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Punta Cana in December: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Punta Cana in December will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Punta Cana, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to Punta Cana on Avionero:
December

Weather in Punta Cana in December 2024

OK Weather
Warm
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Warm water
If you plan to visit Punta Cana in December, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +79°F during the day and approximately 3 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 24 rainy days in the month and around 53 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+79°F
Avg. max. temperature
+70°F
Min.
+88°F
Max.
53 mm
Total precipitation
80%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
4 ⛅️
Cloudy
24 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Punta Cana has OK weather in December.

Average temperature in Punta Cana in December

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Punta Cana for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +82°F during the day to a minimum of +73°F during the night, the temperature in December averages around +81°F.

The average maximum temperature goes down 20% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +82°F to +81°F.

Is Punta Cana warm or cold in December?

Punta Cana is typically warm in December.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +81°F to +79°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +77°F to +75°F.

It’s generally warm, but pack a long-sleeve shirt for evenings.

Take a look at how December is compared to other months in Punta Cana:

Water temperature in Punta Cana in December

Water in Punta Cana in December is Warm. It varies from +80°F to +83°F, with an average of +82°F. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +79°F.

In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Punta Cana are reached in September, when the average sea temperature rises to +85°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +79°F.

Can you swim in Punta Cana in December?

You can absolutely swim in Punta Cana in December, the water is warm (+82°F in average), similar to heated pools. Suitable for most people, including children and the elderly.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
Bring your swimming suit, sunscreen and your favorite inflatable pink flamingo.

Climate in Punta Cana in December

Punta Cana weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Avg. temperature
+81°F+79°F+79°F
Min. temperature
+72°F+70°F+68°F
Max. temperature
+86°F+88°F+82°F
Rainfall
106 mm53 mm42 mm
Wind
3 m/s3 m/s3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+83°F+82°F+80°F
Humidity
82%80%80%
Air pressure
1012 HPa1014 HPa1015 HPa
Sunny days
234
Cloudy days
244
Rainy days
232424
Snowy days
000

December weather is still as ok as in November. It’s getting colder in December. From +81°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +79°F. As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 106 mm to 53 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 82% to 80%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 3 m/s. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in December, from 2 to 3.

But maybe it is worth considering traveling in January as the weather gets better.

Wind

Wind speed in Punta Cana in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 6 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Punta Cana is gradually decreasing during December, going from 4 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Punta Cana based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 52% chance of rain on an average day in December, with total rainfall of approximately 37 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 5 mm, which is considered light rain. December is a pretty wet month with over 16 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Punta Cana wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 71% chance of precipitation and 128 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 72% chance of precipitation and 37 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last December in Punta Cana?

This is the weather in Punta Cana in December 2023:
1 December
🌧️
+83°F
2 December
☀️
+83°F
3 December
☀️
+81°F
4 December
☀️
+82°F
5 December
☀️
+82°F
6 December
☀️
+82°F
7 December
☁️
+82°F
8 December
☁️
+81°F
9 December
☀️
+83°F
10 December
🌧️
+81°F
11 December
🌧️
+82°F
12 December
🌧️
+81°F
13 December
🌧️
+80°F
14 December
☁️
+79°F
15 December
🌧️
+79°F
16 December
🌧️
+80°F
17 December
🌧️
+81°F
18 December
☁️
+81°F
19 December
☁️
+81°F
20 December
☁️
+81°F
21 December
🌧️
+78°F
22 December
🌧️
+78°F
23 December
🌧️
+78°F
24 December
☀️
+80°F
25 December
☁️
+79°F
26 December
☁️
+78°F
27 December
☀️
+80°F
28 December
☁️
+79°F
29 December
☁️
+80°F
30 December
☀️
+80°F
31 December
☁️
+80°F
In December 2023 Punta Cana had 9 sunny days, 11 cloudy days, and 11 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +81°F, with an absolute maximum of +82°F and a minimum of +77°F. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 94% and a minimum of 69%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Punta Cana climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Punta Cana in December has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1985 (+80°F) and the highest in 2023 (+82°F). The driest year was 2015 with only 611 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 1979 with 1494 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Punta Cana in December:

Is December a good time to visit Punta Cana?

It’s always a good time to visit Punta Cana, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Punta Cana in December?

December is warm in Punta Cana. You may enjoy some beach or pool time in the day, but pack something a tad warmer for the evening.

Can you swim in Punta Cana in December?

Yes, you can swim in Punta Cana in December, the water temperature averaging at +82°F. This temperature is considered warm and comfortable for most swimmers.

Is Punta Cana rainy in December?

Punta Cana is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Punta Cana in December?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Punta Cana in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in Dominican Republic

Check out the weather for other cities in Dominican Republic.

Monthly weather in Punta Cana

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Punta Cana, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.