Dominican Republic weather in December - temperature, rain and is it a good time to visit?

December is one of the best months for a holiday in Dominican Republic.

Weather in December at a glance

Daytime temperature
29°C
Night-time temperature
19°C
Daylight hours
10h46min
Chance of rain
50%
Days with thunderstorms
6%
Muggy days
100%

An overview for the country. Conditions can vary between cities and regions.

Plan your trip · December

Dominican Republic in December: weather for a week away

Compare destinations and see how many days of a typical trip met your preferred temperature range, with less than 1 mm of daily precipitation.

Historical dataNASA POWER1981-2025
City or region
Compare with history
What weather do you prefer?

Santo Domingo in December: Sightseeing

1981-2025

Daytime temperature 18-28°CDaily precipitation Less than 1 mm

Days matching your plans
2.5 / 7

Weekly average; typical number of days: 0-5

At least 5 matching days
20%

of historical weeks

All 7 days match
4%

of historical weeks

How many matching days were there in a week?

Each bar shows the share of historical weeks.

5-7 days matching your preferences

When to go? Compare the months

Average matching days per week

The highest average was in January: 2.6 matching days per week.

Dominican Republic in December: which destinations match most often?

Comparison of 10 cities and regions using your selected conditions.

Santo Domingo · 1981-2025

Hot days and warm nights in December

Does the temperature drop below 20°C during hot weather?

72%of hot days with a minimum ≥20°C
62%of weeks with at least 3 warm nights*

On 72% of hot days, the temperature stayed at or above 20°C even at its coolest. This covers 309 days with a maximum of at least 30°C.

Lowest temperature on hot days

Below 18°C2%
18°C to below 20°C26%
At least 20°C72%

* A warm night is represented by the daily minimum ≥20°C. Maximum and minimum refer to the same day; this does not isolate the night following a particular hot day.

Santo Domingo · Your holiday week

How much can temperatures change during a week?

Check cooler hours as well as afternoon temperatures.

Coolest time of day15.6-19.8°CWeekly minimum: typical range
Warmest day28.4-31.9°CWeekly maximum: typical range
4°CTypical difference between the highest and lowest daytime maxima in a week

How often does it get cooler from one day to the next?

14%of weeks with a day-to-day drop in maximum temperature of at least 5°C

Daytime temperatures usually changed gradually, but allow for cooler hours when packing.

Ranges are the 20th-80th percentiles of whole-week minima and maxima, not forecast limits. Cooling compares consecutive daily maxima, not day and night temperatures.

Compare all destinations
18-28°C · Less than 1 mm · 1981-2025
City or regionDays matching your plansAt least 5 matching daysAll 7 days match
Santo Domingo2.5 / 720%4%
Punta Cana4.1 / 748%18%
Salvaleon de Higüey0.6 / 72%<1%
San Francisco de Macorís1.2 / 78%1%
Bonao4.4 / 754%15%
Concepcion de La Vega4.4 / 754%15%
Santiago de los Caballeros1.3 / 77%1%
Moca1.3 / 77%1%
La Romana0.6 / 72%<1%
Santa Cruz de Barahona4.7 / 760%28%
Where do the figures come from?

The analysis includes 1,125 complete 7-day periods out of 1,125 possible periods in 45 years (1981-2025), for Santo Domingo. Every week lies entirely within the selected month. Overlapping weeks are not independent samples. Incomplete weeks are excluded.

A matching day has a daily maximum within the selected temperature range, inclusive, and precipitation below 1 mm. Trace precipitation is possible. The typical range is the 20th-80th percentile of matching days per week. Daily percentages count each calendar day once; categories can overlap.

NASA POWER provides daily MERRA-2 grid data for each location, not city weather-station measurements or an area-wide country average. These are historical frequencies, not a forecast or a measure of forecast accuracy. This comparison does not include cloud, wind, humidity, sea temperature or changes within the day, and does not assess outdoor safety. Check the current forecast before travelling. NASA POWER Daily API.

Historical frequency, not a forecast for your travel dates.

