Cockburn Town weather in December

In December, Cockburn Town sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 42 mm of rain across 9.9 wet days and about 10.7 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 48 min at the start of December to 10 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Cockburn Town's 5th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cockburn Town's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
8th warmest
Overnight low
25°
5th coldest
Rainfall
42 mm
9.9 wet days
Daylight
10 h 42 min
6:20 AM – 5:02 PM
Cloud cover
36%
5th clearest
Wind
27 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
4.06 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Cockburn Town is capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Density
214/km²
people per km²
Founded
1681

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 26°C through the month.

A typical December day in Cockburn Town reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 1°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12625
22625
32625
42625
52625
62625
72625
82625
92625
102625
112625
122625
132625
142625
152625
162625
172625
182625
192625
202625
212625
222625
232625
242625
252624
262624
272624
282624
292624
302624
312524

How December really feels in Cockburn Town

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.

Cockburn Town 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
Jan25° / 24°348.310.87.6
Feb25° / 24°205.411.38.1
Mar25° / 24°326.711.88.0
Apr25° / 24°336.412.57.8
May26° / 25°549.9136.8
Jun28° / 26°347.513.36.8
Jul28° / 27°488.213.26.7
Aug28° / 27°5810.312.76.0
Sep28° / 27°10614.412.15.3
Oct28° / 26°931611.55.6
Nov27° / 25°8114.3116.2
Dec26° / 25°429.910.77.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 18%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18020
28020
38020
48218
58218
68218
78218
88317
98317
108317
118317
128317
138218
148218
158218
168218
178218
188119
198218
208218
218218
228218
238119
248218
258218
268119
278119
288119
298119
308119
318119

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Cockburn Town gets around 42 mm of rain over 9.9 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 32% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
235
335
434
534
633
733
833
932
1032
1132
1232
1332
1432
1532
1632
1732
1832
1932
2032
2132
2232
2332
2431
2531
2631
2731
2830
2930
3030
3129

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 60% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 88% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11827631
21727641
31727641
41827631
51827631
61826641
71926631
81925641
911025640
1011024650
1111124640
1211124640
1311125630
1411125630
1511125630
1621126610
1721126610
1821126610
1921127600
2021128590
2121128590
2231129570
2331030570
2431030570
2531031560
2631032550
2731032550
283933550
293933550
3031034530
3131035520

Wind in December

Winds average 27 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 26 km/h on the calmest days to 28 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0102030151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
126breezy
226breezy
326breezy
426breezy
526breezy
626breezy
727breezy
827breezy
927breezy
1027breezy
1127breezy
1227breezy
1327breezy
1427breezy
1527breezy
1627breezy
1727breezy
1827breezy
1927breezy
2027breezy
2127breezy
2227breezy
2327breezy
2427breezy
2527breezy
2628breezy
2728breezy
2828breezy
2928breezy
3028breezy
3128breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min at the start of December to 10 h 42 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 6:11 AM to 6:26 AM, and sunset from 4:58 PM to 5:09 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:114:58
210.86:114:58
310.86:124:58
410.86:134:58
510.86:134:59
610.76:144:59
710.76:154:59
810.76:154:59
910.76:164:59
1010.76:165:00
1110.76:175:00
1210.76:185:00
1310.76:185:01
1410.76:195:01
1510.76:195:01
1610.76:205:02
1710.76:205:02
1810.76:215:03
1910.76:215:03
2010.76:225:03
2110.76:225:04
2210.76:235:04
2310.76:235:05
2410.76:245:05
2510.76:245:06
2610.76:255:06
2710.76:255:07
2810.76:255:07
2910.76:265:08
3010.76:265:08
3110.76:265:09

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.06 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.06 kWh/m² to a high of 6.93 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 4.06 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.2Bright
24.2Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.1Bright
94.1Bright
104.1Bright
114.1Bright
124.1Bright
134.1Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.1Bright
184.0Bright
194.0Bright
204.0Bright
214.0Bright
224.0Bright
234.0Bright
244.0Bright
254.0Bright
264.0Bright
274.0Bright
284.0Bright
294.0Bright
304.0Bright
314.0Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Cockburn Town

In seasonPeak

None of Cockburn Town's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Cockburn Town sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Cockburn Town's rainy season runs August–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Cockburn Town?

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

7.1
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Cockburn Town in December

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

In December, Cockburn Town sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

light clothesrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Cockburn Town in December

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 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.

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr26Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in Cockburn Town in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Cockburn Town peaks around August 16 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highHighAug 16UV 12Dec 15UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan7Very high
Feb9Very high
Mar11Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov7High
Dec6High

Air quality in Cockburn Town 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 Cockburn Town is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1523 µg/m³Jan 16 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr8Good
May13Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov7Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Cockburn Town?

Cockburn Town sits at 21.5°N, 71.1°W, 7 m above sea level, in Turks and Caicos Islands. The nearest listed city is Providenciales, 120 km away.

Providenciales

Topography around Cockburn Town

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Cockburn Town has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m around an average of 2 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 42 m.

The land around Cockburn Town is covered by water (67%) within 3 km, water (98%) within 16 km, and water (97%) within 80 km.

3 km
26 m
16 km
26 m
80 km
42 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
December weather nearby: Providenciales 120 km · San Fernando de Monte Cristi 187 km · Puerto Plata 191 km · Monte Llano 200 km · Sosua 201 km · Río Grande 203 km · Cabarete 205 km · Esperanza 209 km

Turks and Caicos Islands travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Prices
≈ 99% of US
price level, 2024
GDP per capita
$37,507
2024
Safe drinking water
47%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
76.3
per 100k, 2022
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 73%other 14%Roman Catholic 11%Jehovah's Witness 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 Cockburn Town (21.4612°, -71.1419°, elevation 7 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).