Colombia - weather in December

December, the first month of winter in the northern hemisphere, is the beginning of the dry season in many parts of Colombia.
In particular, it is dry and sunny on the north coast (see Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Riohacha). Instead, further north, on the islands of San Andrés and Providencia, the northeast trade winds still bring some rain.
In the central-northern part of the Andes (see Bogota, Cali, Medellín), the rains are still quite frequent, but generally not abundant.
In the savannah area called Llanos (see Arauca, Puerto Carreño), the winter dry season begins in this month.
Instead, December is still a rainy month in the southernmost part of the Caribbean coast, in the department of Antioquia. Furthermore, in the southern part of the Andes (see Popayán, Ipiales) we are in the rainy season. The rains are abundant on the Pacific coast (see department of Chocó, Tumaco), where it rains all year round, and in the areas south of the Equator, i.e. in the southern part of the Amazon forest (see Leticia), where actually we are in the rainy season.
Temperatures in Colombia vary little over the months, and at low altitudes it is hot all year round, while in the Andes, the temperature decreases with altitude. As mentioned, winter begins in December in the center-north, where, however, at low altitudes it is very hot even in this month. In inland areas (see Montería, Valledupar, Cúcuta), the temperature can reach 38/39 °C (100/102 °F). In Bogotá, on the other hand, at night the temperature can drop to about freezing, and fog can form.

The sea in Colombia is warm enough for swimming all year round, both in the north (Caribbean Sea) and in the west (Pacific Ocean).




See also: Colombia, the weather in November - January
The climate of Colombia