455:19
1610.66:465:19
1710.66:465:20
1810.56:475:20
1910.56:485:20
2010.56:485:21
2110.56:495:21
2210.56:495:22
2310.56:495:22
2410.56:505:23
2510.56:505:23
2610.56:515:24
2710.66:515:24
2810.66:525:25
2910.66:525:25
3010.66:525:26
3110.66:535:26

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.32 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.32 kWh/m² to a high of 7.6 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 4.32 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.5Bright
24.5Bright
34.5Bright
44.5Bright
54.5Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.4Bright
94.4Bright
104.4Bright
114.4Bright
124.3Bright
134.3Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.3Bright
174.3Bright
184.3Bright
194.3Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Muscat

In seasonPeak

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

Muscat sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.

Muscat sees seasonal dust haze (April–September), heaviest in July.

Cyclone
Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Muscat?

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

8.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
8.2
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Muscat for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Muscat in December

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

In December, Muscat sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 18°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Muscat in December

The nearest coast averages about 25°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in June at about 32°C and coldest in February near 24°C.

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

25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan24Refreshing
Feb24Refreshing
Mar24Warm
Apr27Warm
May30Tropical
Jun32Tropical
Jul31Tropical
Aug31Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec25Warm

UV index in Muscat in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Muscat peaks around May 17 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighMay 17UV 11Dec 18UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb9Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr9Very high
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec5Moderate

Air quality in Muscat 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 Muscat is worst in July — around 90 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.1× the cleanest month (December, 22 µg/m³).

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

0306090JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 1888 µg/m³Dec 1522 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan26Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar36Poor
Apr42Poor
May49Poor
Jun64Unhealthy
Jul90Unhealthy
Aug72Unhealthy
Sep44Poor
Oct30Moderate
Nov25Moderate
Dec22Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Muscat?

Muscat sits at 23.6°N, 58.4°E, 14 m above sea level, in Oman. The nearest listed city is Bawshar, 1.0 km away.

QurayyātIzkī

Topography around Muscat

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Muscat has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 212 m around an average of 24 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 890 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,435 m.

The land around Muscat is covered by artificial surfaces (61%) and bare terrain (24%) within 3 km, bare terrain (48%) and water (35%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (57%) and water (38%) within 80 km.

3 km
212 m
16 km
890 m
80 km
2,435 m
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Bawshar 1.0 km · Seeb 24 km · Bidbid 35 km · Sufālat Samā’il 50 km · Barkā’ 54 km · Samā’il 56 km · Qurayyāt 63 km · Izkī 98 km

Oman travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type G
240 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 47% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$19,947
2025
Happiness
6.2 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
91%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.1
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
10.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 407
Religion
Muslim 86%Christian 6%Hindu 6%other and unaffiliated 2%

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 Muscat (23.5841°, 58.4078°, elevation 14 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).