Dominican Republic - December vs the year - annual climate
In December, Dominican Republic averages about 29° during the day and 19° at night. Rain is fairly likely - around a 50% chance on a given day, so pack for showers.
Historical weather 1981-2025

Weather in Dominican Republic in December: trends from 1981 to 2025

NASA POWER

From 2016 to 2025, the average daytime high was 28.1°C, 1.1°C warmer than in 1981-1990. 1997 was the warmest (29.8°C), while 1996 was the coolest (25.8°C).

Differences between years

How similar is the weather in December from year to year?

In 33% of the years compared, temperature and the number of wet days were close to typical for this month.

Similar means an average daily maximum within 2°C and a wet-day count within 3 days of the 1991-2020 medians. This is historical similarity, not forecast accuracy.
33%of years with similar conditions
Typical average daytime high27.6°C–28.9°C
Typical number of wet days4–12 days

Daytime temperatures in December: year by year

Monthly average daily maximum temperature: compare individual years and the longer-term trend.

45 years of data
Coolest month25.8°C 1996
Warmest month29.8°C 1997
Latest year in the data28.2°C 2025
25°26°27°28°29°30°31°1981: 26.5°C · Average daytime maximum1982: 26.2°C · Average daytime maximum1983: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum1984: 26°C · Average daytime maximum1985: 26.7°C · Average daytime maximum1986: 27.3°C · Average daytime maximum1987: 27°C · Average daytime maximum1988: 26.9°C · Average daytime maximum1989: 29.1°C · Average daytime maximum1990: 27°C · Average daytime maximum1991: 27.4°C · Average daytime maximum1992: 27.7°C · Average daytime maximum1993: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum1994: 28°C · Average daytime maximum1995: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum1996: 25.8°C · Average daytime maximum1997: 29.8°C · Average daytime maximum1998: 27.1°C · Average daytime maximum1999: 26.3°C · Average daytime maximum2000: 28.8°C · Average daytime maximum2001: 28.5°C · Average daytime maximum2002: 29.6°C · Average daytime maximum2003: 27.8°C · Average daytime maximum2004: 28°C · Average daytime maximum2005: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2006: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2007: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum2008: 27.6°C · Average daytime maximum2009: 29.3°C · Average daytime maximum2010: 26.4°C · Average daytime maximum2011: 27.8°C · Average daytime maximum2012: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum2013: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2014: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum2015: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2016: 27.7°C · Average daytime maximum2017: 28.6°C · Average daytime maximum2018: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2019: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2020: 27.2°C · Average daytime maximum2021: 28°C · Average daytime maximum2022: 28.3°C · Average daytime maximum2023: 27.5°C · Average daytime maximum2024: 27.4°C · Average daytime maximum2025: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum1996: 25.8°C1997: 29.8°C2025: 28.2°C19811990200020102020202525°26°27°28°29°30°31°1981: 26.5°C · Average daytime maximum1982: 26.2°C · Average daytime maximum1983: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum1984: 26°C · Average daytime maximum1985: 26.7°C · Average daytime maximum1986: 27.3°C · Average daytime maximum1987: 27°C · Average daytime maximum1988: 26.9°C · Average daytime maximum1989: 29.1°C · Average daytime maximum1990: 27°C · Average daytime maximum1991: 27.4°C · Average daytime maximum1992: 27.7°C · Average daytime maximum1993: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum1994: 28°C · Average daytime maximum1995: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum1996: 25.8°C · Average daytime maximum1997: 29.8°C · Average daytime maximum1998: 27.1°C · Average daytime maximum1999: 26.3°C · Average daytime maximum2000: 28.8°C · Average daytime maximum2001: 28.5°C · Average daytime maximum2002: 29.6°C · Average daytime maximum2003: 27.8°C · Average daytime maximum2004: 28°C · Average daytime maximum2005: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2006: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2007: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum2008: 27.6°C · Average daytime maximum2009: 29.3°C · Average daytime maximum2010: 26.4°C · Average daytime maximum2011: 27.8°C · Average daytime maximum2012: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum2013: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2014: 28.1°C · Average daytime maximum2015: 28.7°C · Average daytime maximum2016: 27.7°C · Average daytime maximum2017: 28.6°C · Average daytime maximum2018: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2019: 29.2°C · Average daytime maximum2020: 27.2°C · Average daytime maximum2021: 28°C · Average daytime maximum2022: 28.3°C · Average daytime maximum2023: 27.5°C · Average daytime maximum2024: 27.4°C · Average daytime maximum2025: 28.2°C · Average daytime maximum1996: 25.8°C1997: 29.8°C2025: 28.2°C198120002025
Average for each year5-year average1991-2020 reference: 28.1°C

