December is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City, with average highs near 17.8°C and lows around 11.4°C (mean 14.6°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 108 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Panama City was 2015 — when the month averaged 18.3°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 10.3°C. Typical December days reach 17.8°C with nights near 11.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Panama City, averaging 108 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2018 with 256 mm, while the driest was 1984 at 31 mm.
Relative humidity in Panama City during December averages 81%. The most humid December was 2021 at 90%, and the least humid was 2010 at 72%.
December receives about 2.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Panama City. The sunniest December was 2003 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1986 and 2009 at 2.2.
Average wind speed in Panama City during December is 4 m/s. The windiest December was 1982 at 4.8 m/s, while the calmest was 1984 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 14.0°C | 14.6°C | 14.2°C | 15.3°C | 15.2°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 17.1°C | 17.7°C | 17.6°C | 18.6°C | 18.5°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 10.8°C | 11.5°C | 10.8°C | 12.1°C | 11.9°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 124 mm | 83 mm | 113 mm | 123 mm | 92 mm | -33 mm |
December temperatures in Panama City have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -5.6°C (1989) to a record high of 26.1°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 108 mm, with a wettest year of 256 mm.
A good time to visit Panama City
December is a good time to visit Panama City, with days averaging 17.8°C and nights around 11.4°C (mean 14.6°C, cooler than Panama City's yearly average) and higher rainfall. October and May are marginally more temperate, but December still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18.2°C | 14.7°C | 11.1°C | 22.2°C | 2.4°C | 127 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 18.4°C | 14.8°C | 11.3°C | 23.2°C | 5.7°C | 55 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2023 | 17.3°C | 14.2°C | 11.1°C | 22.8°C | 5.3°C | 122 mm | 82% | 4.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 19.0°C | 15.6°C | 12.3°C | 24.8°C | -2.1°C | 92 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 20.8°C | 18.2°C | 15.6°C | 23.8°C | 6.7°C | 69 mm | 90% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 17.2°C | 13.5°C | 9.8°C | 21.9°C | 2.7°C | 84 mm | 79% | 4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2019 | 18.8°C | 15.6°C | 12.3°C | 23.2°C | 4.7°C | 139 mm | 83% | 4.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 🌧️ | 17.5°C | 14.8°C | 12.0°C | 23.4°C | 4.9°C | 256 mm | 85% | 4.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 18.0°C | 14.9°C | 11.8°C | 23.7°C | 5.8°C | 74 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2016 | 20.0°C | 16.6°C | 13.2°C | 23.4°C | 5.8°C | 101 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 🔥 | 21.2°C | 18.3°C | 15.5°C | 23.9°C | 6.3°C | 190 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 18.4°C | 15.3°C | 12.2°C | 23.0°C | 7.4°C | 120 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2013 | 18.7°C | 15.3°C | 11.9°C | 23.3°C | 4.2°C | 139 mm | 87% | 3.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2012 | 19.6°C | 16.0°C | 12.4°C | 23.2°C | 4.0°C | 81 mm | 81% | 3.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 19.2°C | 15.8°C | 12.5°C | 22.7°C | 6.1°C | 84 mm | 81% | 4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2010 | 14.1°C | 10.4°C | 6.8°C | 20.1°C | 1.1°C | 43 mm | 72% | 4.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2009 | 16.5°C | 13.4°C | 10.3°C | 23.1°C | 4.7°C | 241 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 18.7°C | 15.4°C | 12.0°C | 21.9°C | 3.2°C | 110 mm | 83% | 4.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2007 | 19.7°C | 16.3°C | 12.9°C | 23.6°C | 4.9°C | 92 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2006 | 18.8°C | 15.2°C | 11.6°C | 23.7°C | 1.0°C | 112 mm | 79% | 4 m/s | 3 |
| 2005 | 16.5°C | 13.3°C | 10.2°C | 23.2°C | 4.7°C | 117 mm | 76% | 4.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 16.4°C | 13.2°C | 10.0°C | 23.3°C | 1.6°C | 109 mm | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 16.5°C | 12.8°C | 9.0°C | 21.3°C | 5.0°C | 87 mm | 79% | 4.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 16.4°C | 13.3°C | 10.3°C | 21.2°C | 5.6°C | 138 mm | 79% | 4.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2001 | 20.3°C | 16.9°C | 13.4°C | 26.1°C | 5.5°C | 57 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2000 | 15.9°C | 11.9°C | 7.8°C | 23.4°C | -1.3°C | 72 mm | 78% | 4.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1999 | 18.2°C | 14.9°C | 11.6°C | 23.0°C | 4.6°C | 81 mm | 74% | 4.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 | 19.6°C | 16.6°C | 13.6°C | 24.2°C | 7.4°C | 89 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 16.0°C | 13.1°C | 10.2°C | 21.6°C | 3.5°C | 109 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1996 | 17.8°C | 14.6°C | 11.5°C | 22.7°C | 1.6°C | 131 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1995 | 16.4°C | 13.1°C | 9.9°C | 22.4°C | 1.4°C | 61 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1994 | 17.5°C | 14.7°C | 11.9°C | 22.8°C | 6.6°C | 82 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1993 | 15.8°C | 12.6°C | 9.5°C | 21.3°C | 4.3°C | 101 mm | 78% | 4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 | 17.9°C | 14.8°C | 11.7°C | 21.6°C | 6.6°C | 65 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1991 | 17.8°C | 14.5°C | 11.3°C | 23.4°C | 4.5°C | 50 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 20.0°C | 16.8°C | 13.7°C | 24.4°C | 3.2°C | 64 mm | 79% | 3.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 13.6°C | 10.3°C | 7.1°C | 21.6°C | -5.6°C | 169 mm | 82% | 4.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1988 | 17.2°C | 14.0°C | 10.8°C | 21.8°C | 3.5°C | 46 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 3 |
| 1987 | 18.0°C | 15.0°C | 12.0°C | 21.9°C | 3.9°C | 46 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1986 | 16.8°C | 14.1°C | 11.3°C | 22.6°C | 6.6°C | 147 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 15.8°C | 12.5°C | 9.1°C | 23.7°C | -1.9°C | 138 mm | 79% | 3.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 | 21.3°C | 18.1°C | 14.9°C | 24.0°C | 1.0°C | 31 mm | 83% | 3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 15.5°C | 12.1°C | 8.7°C | 22.9°C | -4.9°C | 160 mm | 82% | 4.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 19.0°C | 16.2°C | 13.4°C | 24.0°C | 4.0°C | 237 mm | 86% | 4.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.9°C | 13.4°C | 9.9°C | 23.3°C | -1.5°C | 143 mm | 75% | 4.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 17.8°C with lows near 11.4°C (mean 14.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 108 mm of rainfall in Panama City, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 256 mm in 2018.
The hottest December reached 26.1°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -5.6°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.7°C to 18.7°C and overnight lows from 11.2°C to 12.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City and one of the drier months, so plan for around 17.8°C daytime highs and 11.4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Panama City, averaging 14.6°C.
For December in Panama City, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17.8°C and lows of 11.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.8 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 2018 with 256 mm. On average, December sees 108 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Panama City behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
