Cancún in December
What to expect
December in Cancún is early winter, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The month is warm and inviting for long walks, with only small changes from morning to evening. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. The daylight window is balanced for full days without endless late evenings.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Cancún.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 10.9 h
- UV index (max)
- 6
- Typical sun hours
- 07:16 - 18:08
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 16 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 47%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 75%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 26.4°C and low 22.8°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 55% of days (17.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
17.0 days / month
~55% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 17.0 days / month
- Probability ~55% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~17 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~25mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~25mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 6% of days (1.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Show all disruptions (20 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.8 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~61km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~28mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~64km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 71% of days (22.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.2 days / month
~71% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.2 days / month
- Probability ~71% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~22 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Warm nights Measures: Warm nights (min >=22C). Observed about 71% of days (22.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.1 days / month
~71% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.1 days / month
- Probability ~71% of days
- Intensity Up to ~26°C (P95)
Warm nights are possible on ~22 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 64% of days (19.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.9 days / month
~64% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.9 days / month
- Probability ~64% of days
- Intensity Up to ~13mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~20 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 50% of days (15.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.6 days / month
~50% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.6 days / month
- Probability ~50% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~16 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 35% of days (11.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.0 days / month
~35% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.0 days / month
- Probability ~35% of days
- Intensity Up to ~90% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~11 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 34% of days (10.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.5 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.5 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 30% of days (9.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.4 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.4 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~55km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~9 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 30% of days (9.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.2 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.2 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Hot nights Measures: Hot nights (min >=25C). Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~26°C (P95)
Hot nights are possible on ~3 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~94% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~94 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 0.1 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Cancún?
Typical December days in Cancún reach highs of 26°C (79°F) with nights around 23°C (73°F). It usually feels warm by day and warm after dark. Overall, December sits in the middle of the Cancún climate range.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 26°C (79°F), while nights drop to around 23°C (73°F). Expect warm afternoons and warm evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 61 mm (2.4 in) across roughly 16 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 11 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 07:16 and sunset near 18:08. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are often high (around 6). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 47 km/h (29 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.