Blue band: the 20th-80th percentile of monthly averages in 1991-2020. The thicker line is the average of five consecutive years. Highlights describe whole months, not single-day records.

View temperatures for every year
YearAverage daytime maximum5-year average
198126.5°C-
198226.2°C-
198328.1°C-
198426°C-
198526.7°C26.7°C
198627.3°C26.9°C
198727°C27°C
198826.9°C26.8°C
198929.1°C27.4°C
199027°C27.5°C
199127.4°C27.5°C
199227.7°C27.6°C
199328.7°C28°C
199428°C27.8°C
199528.2°C28°C
199625.8°C27.7°C
199729.8°C28.1°C
199827.1°C27.8°C
199926.3°C27.4°C
200028.8°C27.6°C
200128.5°C28.1°C
200229.6°C28.1°C
200327.8°C28.2°C
200428°C28.5°C
200528.7°C28.5°C
200629.2°C28.7°C
200728.1°C28.4°C
200827.6°C28.3°C
200929.3°C28.6°C
201026.4°C28.1°C
201127.8°C27.8°C
201228.2°C27.9°C
201328.7°C28.1°C
201428.1°C27.8°C
201528.7°C28.3°C
201627.7°C28.3°C
201728.6°C28.4°C
201829.2°C28.5°C
201929.2°C28.7°C
202027.2°C28.4°C
202128°C28.4°C
202228.3°C28.4°C
202327.5°C28°C
202427.4°C27.7°C
202528.2°C27.9°C

How has December changed since the 1980s?

A comparison of 1981-1990 with 2016-2025 shows how temperatures, rainfall and the frequency of longer hot spells have changed.

In the latest decade, the average daytime high was 1.1°C warmer than in 1981-1990.

Daytime high
1981-199027.1°C2016-202528.1°C
change: +1.1°C
Hot days
1981-19900.7 days2016-20251.3 days
change: +0.6 days
Warm nights
1981-199025.5 days2016-202530.1 days
change: +4.6 days
Wet days
1981-199014.3 days2016-202513.4 days
change: −0.9 days
Years with a heatwave
1981-199010%2016-20250%
change: −10 pp

How often does December bring heat, frost and rain?

Typical number of days and monthly precipitation based on the 1991-2020 climate normal.

Warm days31 dayshigh of at least 25°C
Hot days0 dayshigh of at least 30°C
Frost nights0 dayslow below 0°C
Warm nights31 dayslow of at least 20°C
Wet days9 daysat least 1 mm
Monthly rainfall30 mmtypical total

How often does it rain in Dominican Republic in December?

The chances use every consecutive 3-, 5- and 7-day period from 1981 to 2025. A wet day has at least 1 mm of precipitation.

A full seven days without rain occurred in 25% of historical periods. At least one wet day occurred in 75% of weeks.

3 rain-free days45%historical chance
5 rain-free days32%historical chance
7 rain-free days25%historical chance
Longest dry spell10 daystypical in the month
Longest wet spell4 daystypical in the month

Heatwaves, warm nights and cool spells in December

The percentages show years with at least one run of three consecutive days or nights meeting the stated threshold.

Heatwave11%3 days with highs of at least 30°C5 of 45 years · most often: Days 1-10
Run of warm nights100%3 nights with lows of at least 20°C45 of 45 years · most often: Days 1-10
Run of frosty nights0%3 nights with lows below 0°C0 of 45 years
Marked cool spell58%3 days with highs no greater than 27°C26 of 45 years · most often: Days 11-20

Highest and lowest values since 1981

Highest temperature32°C
Coolest night17.3°C
Wettest day68 mm

Start, middle or end of the month - when is the weather most stable?

