Your December weather guide
WarmWeather in Playa de las Americas in December
December is a good choice for Playa de las Americas if you want mild warmth rather than a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are 20.7°C, compared with 7.7°C in London, so spending time outside should feel much more comfortable than at home. Nights average 16.4°C, making an extra layer useful after dark. The catch is that rain remains possible and the sea feels bracing: go for relaxed outdoor days, not guaranteed swimming weather.
Long-term climate averages for Playa de las Américas, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Playa de las Americas, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Playa de las Américas.
- Average daytime high
- 20.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 23°C
- Average night-time low
- 16.4°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 14°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +13.0°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 21.1°C
- year to year: 21°C to 22°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.6h
- 65% of 10.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 6
- 39 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 27.2°C
- 2018-12-06
- Record low 1991-2020
- 11.3°C
- 2017-12-27
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2917 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 8th warmest month of the year in Playa de las Americas. Within Spain it is 13th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Playa de las Americas is 13.0°C warmer by day and 13.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Playa de las Americas peaks at 20.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 22.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 71 days top 25°C. Nights average 16.4°C; one night in ten drops to 14.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 27.2°C (2018-12-06) and the coldest night 11.3°C (2017-12-27).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 39 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 1991 with 147 mm, the driest 1994 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 21.1°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 20.5°C to 21.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:51 and sets about 18:13 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 36%.
Is December a good time to visit Playa de las Americas?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Playa de las Americas on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable days, cooler evenings
Pack light clothes for the daytime, but leave room for a jumper or light jacket. December's warmth suits travellers who prefer being outside without strong heat, and there is little reason to plan your day around avoiding hot afternoons. Days reaching 25°C are rare, so anyone expecting summer-like temperatures may find it too cool. The warmer days can reach 22.9°C or more, making time in the sun more appealing, but that is not the everyday expectation. At night, temperatures can fall to 14.1°C or lower at the cooler end of the range. An evening spent sitting outdoors calls for more than your daytime outfit.
Keep beach and swimming plans flexible
Rain is a consideration rather than a reason to rule December out. There are about 6 rainy days during the month, so bring a light waterproof and avoid making every day's enjoyment depend on dry weather. That figure does not tell you how long any shower will last, so it is sensible to keep plans flexible. The sea averages 21.1°C, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. Swimming may appeal if you tolerate cooler water, but it should not be the main promise of the trip. Pack swimwear alongside warmer layers, and choose your beach time to suit the conditions. December works better for travellers happy to mix outdoor relaxation with other plans when the weather turns.
A little perspective
Playa de las Americas 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 | 19.6°C | 15.1°C | 19.9°C | 7.0 | 19 | 4 | 1% |
| February | 19.8°C | 15.1°C | 19.3°C | 7.9 | 25 | 4 | 3% |
| March | 20.4°C | 15.4°C | 19.1°C | 8.4 | 23 | 5 | 8% |
| April | 20.6°C | 15.7°C | 19.5°C | 9.0 | 17 | 5 | 6% |
| May | 21.7°C | 16.7°C | 20.2°C | 10.0 | 9 | 3 | 9% |
| June | 23.2°C | 18.1°C | 21.3°C | 11.7 | 6 | 2 | 18% |
| Julybest | 25.9°C | 20.4°C | 22.1°C | 12.9 | 1 | 0 | 51% |
| Augustbest | 26.6°C | 21.3°C | 23.0°C | 11.7 | 2 | 1 | 65% |
| Septemberbest | 25.4°C | 20.4°C | 23.7°C | 9.2 | 11 | 3 | 49% |
| October | 24.5°C | 19.7°C | 23.6°C | 7.4 | 25 | 6 | 30% |
| November | 22.6°C | 18.1°C | 22.5°C | 6.6 | 22 | 6 | 16% |
| DecemberSelected | 20.7°C | 16.4°C | 21.1°C | 6.6 | 39 | 6 | 1% |
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
Playa de las Americas in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Playa de las Americas hot in December?
Playa de las Americas is warm in December: the average daytime high is 20.7°C and nights average 16.4°C. Roughly 1 in 71 December days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Playa de las Americas in December?
The sea around Playa de las Americas averages 21.1°C in December, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 21°C to 22°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Playa de las Americas in December?
Playa de las Americas sees about 6 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 39 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 1991 (147 mm) and the driest was 1994 (1 mm).
How sunny is Playa de las Americas in December?
Playa de las Americas gets around 6.6 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 10.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Playa de las Americas compare with the UK in December?
Playa de las Americas is on average 13.0°C warmer than London by day in December (20.7°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Playa de las Americas?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Playa de las Americas reached 27.2°C on 2018-12-06, and the coldest night dropped to 11.3°C on 2017-12-27.
How much sunshine can I expect in December?
December averages about 6.6 hours of sunshine within 10.2 hours of daylight. That leaves useful time for being outdoors, though not uninterrupted sunshine. Plan outdoor activities during daylight rather than expecting long, light evenings.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, putting Playa de las Americas within short-haul reach. It is a practical option if you want warmer December days without choosing a long-haul trip, provided mild warmth is enough.
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 Playa de las Américas. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.4 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