Philipsburg in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Philipsburg sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 96 mm of rain over about 27 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is Philipsburg's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. Philipsburg has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Philipsburg's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 25°C
- Rainfall
- 96 mm
- 27 wet days
- Avg wind
- 27 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.4
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Philipsburg in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 26°C.
A typical winter day in Philipsburg reaches about 26°C and drops to 25°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
How winter really feels in Philipsburg
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Philipsburg weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 24° | 27 | 9.1 | 11 | 7.5 |
| Feb | 25° / 24° | 21 | 6.9 | 11.4 | 7.8 |
| Mar | 25° / 24° | 20 | 5.5 | 11.9 | 8.0 |
| Apr | 26° / 25° | 31 | 7.8 | 12.4 | 7.4 |
| May | 27° / 26° | 61 | 11.9 | 12.8 | 6.4 |
| Jun | 27° / 26° | 48 | 10.6 | 13.1 | 6.4 |
| Jul | 28° / 26° | 71 | 14 | 13 | 6.1 |
| Aug | 28° / 27° | 84 | 15 | 12.6 | 5.6 |
| Sep | 28° / 27° | 117 | 17.2 | 12.1 | 5.1 |
| Oct | 28° / 26° | 126 | 16.3 | 11.6 | 5.5 |
| Nov | 27° / 26° | 103 | 14.8 | 11.2 | 6.0 |
| Dec | 26° / 25° | 48 | 11.4 | 10.9 | 6.9 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Philipsburg gets around 96 mm of rain over 27 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 27 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 hours in early December to 11 h 36 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Philipsburg
None of Philipsburg's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Philipsburg sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Philipsburg's rainy season runs May–May, when most of the year's rain falls.
Philipsburg sees seasonal dust haze (July), heaviest in July.
Is winter a good time to visit Philipsburg?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Philipsburg for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Philipsburg in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Philipsburg sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear, sun protection and a windbreaker. About 27 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Philipsburg in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 27°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 14 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 26°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | Warm |
| Feb | 26 | Warm |
| Mar | 26 | Warm |
| Apr | 27 | Warm |
| May | 27 | Warm |
| Jun | 28 | Warm |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 29 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Tropical |
| Dec | 27 | Warm |
UV index in Philipsburg in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages 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 Philipsburg peaks around April 12 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 7 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 8 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 10 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | High |
Air quality in Philipsburg in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Philipsburg is worst in July — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 7 | Good |
| Apr | 9 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 22 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 15 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Philipsburg?
Philipsburg sits at 18.0°N, 63.0°W, 0 m above sea level, in Sint Maarten. The nearest listed city is Marigot, 6.0 km away.
Topography around Philipsburg
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Philipsburg.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Philipsburg has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 316 m around an average of 39 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 417 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,075 m.
The land around Philipsburg is covered by water (42%), trees (27%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, water (90%) within 16 km, and water (98%) within 80 km.
Sint Maarten travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 1
- Exercise Normal Precautions
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 / 127 / 220 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 76% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $42,978
- 2025
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
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 Philipsburg (18.026°, -63.0458°, elevation 0 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.