Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Palma in December
Palma in December suits a mild city break, not a winter sun holiday built around swimming. Average daytime highs of 15.1°C make time outdoors more comfortable than in London, but nights around 10.7°C still call for a jacket. The sea averages 16.4°C, so expect cold water rather than relaxed bathing. Go if you are happy to explore in layers and adjust your plans around some rain; choose another month if heat is the main reason for travelling.
Long-term climate averages for Palma, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Palma, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Palma.
- Average daytime high
- 15.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 18°C
- Average night-time low
- 10.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 8°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +7.4°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 16.4°C
- year to year: 16°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.6h
- 50% of 9.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 38 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.7°C
- 2018-12-04
- Record low 1991-2020
- 3.9°C
- 2017-12-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 24 min
- 1306 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 Palma. Within Spain it is 60th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Palma is 7.4°C warmer by day and 8.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Palma peaks at 15.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 10.7°C; one night in ten drops to 8.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 20.7°C (2018-12-04) and the coldest night 3.9°C (2017-12-01).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 38 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2009 with 95 mm, the driest 2012 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 16.4°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.7°C to 17.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.6°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:03 and sets about 17:26 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 50%.
Is December a good time to visit Palma?
December is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Palma on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild afternoons, but keep the jacket
December is comfortable territory for walking rather than lying out in swimwear. The warmer days can reach 17.6°C or more, but that is a bonus rather than a temperature to plan around. Pack layers you can remove during a mild afternoon, with a jumper and jacket for evenings. Colder nights can fall to 8°C or below, so light summer clothing alone will not cover the conditions. There is no need to build your day around avoiding midday heat; use the middle of the day for longer spells outdoors instead. The cold sea is the main catch for swimmers: a coastal setting does not make this a warm-water holiday.
Plan around short days and some rain
Rain is a possibility rather than a reason to rule December out, with about 6 rainy days during the month. Carry a waterproof jacket and keep your outdoor plans flexible instead of relying on every afternoon staying dry. There are about 4.6 hours of sunshine a day within 9.2 hours of daylight, so sunshine should not be confused with an all-day guarantee of clear skies. Start outdoor activities earlier rather than leaving them until late afternoon, and keep indoor options for wet spells. This balance suits travellers who want time outside without summer heat, provided they are content with shorter days and occasional changes of plan.
A little perspective
Palma 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 | 14.1°C | 9.4°C | 14.7°C | 4.9 | 36 | 6 | 0% |
| February | 14.2°C | 9.0°C | 14.1°C | 5.6 | 33 | 6 | 0% |
| March | 16.5°C | 10.4°C | 14.4°C | 6.6 | 27 | 5 | 0% |
| April | 18.9°C | 12.5°C | 15.6°C | 7.2 | 38 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 22.7°C | 15.6°C | 18.4°C | 8.2 | 31 | 5 | 23% |
| Junebest | 27.1°C | 19.4°C | 22.1°C | 10.7 | 18 | 3 | 76% |
| Julybest | 30.3°C | 22.3°C | 25.3°C | 12.0 | 6 | 1 | 98% |
| Augustbest | 30.5°C | 23.0°C | 26.6°C | 10.4 | 17 | 3 | 98% |
| September | 26.5°C | 20.6°C | 25.3°C | 7.2 | 45 | 7 | 74% |
| October | 22.6°C | 17.4°C | 22.5°C | 5.6 | 55 | 8 | 20% |
| November | 17.8°C | 13.5°C | 19.2°C | 4.8 | 52 | 8 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 15.1°C | 10.7°C | 16.4°C | 4.6 | 38 | 7 | 0% |
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
Palma in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Palma hot in December?
Palma is mild in December: the average daytime high is 15.1°C and nights average 10.7°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Palma in December?
The sea around Palma averages 16.4°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Palma in December?
Palma sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 38 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2009 (95 mm) and the driest was 2012 (2 mm).
How sunny is Palma in December?
Palma gets around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Palma compare with the UK in December?
Palma is on average 7.4°C warmer than London by day in December (15.1°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Palma?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Palma reached 20.7°C on 2018-12-04, and the coldest night dropped to 3.9°C on 2017-12-01.
How much warmer is Palma than London in December?
Palma's average daytime high is 15.1°C, compared with 7.7°C in London, a difference of 7.4°C. That is a noticeable improvement for spending time outdoors, but it is still mild winter weather rather than dependable warmth for sunbathing.
Is the flight short enough for a brief December break?
The flight from London takes about 2 h 24 min, making Palma a short-haul option. That suits a brief break if your aim is milder days rather than hot weather; pack for cool evenings and possible rain.
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 Palma. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.2 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