We compare temperatures, dry days, heavy rain and wind. The highlighted period usually has the lowest combined risk of rain and stronger winds.

Days 1-10
28.4°CDaytime high21.7°CNight
Dry days
7 days
Heavy-rain risk
3%
Hot days
11%
Stronger wind
0%
Days 11-20most stable
28.1°CDaytime high21.3°CNight
Dry days
8 days
Heavy-rain risk
1%
Hot days
4%
Stronger wind
0%
Day 21 to month end
27.9°CDaytime high21.1°CNight
Dry days
8 days
Heavy-rain risk
0%
Hot days
6%
Stronger wind
0%

The most stable conditions for rain and wind usually occur during: Days 11-20.

Country values are the median of data for 10 cities covered by the site. Source: NASA POWER daily gridded data (MERRA-2), 1981-2025; 1991-2020 climate normal. These are area-based model data and can differ from official weather-station records.

Dominican Republic weather all year - average temperatures and rain

MonthDayNightChance of rain
January ★ 29℃18℃42%
February ★ 29℃18℃33%
March ★ 30℃19℃40%
April 32℃20℃31%
May 31℃21℃52%
June 33℃22℃37%
July 33℃23℃33%
August 33℃23℃36%
September 33℃22℃44%
October 32℃22℃41%
November 30℃20℃55%
December 29℃19℃50%
★ - months most often recommended for travel

Where is it warmest in Dominican Republic in December? Weather by city

For each city, we show the average daytime temperature and the warmest and coolest year. The comparison uses the average daily high across the whole of December, not a single extreme day.

PlaceDayNightDecember 1981-2025 SeaChance of rain
La Romana 30℃21℃
Average29.3°C Warmest year1989 · 31.2°C Coolest year1996 · 27.2°C Warmest day33°C · 1 Dec 2009 Coolest day25.7°C · 25 Dec 1982
28℃23%
Punta Cana 29℃23℃
Average27°C Warmest year2024 · 28°C Coolest year1996 · 25.6°C Warmest day29.2°C · 1 Dec 2024 Coolest day24.3°C · 24 Dec 1991
28℃41%
Salvaleon de Higüey 29℃23℃
Average29.3°C Warmest year1989 · 31.2°C Coolest year1996 · 27.2°C Warmest day33°C · 1 Dec 2009 Coolest day25.7°C · 25 Dec 1982
28℃41%
San Francisco de Macorís 29℃19℃
Average28.2°C Warmest year1997 · 30.5°C Coolest year1996 · 26°C Warmest day32.3°C · 6 Dec 1997 Coolest day23.4°C · 28 Dec 2010
-50%
Concepcion de La Vega 29℃19℃
Average24.7°C Warmest year1997 · 27.5°C Coolest year1984 · 21.8°C Warmest day30.1°C · 2 Dec 2019 Coolest day19.1°C · 2 Dec 1999
-50%
Santiago de los Caballeros 29℃19℃
Average28.2°C Warmest year1997 · 31.3°C Coolest year1996 · 25.3°C Warmest day33.8°C · 6 Dec 1997 Coolest day22.1°C · 28 Dec 2010
-50%
Moca 29℃19℃
Average28.2°C Warmest year1997 · 31.3°C Coolest year1996 · 25.3°C Warmest day33.8°C · 6 Dec 1997 Coolest day22.1°C · 28 Dec 2010
-50%

Temperature records in Dominican Republic: December compared with the whole year

The comparison uses daily high temperatures from 1981-2025 for the 7 cities shown in the table.

Warmest day in December33.8°C Santiago de los Caballeros ·
Warmest day of the year38.8°C Santiago de los Caballeros ·
Coolest day in December19.1°C Concepcion de La Vega ·
Coolest day of the year16°C Concepcion de La Vega ·

These are records in NASA POWER gridded data for the analysed cities, not official national weather-station records.

Travelling soon? Check the live 14-day weather forecast for Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic weather - other months

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