December Weather in Puerto Rico - 2024

Puerto Rico, officially known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is only 100 Miles (161 km) long by 35 Miles (56 km) wide, making it the smallest island of the Greater Antilles.

Puerto Rico (Spanish for "rich port") consists of an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and several islands: Vieques, Culebra, Mona, and numerous islets.

Puerto Rico is home to one cultural site on the UNESCO World Heritage List, La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Old San Juan.

Seen as the gateway to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico's rich heritage blending Spanish and African cultures gives the island a personality unlike anywhere else. The cruise destination continues to entice snowbirds into staying longer to soak up more of the island's white-sand beaches and thriving food scene.

There are 3.3 million people living in Puerto Rico, and most of the population lives in the capital city, San Juan, and other larger towns, which are made up of different cultures and social classes. Top Cities to Visit in Puerto Rico are:

• San Juan
• Ponce
• Caguas
• Mayagüez
• Bayamón
• Carolina
• Arecibo
• Guaynabo
• Cayey
• Aguadilla
• Fajardo

December weather in Puerto Rico

To get a good overview of the type of weather you can expect in December in Puerto Rico, we will look at the day and night temperature, minimum and maximum water temperature, and if December is comfortable or humid

Generally, December in Puerto Rico will be really nice. Historical data shows that you can expect an average temperature of around 78°F / 26°C. But due to the very high humidity, it can feel very uncomfortable. During the night, it will cool down to around 68°F / 20°C. Many will prefer a location with air conditioning due to the high humidity level.

Puerto Rico has its share of rainy days in December. You can expect around 11 rainy days, with on average 1 inches / 26 mm of rain during the whole month.

But remember that rain can be short and heavy for many tropical locations, particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.

December weather in Puerto Rico in more detail

To get a better feeling for the type of weather, you can expect in December in Puerto Rico, we will look at the temperature, rain, wind, humidity, water temperature, and sun and clouds

- What will the temperature be in Puerto Rico in December

Generally, you can expect in December an average temperature of 78°F / 26°C during the day and an average of 68°F / 20°C during the night. In December, during the warmest part of the afternoon, the temperature can often get as high as 82°F / 28°C, and at the end of the night, it can get as low as 64°F / 18°C.

When looking at the whole year, January, February and December are the coldest months, with an average temperature of around 78°F / 26°C. June, July, August and September are the hottest months, with an average temperature of around 84°F / 29°C. When comparing December with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to November, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 80°F / 27°C. And equal to January, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 78°F / 26°C.

But average temperatures only tell half of the story. It is also good to check the maximum and minimum temperatures. When looking at the whole year, May, June, July, August and September are the hottest months, with a temperature of around 87°F / 31°C. January and December are the coldest months, with a temperature of around 82°F / 28°C. When comparing December with the temperature in the month before and after, this is almost equal to November, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 84°F / 29°C. And equal to January, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 82°F / 28°C.

In the following graph, you can see how many cold and hot days you can expect in Puerto Rico each month:

- Can you expect rain in December in Puerto Rico?

Generally, you can expect about 11 rain days in December, with on average 1 inches / 26 mm of rain.

When looking at the whole year, February is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of around 0.7 inches / 17 mmmm. October is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of around 4.1 inches / 104 mmmm. When comparing December with the month before and after, this is a lot less than November, which sees around 2.7 inches / 68 mm of rain. And more than January, which sees around 0.8 inches / 20 mm of rain

If we look at the number of days with rain, February is the month with the least amount of rain days with around 8 days. October is the month with the most rain days with an average of between 23 and 24 days. When comparing December with the month before and after, this is less than November, which sees around 18 days of rain. And almost equal to January, which sees an average of between 10 and 11 days of rain

There is one thing that is important to know, in many tropical destinations rain can be short and heavy, particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.

- What will the water temperature be in Puerto Rico for December

You can expect in December, the water temperature for Puerto Rico to be between 82°F / 28°C and 80°F / 27°C.

To compare the water temperature we will use the maximum water temperature. You can expect this temperature on a more sunny day, close to the shore, when the wind does not mix the relatively warmer and colder water.

