Colon weather in December

In December, Colon sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 190 mm of rain across 25.5 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 8th-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 23% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Colon's 4th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Colon's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
11th warmest
Overnight low
25°
4th coldest
Rainfall
190 mm
25.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
6:32 AM – 5:59 PM
Cloud cover
63%
4th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.29 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.8
out of 10

Colon is sea port on the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic) coast of Panama.

Founded
1850

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 Colon reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12825
22825
32825
42825
52825
62825
72825
82825
92825
102825
112825
122825
132825
142825
152825
162825
172825
182825
192825
202825
212825
222825
232825
242825
252825
262825
272825
282825
292825
302825
312825

How December really feels in Colon

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 29 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
29
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.

Colon weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 25°6315.411.55.2
Feb29° / 25°359.811.75.6
Mar29° / 25°4111.611.95.3
Apr29° / 25°12720.112.24.0
May29° / 25°28429.412.42.8
Jun29° / 25°28929.412.52.7
Jul29° / 25°33430.512.52.8
Aug29° / 25°32530.612.32.7
Sep29° / 25°30029.512.12.7
Oct29° / 25°32030.111.82.8
Nov28° / 25°3412911.63.1
Dec28° / 25°19025.511.53.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 23% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12773
22773
32872
42971
53070
63268
73268
83367
93466
103664
113763
123862
134159
144258
154357
164654
174852
185050
195248
205347
215545
225743
235941
246139
256139
266238
276337
286337
296436
306535
316535

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Colon gets around 190 mm of rain over 25.5 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 82% and peaks near 96% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
196
295
395
494
594
693
792
891
990
1089
1188
1287
1386
1484
1583
1682
1781
1880
1979
2077
2176
2275
2374
2473
2572
2671
2770
2869
2968
3067
3166

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 70% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
106040
206139
306139
406238
506337
606337
706436
816435
916534
1016633
1116732
1216732
1316831
1416930
1517029
1617128
1717227
1817326
1917326
2017425
2117425
2217524
2317524
2417524
2517623
2617623
2717722
2817722
2917821
3017920
3117920

Wind in December

Winds average 14 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min at the start of December to 11 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:25 AM to 6:39 AM, and sunset from 5:54 PM to 6:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.56:255:54
211.56:255:54
311.56:265:55
411.56:265:55
511.56:275:55
611.56:275:56
711.56:285:56
811.56:285:56
911.56:295:57
1011.56:295:57
1111.56:305:57
1211.56:305:58
1311.56:315:58
1411.56:315:59
1511.56:325:59
1611.56:325:59
1711.56:336:00
1811.56:336:00
1911.56:346:01
2011.56:346:01
2111.56:346:02
2211.56:356:02
2311.56:356:03
2411.56:366:03
2511.56:366:04
2611.56:376:04
2711.56:376:05
2811.56:386:05
2911.56:386:06
3011.56:396:06
3111.56:396:07

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.29 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.99 kWh/m² to a high of 5.8 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.29 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Bright
24.0Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.1Bright
94.2Bright
104.2Bright
114.2Bright
124.2Bright
134.2Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.3Bright
174.3Bright
184.3Bright
194.3Bright
204.4Bright
214.4Bright
224.4Bright
234.4Bright
244.4Bright
254.5Bright
264.5Bright
274.5Bright
284.5Bright
294.5Bright
304.5Bright
314.6Bright
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Colon?

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

3.8
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Colon.

What to pack for Colon in December

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

In December, Colon sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 26 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Colon 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 offshore is warmest in October at about 29°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
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug28Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Colon in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Colon peaks around March 20 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 10 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeMar 20UV 13Dec 16UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec10Very high

Air quality in Colon 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 Colon is worst in July — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (January, 14 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateJul 1526 µg/m³Jan 1314 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan14Moderate
Feb16Moderate
Mar17Moderate
Apr24Moderate
May25Moderate
Jun24Moderate
Jul27Moderate
Aug22Moderate
Sep19Moderate
Oct17Moderate
Nov15Moderate
Dec14Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Colon?

Colon sits at 9.4°N, 79.9°W, 2 m above sea level, in Panama. The nearest listed city is Cativá, 7.0 km away.

ChilibreAlcalde DíazLa CabimaLas CumbresArraiján

Topography around Colon

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Colon has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 28 m around an average of 2 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 303 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,122 m.

The land around Colon is covered by water (57%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 3 km, water (59%) and trees (31%) within 16 km, and water (46%) and trees (43%) within 80 km.

3 km
28 m
16 km
303 m
80 km
1,122 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Cativá 7.0 km · Sabanitas 11 km · Portobelo 34 km · Chilibre 38 km · Alcalde Díaz 46 km · La Cabima 48 km · Las Cumbres 50 km · Arraiján 55 km

Panama travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
110 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 45% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$19,790
2025
Happiness
6.5 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
11.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
13.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 491
Religion
Evangelical 55%Roman Catholic 33%none 10%

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 Colon (9.3603°, -79.9002°, elevation 2 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. 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).