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Palermo in December: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Palermo in December will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Palermo, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to Palermo on Avionero:
December

Weather in Palermo in December 2024

OK Weather
Mild
🌧️
Rainy
🌊
Fresh water
If you plan to visit Palermo in December, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +16°C during the day and approximately 2 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 16 rainy days in the month and around 86 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • December is usually the wettest month of the year in Palermo;

Average weather

☀️
+16°C
Avg. max. temperature
+3°C
Min.
+24°C
Max.
86 mm
Total precipitation
79%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
12 ⛅️
Cloudy
16 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Palermo has OK weather in December.

Average temperature in Palermo in December

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Palermo for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +24°C during the day to a minimum of +11°C during the night, the temperature in December averages around +18°C.

The average maximum temperature goes down 46% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +24°C to +18°C.

Is Palermo warm or cold in December?

Palermo is typically mild in December.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +19°C to +16°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +15°C to +12°C.

Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.

Take a look at how December is compared to other months in Palermo:

Water temperature in Palermo in December

Water in Palermo in December is Fresh. It varies from +15°C to +19°C, with an average of +17°C. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +16°C.

In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Palermo are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +26°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +14°C.

Can you swim in Palermo in December?

Water temperature (+17°C) in Palermo in December might be suited for short swims and acclimatized swimmers might find it refreshing.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
Think of bringing a full-body or shorty wetsuit (3mm-5mm thickness) to provide insulation and maintain body heat.

Climate in Palermo in December

Palermo weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Avg. temperature
+19°C+16°C+15°C
Min. temperature
+8°C+3°C+1°C
Max. temperature
+31°C+24°C+24°C
Rainfall
80 mm86 mm84 mm
Wind
2 m/s2 m/s2 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+20°C+17°C+15°C
Humidity
78%79%78%
Air pressure
1014 HPa1016 HPa1017 HPa
Sunny days
222
Cloudy days
111213
Rainy days
161615
Snowy days
000

December weather is still as ok as in November. It’s getting colder in December. From +19°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +16°C. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 80 mm to 86 mm. Humidity rises from 78% to 79%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 2 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 2 sunny days during the month.

January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Palermo in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 2 m/s getting up to 5 m/s which is a light breeze; barely moving the tree leaves.

The average wind speed in Palermo is gradually decreasing during December, going from 5 m/s to 1 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Palermo based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 29% chance of rain on an average day in December, with total rainfall of approximately 17 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 4 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 9 rainy days during December, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
December is one of the rainiest months in Palermo, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Palermo wettest month is March, where a typical day has a 48% chance of precipitation and 90 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 13% chance of precipitation and 8 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last December in Palermo?

This is the weather in Palermo in December 2023:
1 December
☁️
+24°C
2 December
☁️
+20°C
3 December
☁️
+17°C
4 December
☀️
+17°C
5 December
🌧️
+16°C
6 December
☁️
+15°C
7 December
☁️
+16°C
8 December
☁️
+17°C
9 December
☁️
+17°C
10 December
☀️
+18°C
11 December
☁️
+18°C
12 December
☁️
+19°C
13 December
☁️
+24°C
14 December
☁️
+18°C
15 December
☁️
+14°C
16 December
☁️
+14°C
17 December
☀️
+16°C
18 December
☁️
+17°C
19 December
☁️
+17°C
20 December
☁️
+16°C
21 December
☁️
+16°C
22 December
☁️
+17°C
23 December
☁️
+18°C
24 December
☁️
+17°C
25 December
☀️
+17°C
26 December
☀️
+17°C
27 December
☁️
+19°C
28 December
☁️
+17°C
29 December
☁️
+18°C
30 December
☁️
+18°C
31 December
☁️
+18°C
In December 2023 Palermo had 5 sunny days, 25 cloudy days, and 1 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +18°C, with an absolute maximum of +24°C and a minimum of +14°C. The average humidity was 82%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 48%. The average wind speed was 2 m/s, with a maximum of 7 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Palermo climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Palermo in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1980 (+20°C) and the highest in 2012 (+24°C). The driest year was 1989 with only 353 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 1977 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Palermo in December:

Is December a good time to visit Palermo?

It’s always a good time to visit Palermo, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Palermo in December?

December has mild temperatures in Palermo. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!

Can you swim in Palermo in December?

In general, you can swim in Palermo in December, if you want to, at an average water temperature of +17°C. But it will feel quite cool, and some precautions are necessary to ensure your comfort and safety.

Is Palermo rainy in December?

Palermo is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Palermo in December?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Palermo in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in Italy

Check out the weather for other cities in Italy.

Monthly weather in Palermo

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Palermo, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.