September has the highest water temperature, with around 86°F / 30°C. March has the lowest water temperature, with an average of between 78°F / 26°C and 80°F / 27°C. When comparing the water temperature from December with the month before and after, December has a water temperature almost equal to November, with a water temperature of around 84°F / 29°C. And almost equal to the water temperature from January, that is an average of between 80°F / 27°C and 82°F / 28°C.

- Can you expect in December a lot of sunny days in Puerto Rico

Generally, you can expect around 15 sunny days in December and around 15 partly sunny days. The remaining days will be cloudy.

When looking at the whole year, December is the month with the highest number of sunny days, with an average of between 14 and 15 sunny days. May is the month with the lowest number of sunny days, with an average of between 4 and 5 sunny days. When comparing December with the number of sunny days in the month before and after, it is higher than November, with around 8 sunny days. And almost equal to January, with around 14 sunny days

We have looked at the sunny days in Puerto Rico. Let's also look at the cloudy or overcast days. May is the month with the highest number of cloudy days, with an average of between 8 and 9 cloudy days. January is the month with the lowest number of cloudy days, with an average of between 0 and 1 cloudy days. When comparing December with the number of cloudy days in the month before and after, it is slightly lower than November, with an average of between 4 and 5 cloudy days. And almost equal to January, with an average of between 0 and 1 cloudy days

- Will it be comfortable in December in Puerto Rico?

Generally, December in Puerto Rico will have a very high humidity, and can feel very uncomfortable.

We use the humidity and temperature in Puerto Rico to calculate the Wintersun Expert Comfort level for each month. The lower the Wintersun Expert Comfort level, the more comfortable it will be. Only for certain people, extremely dry air can feel slightly uncomfortable.

When looking at the whole year, January has the lowest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "slightly uncomfortable" (moderately humid). July has the highest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "very uncomfortable" (very high humidity). When comparing December with the month before and after, this is almost equal to November, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very uncomfortable" (very high humidity). And slightly more than January, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "slightly uncomfortable" (moderately humid)

What to do in Puerto Rico in December

Puerto Rico has notable places that are worthwhile visiting:

• Architecture: Puerto Rico's architecture is a diverse mixture of different cultural and artistic influences, reflective of the island's history. Snowbirds will find Spanish Colonial, Gothic, Neoclassical, and Baroque architecture styles in close proximity to each other. The most notable of these include El Morro Fortress, San Cristobal Fortress, the San Juan Cathedral, and the Dominican Convent.
• Arts & crafts: There is a strong artistic presence among Puerto Ricans, whether from artists formally trained in art schools, or self-taught amateurs. Snowbirds interested in Puerto Rican art can go to the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in the Dominican Convent in Old San Juan. It is the best source of information on the island about Puerto Rican arts and crafts. Another good place to see Puerto Rican art is the Museum of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras
• The Beaches: These places are best for beaches in Puerto Rico- Combate Beach, Flamenco Beach, Seven Seas Beach, Sandy Beach, and Crashboat Beach amongst others.
• Nature & Parks: National Forest System and El Yunque (which is home to 26 animal species that isn't found anywhere else in the world) as well as the picture-perfect La Mina waterfalls.

Is it humid in Puerto Rico in December?

A lot of people ask interested in the humidity or relative humidity for Puerto Rico in December. But the real question they want to ask is not about humidity but the amount of moisture in the air. Or better, about comfort. Will it be comfortable in December in Puerto Rico, or will high humidity make it uncomfortable.

To answer this question, we have to look at the dew point. Relative humidity can change a lot in Puerto Rico during the day and night, as it changes when the amount of moisture changes and, but also when the temperature changes. It is a lot less reliable for comfort. Where the dew point only varies with the amount of moisture in the air.

Looking at the dew point, we can see that for the month of December, you can expect that Puerto Rico will have a very high humidity, and can feel very uncomfortable.

January is the month with the most comfort. It will be moderately humid, and can feel slightly uncomfortable for some. July is the most uncomfortable month. It will be extremely humid, and can feel extremely uncomfortable. In the graph, you can see that there is not a lot of difference between the most comfortable and most uncomfortable months.

