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Miami in December
Photo: Ziegler

Miami · Best time to visit · December

Miami in December

Warm and fairly dry, very busy at the main sights, about 10 hours of daylight. Weather, crowds and what to expect · updated 2026-11-01

Good time to visit
26°C / 80 °F
Average high
19°C / 66 °F
Average low
6days
Rain ≥ 1 mm
10.5h
Daylight · sunset 17:32
Good. December is peak season from Art Basel Miami Beach in the first week, when the Convention Center, Wynwood and the Design District fill with the art world and hotel rates reach their highest, through Christmas and New Year, with the year's fullest restaurants.

01Weather

Miami weather in December

Afternoons in December average 26.4 °C (80 °F) and nights cool to 18.7 °C (66 °F). The month brings about 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain spread over roughly 6 days. Compared with November it is 1.8 °C cooler; January is 1.3 °C cooler again.

13°18°23°28°27°19°27°19°26°18°1102031
Average high and low in early, mid and late December (ERA5 daily data)

What the averages hide

In a typical DecemberValueWhat it means
Warm afternoons (90th percentile)29 °C / 85 °Fone day in ten is at least this warm
Cool afternoons (10th percentile)23 °C / 73 °Fone day in ten stays below this
Cold nights (10th percentile)13 °C / 56 °Fone night in ten is colder than this
Days above 30 °C (86 °F)1.6per month, average 2016–2025
Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F)0.0frost mornings per month
Chance of rain on any given day20 %at least 1 mm
Hottest / coldest December day 2016–202531.7 °C / 7.2 °Cextremes in the ten-year record
10°15°20°25°30°35°40°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daily high and low by month (°C)

02Daylight

Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day

DateSunriseSunsetDaylight
1 December06:5017:2910.6 h
15 December06:5917:3210.5 h
31 December07:0717:4010.6 h

Daylight shrinks by about 0 minutes over the month. Times are local (America/New_York).

03Crowds

How busy Miami is in December

very busy  The main sights are very busy in December. What drives it:

  • Art Basel Miami Beach in early December
  • Christmas and New Year
  • peak hotel rates

04Public holidays

Public holidays in December 2026

DateHoliday
25 Dec 2026Christmas Day

On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.

05Events

What's on in Miami in December

Every year in December

EventWhenType
Art Basel Miami Beachfirst weekend of Decemberart
Orange Bowllate December or early January, Hard Rock Stadiumsport

07Packing

What to pack for Miami in December

  • light, breathable clothing
  • sun hat and sunscreen
  • refillable water bottle
  • a compact umbrella for occasional showers

08Editor's notes

What the numbers don't tell you

December is peak season from Art Basel Miami Beach in the first week, when the Convention Center, Wynwood and the Design District fill with the art world and hotel rates reach their highest, through Christmas and New Year, with the year's fullest restaurants. Weather is dry and warm, with afternoons around 25 °C and cool evenings after a cold front. Rain falls on about six days.

Mid-December, between Basel and Christmas, is the calmest window of the month, with winter weather and rates below the holiday peak. The Orange Bowl falls in late December or early January, and New Year's Eve on South Beach brings fireworks and street parties. Sea temperatures drop to around 25 °C. Hanukkah and Christmas events fill the Design District and Coral Gables. January continues the high season with slightly lower rates; see January.

09Compare

Miami month by month

MonthHighLowRain daysSun hCrowdsVerdict
January25 °C16 °C5–very busyGood
February27 °C19 °C5–very busyGood
March28 °C20 °C4–very busyGood
April29 °C22 °C6–busyExcellent
May31 °C24 °C9–moderateGood
June32 °C25 °C14–moderateMixed
July33 °C26 °C14–moderateMixed
August33 °C26 °C16–quietMixed
September32 °C25 °C15–quietMixed
October31 °C24 °C11–moderateGood
November28 °C21 °C7–busyExcellent
December26 °C19 °C6–very busyGood

Not sure about December? See the best time to visit Miami.

10Elsewhere

December in nearby cities

11FAQ

Miami in December: your questions

Is December a good time to visit Miami?

December is a good month to visit Miami. Daytime highs average 26 °C (80 °F), rain falls on about 6 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are very busy.

What is the weather like in Miami in December?

Expect warm days around 26 °C (80 °F) and nights near 19 °C (66 °F). One December in ten brings afternoons above 29 °C, and one in ten stays below 23 °C.

Does it rain a lot in Miami in December?

December brings about 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain over roughly 6 days, which is fairly dry by Miami standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 20 percent.

What should I wear in Miami in December?

Pack light, breathable clothing, sun hat and sunscreen, refillable water bottle.

Is Miami crowded in December?

The main sights are very busy in December. Main drivers: Art Basel Miami Beach in early December; Christmas and New Year; peak hotel rates.

What time does it get dark in Miami in December?

Around the middle of December the sun sets at about 17:32 and rises at 06:59, giving 10.5 hours of daylight.