Your December weather guide
WarmWeather in Gran Canaria in December
December is a good choice for Gran Canaria if you want mild warmth rather than a hot beach holiday. Daytime highs average 21°C, nights fall to around 17°C, and the sea is a bracing 20.6°C. That makes it better suited to spending time outdoors and swimming briefly than relying on long, comfortable sessions in the water. Expect some rain, and pack a layer rather than treating it like summer.
Long-term climate averages for Maspalomas (south coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Gran Canaria, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Maspalomas (south coast).
- Average daytime high
- 21.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 23°C
- Average night-time low
- 16.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 15°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +13.5°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 20.6°C
- year to year: 20°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.4h
- 62% of 10.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 5
- 28 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 72%
- Days over 25°C
- 2%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 27.1°C
- 2018-12-07
- Record low 1991-2020
- 12.8°C
- 2008-12-29
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2904 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Gran Canaria and ranks 47th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Spain it is 5th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Gran Canaria is 13.5°C warmer by day and 14.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Gran Canaria peaks at 21.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 23.2°C or more. Roughly 1 in 59 days top 25°C. Nights average 16.9°C; one night in ten drops to 15.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 27.1°C (2018-12-07) and the coldest night 12.8°C (2008-12-29).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 28 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1991 with 116 mm, the driest 2011 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 72%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 20.6°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.9°C to 21.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.2°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:46 and sets about 18:09 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 37%.
Is December a good time to visit Gran Canaria?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Gran Canaria on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Comfortably warm days, with cooler evenings
Light clothes should work well during warmer parts of the day, but bring a jumper or light jacket for evenings. The average night low of 16.9°C is mild, not reliably warm enough to sit outside comfortably in summer clothes. Cooler nights can reach 15.2°C or below, so an extra layer is useful if you feel the cold. At midday, warmth rather than strong heat is the usual expectation: only 2% of days reach 25°C. December sits towards the cooler end of Gran Canaria's year, which suits travellers who prefer being active outdoors to seeking high temperatures. If heat is your main priority, June, July and August are stronger choices.
Useful sunshine, but swimming may feel brisk
There is enough sunshine to make outdoor plans worthwhile, with about 6.4 hours a day within 10.3 hours of daylight. Keep plans flexible rather than assuming every day will be clear: about 4 days have measurable rain, so a light waterproof is sensible. Make the most of the middle of the day for sitting outside or trying a swim, when the air is warmer. The sea averages 20.6°C, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. It may suit a quick dip if you tolerate cool water, but it is a drawback if swimming is the main reason for your trip. Pack something dry to put on afterwards, especially as the afternoon cools.
A little perspective
Gran Canaria through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20.2°C | 15.5°C | 19.5°C | 6.8 | 14 | 3 | 1% |
| February | 20.5°C | 15.6°C | 18.8°C | 7.5 | 20 | 3 | 4% |
| March | 21.6°C | 16.1°C | 18.8°C | 8.1 | 16 | 4 | 12% |
| April | 22.0°C | 16.6°C | 19.2°C | 8.5 | 13 | 4 | 8% |
| May | 23.4°C | 17.8°C | 20.0°C | 9.4 | 8 | 3 | 17% |
| Junebest | 25.1°C | 19.3°C | 21.2°C | 11.2 | 3 | 1 | 42% |
| Julybest | 27.6°C | 20.9°C | 21.9°C | 12.1 | 1 | 0 | 89% |
| Augustbest | 28.3°C | 22.0°C | 22.8°C | 11.2 | 0 | 0 | 97% |
| September | 27.0°C | 21.5°C | 23.2°C | 9.1 | 7 | 2 | 90% |
| October | 25.7°C | 20.7°C | 23.2°C | 7.3 | 21 | 5 | 56% |
| November | 23.4°C | 18.8°C | 22.1°C | 6.4 | 15 | 4 | 21% |
| DecemberSelected | 21.2°C | 16.9°C | 20.6°C | 6.4 | 28 | 5 | 2% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Gran Canaria in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Gran Canaria hot in December?
Gran Canaria is warm in December: the average daytime high is 21.2°C and nights average 16.9°C. Roughly 1 in 59 December days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Gran Canaria in December?
The sea around Gran Canaria averages 20.6°C in December, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 20°C to 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Gran Canaria in December?
Gran Canaria sees about 5 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 28 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 1991 (116 mm) and the driest was 2011 (0 mm).
How sunny is Gran Canaria in December?
Gran Canaria gets around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 10.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Gran Canaria compare with the UK in December?
Gran Canaria is on average 13.5°C warmer than London by day in December (21.2°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Gran Canaria?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Gran Canaria reached 27.1°C on 2018-12-07, and the coldest night dropped to 12.8°C on 2008-12-29.
How much warmer is Gran Canaria than London in December?
The average daytime high is 21.2°C, compared with 7.7°C in London - a difference of 13.5°C. That is a substantial step up in warmth for outdoor time, although evenings still call for a jumper or light jacket.
Is the flight short enough for a quick winter break?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, putting Gran Canaria within short-haul reach. It is a reasonable option if you want warmer December days without a long-haul flight, provided mild weather rather than dependable heat meets your needs.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Maspalomas (Maspalomas (south coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C