Is December a good time to go to Puerto Rico?

Trying to answer the question of whether December is a good time to go to Puerto Rico is not as easy as it first seems. Some people like colder weather, and others prefer a warmer climate. Some are fine with some humidity, and others are not. If your location has air conditioning, the night temperature is less important.

These are some examples. I will try to answer the question with a more generic person in mind. The more detailed information in this article should be enough to check further if this applies to you as well.

If we look at the average temperature for Puerto Rico in December, we can see that it will be fine for most people. In December, you can expect it to be really nice, with an average temperature of around 78°F / 26°C. But due to the very high humidity, it can feel very uncomfortable. During the night, it will be around 68°F / 20°C.

As the number of overcast days is not high, you can enjoy the sun with around 15 sunny days and 15 partly sunny days.

The last aspect we will look at is rain. You can expect around 11 rainy days, with on average 1 inches / 26 mm of rain during December. More then 5 days rain per month makes the chance higher you will see some rain during a shorter stay. But a day with rain does not mean a day you can not enjoy.

We have looked at the average day temperature, the night temperature, humidity, the number of overcast days, and the rain. We think that December in Puerto Rico is not the most optimal destination. But that doesn't mean it is not a good time for you to go. As said before, each visitor has their own preferences when it comes to the weather.

Does it rain all day in Puerto Rico in December?

In Puerto Rico, it does not rain all day in December. You can expect around 11 rainy days, with on average 1 inches / 26 mm of rain during the month.

Another way of looking at the rain is the number of sunny days. For Puerto Rico, there are, on average 15 sunny days and 15 partly sunny days in December. That clearly shows that it is not raining all the time.

And, as for many tropical locations, rain can be short and heavy. This applies particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.

Is December the rainiest month in Puerto Rico?

December is not the month with the most rainy days, and not the month with the most rain.

To answer what the rainiest month is in Puerto Rico, we will both look at the month with the most rain, and the month with the highest number of rainy days.

October is the month with the the highest number of rainiest days. On average, you can expect 23 days with rain. February is the month with the lowest number of rainy days, with aproximately 8 days.

October is the month with the most rain. This is not equal as the one with the most rainy days. On average, you can expect 4.1 inches / 104 mm of rain. February is the month with the least amount of rain. This is not the same month as the one with the lowest number of rainy days. You can expect approximately 0.7 inches / 17 mm of rain.

Is December the most sunniest month in Puerto Rico?

December is the month with the most sunny days, not the month with the most partly sunny days, and it is not the month with the lowest number of overcast days.

To answer what the sunniest month is in Puerto Rico, we will of course look at the month with the most sunniest days, but also look at the month with the biggest number of days that are sunny or partly sunny.

December is the month with the highest number of sunny days. On average, you can expect 15 sunny days, and 15 partly suny days. May is the month with the lowest number of sunny days.

January is the month with the highest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined. While June is the month with the lowest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined.

The last thing we will look at is the number of overcast days. January is the month with the lowest number of overcast days. While May is the month with the highest number of overcast days.

More information about Puerto Rico

Weather in Puerto Rico in other months

• Weather in Puerto Rico for January
• Weather in Puerto Rico for February
• Weather in Puerto Rico for March
• Weather in Puerto Rico for April
• Weather in Puerto Rico for May
• Weather in Puerto Rico for June
• Weather in Puerto Rico for July
• Weather in Puerto Rico for August
• Weather in Puerto Rico for September
• Weather in Puerto Rico for October
• Weather in Puerto Rico for November

What to do in Puerto Rico for each month

• What to do in January in Puerto Rico
• What to do in February in Puerto Rico
• What to do in March in Puerto Rico
• What to do in April in Puerto Rico
• What to do in May in Puerto Rico
• What to do in June in Puerto Rico
• What to do in July in Puerto Rico
• What to do in August in Puerto Rico
• What to do in September in Puerto Rico
• What to do in October in Puerto Rico
• What to do in November in Puerto Rico
• What to do in December in Puerto Rico