Your December weather guide
WarmWeather in Tenerife in December
Tenerife in December suits a milder winter break rather than a holiday built around strong heat. Average daytime highs of 20.7°C make time outdoors appealing, while nights average 16.4°C, so pack a layer for evenings. There are about 6 rainy days, meaning you should leave some flexibility in your plans. Go for comfortable daytime weather and a change from the UK winter, but keep expectations for hot beach days and easy sea swimming modest.
Long-term climate averages for Playa de las Americas (south coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Tenerife, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Playa de las Americas (south coast).
- 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 Tenerife and ranks 51st of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Spain it is 12th of 87 (Spain in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Tenerife 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 Tenerife 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 Tenerife?
It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Tenerife on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Warm afternoons, but not summer heat
Plan for light clothing during the warmer part of the day, with a jumper or light jacket ready for after sunset. The average high is comfortable for spending time outdoors without needing intense heat to make the trip worthwhile. Days reaching 25°C account for just 1%, so December is a poor choice if that is your minimum for a beach holiday. At the cooler end, nights can fall to 14.1°C or below, making an extra layer useful for sitting outside. You can make the warmest part of the day your main outdoor window rather than assuming the warmth will last into the evening.
Useful sunshine, with room for rain
December brings about 6.6 hours of sunshine within 10.2 hours of daylight, giving you a useful window for outdoor plans. Start earlier rather than leaving everything until late afternoon, when that daylight window is closing. Rain is a catch, with about 6 days recording rain during the month, but that does not mean every affected day is a complete washout. Equally, a dry holiday is not something to count on. Pack a light waterproof and keep your plans easy to change. This is a better fit for travellers happy to work around the weather than those who need uninterrupted sunshine throughout their stay.
The sea is bracing rather than comfortably warm
The sea averages 21.1°C in December, which makes swimming a matter of personal tolerance rather than an automatic part of each day. If you enjoy cooler water, a swim may be appealing; if you like to linger in warm water, this is the main compromise. The year-to-year range is 20°C to 22°C, so do not plan around the sea feeling consistently warm. Keep a dry layer handy for afterwards, especially if you are staying outside towards evening. For a holiday centred on relaxed time outdoors with swimming as an option, December makes more sense than it does for someone whose priority is warm-water bathing.
A little perspective
Tenerife 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
Tenerife in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Tenerife hot in December?
Tenerife 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 Tenerife in December?
The sea around Tenerife 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 Tenerife in December?
Tenerife 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 Tenerife in December?
Tenerife 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 Tenerife compare with the UK in December?
Tenerife 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 Tenerife?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Tenerife reached 27.2°C on 2018-12-06, and the coldest night dropped to 11.3°C on 2017-12-27.
How much warmer is Tenerife than London in December?
Tenerife's average daytime high is 20.7°C, compared with 7.7°C in London, a difference of 13°C. That is a substantial improvement for spending time outdoors, although it still means mild warmth rather than reliably hot weather.
Is December the best month for a weather-focused trip?
July, August and September are the stronger choices overall for weather. December suits travellers who want winter warmth without expecting summer heat. Choose it for the seasonal contrast with the UK, rather than Tenerife's warmest conditions.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, making Tenerife a short-haul option for milder December weather. The appeal is a noticeable temperature lift without a long-haul journey, rather than a guarantee of hot days.
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 (Playa de las Americas (south coast)). 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