Gangneung weather in December

In December, Gangneung sees average daytime highs of 3°C and overnight lows near -5°C, with 36 mm of precipitation across 5.3 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 5°C in the first days to 2°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Gangneung's 1st-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Gangneung's year-round climate.

Daytime high
10th warmest
Overnight low
-5°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
36 mm
5.3 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:39 AM – 5:03 PM
Cloud cover
38%
1st clearest
Wind
12 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.42 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Gangneung is city in South Korea.

Density
200/km²
people per km²
Founded
~129 BCE

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 5°C in the first days to 2°C by the end.

A typical December day in Gangneung reaches about 3°C in the afternoon and slips back to -5°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -2°C and 8°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
16-2
26-2
35-3
45-3
55-3
65-3
74-4
84-4
94-4
104-4
114-4
123-5
133-5
143-5
153-5
163-5
173-5
183-6
193-6
203-6
212-6
222-6
232-6
242-6
252-6
262-7
272-7
282-7
292-7
302-7
312-7

How December really feels in Gangneung

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
18 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Gangneung weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -8°445.75.69.70.0
Feb / -7°445.7510.50.0
Mar / -1°689.15.911.71.4
Apr15° / 818.81.412.94.6
May20° / 11°878.90146.4
Jun23° / 16°11911.4014.66.4
Jul25° / 20°21915.9014.35.7
Aug26° / 20°22917.3013.55.5
Sep22° / 14°18612.2012.36.1
Oct17° / 828.50.1115.7
Nov10° / 637.51.8102.5
Dec / -5°365.33.89.40.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 31%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16535
26535
36535
46634
56634
66634
76832
86832
96931
106931
116832
126832
136931
146931
156931
166931
176931
186931
196931
207129
217129
227129
237129
247129
257129
267228
277327
287327
297327
307228
317327

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Gangneung gets around 36 mm of rain and snow over 5.3 wet days in December, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 18% and peaks near 24% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12412
22312
32312
42312
52312
62212
72212
82112
92012
102012
111912
121912
131812
141812
151712
161612
171612
181512
191512
201512
211412
221412
231412
241413
251413
261413
271413
281413
291413
301414
311514

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 12 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312calm
412calm
512calm
612calm
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 7:27 AM to 7:45 AM, and sunset from 5:02 PM to 5:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:275:02
29.67:285:01
39.57:295:01
49.57:305:01
59.57:305:01
69.57:315:01
79.57:325:01
89.57:335:01
99.57:345:01
109.47:345:01
119.47:355:02
129.47:365:02
139.47:375:02
149.47:375:02
159.47:385:02
169.47:395:03
179.47:395:03
189.47:405:03
199.47:405:04
209.47:415:04
219.47:415:05
229.47:425:05
239.47:425:05
249.47:435:06
259.47:435:07
269.47:445:07
279.47:445:08
289.47:445:08
299.47:455:09
309.47:455:10
319.47:455:10

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.42 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.42 kWh/m² to a high of 5.92 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.42 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.4Moderate
62.4Moderate
72.4Moderate
82.4Moderate
92.4Moderate
102.4Moderate
112.4Moderate
122.4Moderate
132.4Moderate
142.4Moderate
152.4Moderate
162.4Moderate
172.4Moderate
182.4Moderate
192.4Moderate
202.4Moderate
212.4Moderate
222.5Moderate
232.5Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.5Moderate
262.5Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Gangneung

In seasonPeak

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

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

Gangneung's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Gangneung?

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 Gangneung.

What to pack for Gangneung in December

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

In December, Gangneung sees daytime highs around 3°C and nights near -5°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Gangneung in December

The nearest coast averages about 13°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 14 km away) is warmest in August at about 24°C and coldest in February near 9°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 1 to Oct 7 — about 3.3 months when the water holds above 20°C.

5°10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan10Bracing
Feb9Bracing
Mar9Bracing
Apr12Bracing
May14Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug24Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct19Cool
Nov16Cool
Dec13Bracing

UV index in Gangneung 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 Gangneung peaks around August 16 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateAug 16UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May7High
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Gangneung 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 Gangneung is worst in March — around 40 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.4× the cleanest month (September, 17 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateMar 2239 µg/m³Sep 1817 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan26Moderate
Feb30Moderate
Mar40Poor
Apr38Poor
May35Moderate
Jun30Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep17Moderate
Oct20Moderate
Nov24Moderate
Dec22Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Gangneung?

Gangneung sits at 37.8°N, 128.9°E, 77 m above sea level, in South Korea. The nearest listed city is Jumunjin, 16 km away.

SantyokuSokchoPyeongchangT’aebaekNeietsuKosong

Topography around Gangneung

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Gangneung has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 163 m around an average of 48 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,166 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,646 m.

The land around Gangneung is covered by trees (46%) and artificial surfaces (36%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and water (26%) within 16 km, and trees (65%) and water (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
163 m
16 km
1,166 m
80 km
1,646 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Jumunjin 16 km · Donghae City 31 km · Santyoku 44 km · Sokcho 56 km · Pyeongchang 60 km · T’aebaek 65 km · Neietsu 73 km · Kosong 78 km

South Korea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 57% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$36,227
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.5
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
8.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 522
Religion
none 60%Protestant 17%Buddhist 16%Catholic 6%

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 Gangneung (37.7527°, 128.8724°, elevation 77 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).