Your December weather guide
MildWeather in Sousse in December
Sousse in December suits a mild-weather break, not a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are around 18°C, with nights falling to 9°C, so expect comfortable spells outdoors but bring proper layers. It is about 10°C warmer by day than London in December, which makes a noticeable difference without guaranteeing warmth in the sun. Go for time outdoors with flexible plans; choose another month if swimming and reliable heat are your priorities.
Long-term climate averages for Sousse, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sousse, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Sousse.
- Average daytime high
- 17.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 21°C
- Average night-time low
- 9.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +10.0°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 18.0°C
- year to year: 17°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.5h
- 57% of 9.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 6
- 34 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 69%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 29.9°C
- 2009-12-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 0.9°C
- 1992-12-30
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 6 min
- 1910 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 Sousse and ranks 59th of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Tunisia it is 1st of 3 (Tunisia in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Sousse is 10.0°C warmer by day and 6.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Sousse peaks at 17.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 21.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 71 days top 25°C. Nights average 9.0°C; one night in ten drops to 5.6°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 29.9°C (2009-12-30) and the coldest night 0.9°C (1992-12-30).
Rain in December
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 34 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2016 with 91 mm, the driest 2012 with 3 mm. Humidity averages 69%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 18.0°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.4°C to 18.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.9°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:20 and sets about 17:05 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 42%.
Is December a good time to visit Sousse?
December is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Sousse on our scoring are June, May, September; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Mild afternoons, chilly evenings
Plan to make the most of the middle of the day, when temperatures are more suited to sitting outside or walking around. The warmer days can reach 21°C or more, but that is a bonus rather than the baseline for your packing. A shirt or light top with a removable jumper gives you flexibility, while a jacket is sensible once the sun goes down. The coldest nights can fall to around 6°C or lower, so do not pack as though this were a summer trip. December suits travellers who prefer mild conditions to heat, provided they are happy to adjust their plans and clothing.
Keep beach and outdoor plans flexible
The sea averages 18°C, which is bracing rather than comfortably warm. A quick dip may appeal if you tolerate cool water, but do not make long, relaxed swims the main reason for going. Rain is another reason to leave room in your plans: there are about 6 rainy days during the month, so a light waterproof is useful. That does not mean those days are wet throughout, but dry weather is not guaranteed for your stay. Keep outdoor plans movable and use the brighter spells when they arrive. This is a better fit for travellers content with time by the sea than those expecting warm-water swimming.
A little perspective
Sousse 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 | 16.7°C | 7.6°C | 15.8°C | 5.6 | 33 | 5 | 0% |
| February | 17.4°C | 7.7°C | 14.6°C | 6.3 | 27 | 5 | 3% |
| March | 20.2°C | 9.6°C | 14.8°C | 7.0 | 42 | 6 | 11% |
| April | 23.1°C | 11.9°C | 16.1°C | 7.7 | 25 | 5 | 27% |
| Maybest | 27.2°C | 15.2°C | 18.8°C | 9.0 | 15 | 3 | 72% |
| Junebest | 31.5°C | 18.9°C | 22.3°C | 11.2 | 6 | 2 | 97% |
| July | 34.6°C | 21.7°C | 25.4°C | 12.9 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| August | 34.8°C | 22.5°C | 26.9°C | 11.5 | 9 | 2 | 100% |
| Septemberbest | 30.6°C | 20.7°C | 26.1°C | 8.0 | 48 | 5 | 95% |
| October | 26.5°C | 17.3°C | 23.9°C | 6.4 | 50 | 7 | 65% |
| November | 21.5°C | 12.7°C | 21.1°C | 5.8 | 34 | 6 | 13% |
| DecemberSelected | 17.7°C | 9.0°C | 18.0°C | 5.5 | 34 | 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.
Cyprus · 17°C by day · sea 19°C
Ayia Napa
Cyprus · 17°C by day · sea 20°C
Limassol
Cyprus · 17°C by day · sea 19°C
Paphos
Malta · 16°C by day · sea 18°C
Valletta
Spain · 17°C by day · sea 17°C
Costa de la Luz
A little more detail
Sousse in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sousse hot in December?
Sousse is mild in December: the average daytime high is 17.7°C and nights average 9.0°C. Roughly 1 in 71 December days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Sousse in December?
The sea around Sousse averages 18.0°C in December, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 17°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sousse in December?
Sousse sees about 6 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 34 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2016 (91 mm) and the driest was 2012 (3 mm).
How sunny is Sousse in December?
Sousse gets around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sousse compare with the UK in December?
Sousse is on average 10.0°C warmer than London by day in December (17.7°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Sousse?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Sousse reached 29.9°C on 2009-12-30, and the coldest night dropped to 0.9°C on 1992-12-30.
How much sunshine can I expect?
December brings about 5.5 hours of sunshine a day within 9.6 hours of daylight. There is scope for time outdoors, but do not expect sunshine from morning to evening. Put daylight activities ahead of late starts.
Which months should I consider instead?
May, June and September are the stronger all-round choices for Sousse. December still makes sense if mild daytime weather is enough for you, but it is less suited to a trip built around heat and swimming.
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 Sousse. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.1 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