Average high temperature and rainfall for Cancun in December. © Scott S. Bateman

Cancun weather in December is appealing to people who want to escape the cold northern countries but don’t want to spend time in the ocean.

This resort city on the Caribbean coast of Mexico is hugely popular during most of the year because of its beaches, attractions and convenient location.

Cancun lies at about the same latitude as the Turks and Caicos islands, which are the northernmost islands in the Caribbean. Cancun’s northern location means cooler winter months than most destinations in the Caribbean region.

Cancun Temperatures in December

The average high temperature for Cancun in December is 83 degrees Fahrenheit or about 28 degrees Celsius, according to Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Mexico’s national meteorology service.

That average high makes December the second coolest month of the year after the slightly cooler January. By comparison, the average high is 92 degrees Fahrenheit or 33 Celsius in July and August when the city is literally one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean.

The average low temperature in December is 69 degrees Fahrenheit or about 20 degrees Celsius. The nighttime lows and cooling trade winds make beaches and swimming uncomfortable at times, especially in the mornings. It is why December is not the best month to go for beach lovers. The beaches themselves are warm, but oftentimes not the water.

Warm daytime temperatures make December a popular month with Cancun visitors for land activities in particular.

Risk of Rain in December

Cancun gets high levels of rain during the rainy season from June through November. They are the same months as the Caribbean hurricane season.

The average rainfall reaches about nine inches a month in September and October, five inches in November and about four inches in December. Four inches is moderate but still above average in December compared to many destinations in the Caribbean.

In contrast, average rainfall from February through April is about one to two inches a month during the city’s dry season.

It rains only about five days a month during that dry season, while December has an average of 10 to 11 days of rain.

December is not the best month to visit Cancun for anyone wanting ideal weather conditions. February, March and especially April are better months.

Still, this Mexican resort city is popular in December for anyone wanting to escape northern winters. It also is popular because of winter break from schools.

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