Jamaica Montego Bay Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Montego Bay is high
December is high for Montego Bay.
December is the canonical Caribbean Christmas escape month for US East Coast travelers — direct 3-4h flights from MIA/JFK/ATL/CLT/YYZ make MoBay feel like a long-weekend destination. The trade-off: year's peak pricing across all resort tiers (Sandals + Hyatt Zilara + Half Moon push 40-60% above shoulder rates for the Dec 22-Jan 5 window) + book 4-6 months ahead for prime dates. Weather is canonical dry-season (60mm rain, 7 wet days, 30°C / 22°C) + sea 27°C / 80°F + low humidity. Resort decorations + special menus + beach New Year's Eve fireworks are the iconic experience.
Travel score
Christmas escape peak + dry-season returning + tropical New Year's Eve + year's peak pricing
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 30°C / 86°F highs and 22°C / 72°F lows with 60mm precipitation over 7 wet days. Humidity 75%. Sunshine 8h. Sea temperature 27°C / 80°F. NE trade winds at 15-18 knots returning to peak. Day length 11h (year's shortest). UV index 9. Pattern: clear sunny mornings + occasional brief afternoon showers (10-15 min) + clear evenings + reliable trade winds.
December Travel Advice
December is Montego Bay's canonical Christmas-escape month + year's peak pricing month. Book Dec 22-Jan 5 dates by July-August (4-6 months ahead); Dec 8-Dec 21 by September-October (3-4 months ahead). Tropical Christmas at resort is iconic — Sandals + Hyatt Zilara + Half Moon + Round Hill all do beach Christmas decorations + special menus + Santa visits + Christmas Day brunch + beach New Year's Eve fireworks. Direct flights from US East Coast peak — multiple daily nonstops from MIA/JFK/ATL/CLT/YYZ. Pack festive holiday wear for resort formal nights Dec 24-25 + Dec 31.
December Pricing Trends
Year's peak: 5-star all-inclusive $550-800/person/night double (Dec 22-Jan 5 reaches $700-1,000), 4-star $350-500/person/night. Flights from MIA/JFK/ATL $400-700 RT (Dec 22-Jan 5 reaches $600-900). Book by August-September for Dec 22-Jan 5.
Montego Bay December Weather Stats
Avg High
30°C
Avg Low
22°C
Rainy Days
7
60mm total
Sunshine
8h
Daily avg
Humidity
75%
moderate
UV Index
9
Very high
Wind
17 km/h
Gusts 35
Sea Temp
27°C
swimming excellent
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
9 μg/m³
PM10
16 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
33°C
Nighttime
23°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
17 km/h
Max gust 35 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Dry-season returning (60mm rain, 7 wet days)
- Comfortable 30°C / 22°C — peak Caribbean comfort
- Tropical Christmas + New Year atmosphere + resort decorations
- Beach New Year's Eve fireworks at Sandals + Hyatt + Half Moon + Round Hill
- Family-friendly resort programs + holiday menus
- No hurricane risk
Cons
- Year's peak pricing (40-60% above shoulder, Dec 22-Jan 5)
- Resorts sell out 4-6 months ahead Dec 22-Jan 5
- Doctor's Cave Beach + Hip Strip + Negril at peak crowds
- Restaurant booking pressure at maximum (Houseboat Grill + Pier 1 fill 2-3 weeks ahead)
- Cruise-ship-port crowds at Dunn's River Falls heavy
December Events & Festivals
- US East Coast Christmas-escape peak (Dec 22-Jan 5) — year's peak demand
- Reggae Christmas + Independence New Year events
- Sandals + resort tropical Christmas decorations + special menus + beach New Year fireworks
- Boxing Day (Dec 26, public holiday)
Montego Bay in December — Full Picture
December is the canonical Caribbean Christmas escape month for US East Coast travelers — direct 3-4h flights from MIA/JFK/ATL/CLT/YYZ make MoBay feel like a long-weekend destination. The trade-off: year's peak pricing across all resort tiers (Sandals + Hyatt Zilara + Half Moon push 40-60% above shoulder rates for the Dec 22-Jan 5 window) + book 4-6 months ahead for prime dates. Weather is canonical dry-season (60mm rain, 7 wet days, 30°C / 22°C) + sea 27°C / 80°F + low humidity. Resort decorations + special menus + beach New Year's Eve fireworks are the iconic experience.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Early dry-season + Christmas peak — light cotton + linen + swimwear + SPF 50. Light cardigan for evenings (22°C / 72°F nights are pleasant). Smart-casual resort signature restaurant attire + festive holiday wear. The Caribbean Christmas-escape peak.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
30.7°C
23°C
7.3/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
32.7°C
25°C
9.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
31.7°C
23.7°C
9.7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current30°C
21.3°C
6/mo
Montego Bay Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January (Best) | 30° | 21° | 6d·40mm | 8h | 75% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| February (Best) | 30° | 21° | 5d·30mm | 9h | 74% | 9 | Busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 30° | 22° | 6d·35mm | 9h | 75% | 10 | Very busy | Peak |
| April (Best) | 31° | 23° | 7d·60mm | 8h | 76% | 11 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| May (Best) | 31° | 24° | 9d·110mm | 8h | 78% | 11 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| 32° | 25° | 10d·120mm | 7h | 80% | 11 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 33° | 25° | 9d·100mm | 8h | 80% | 11 | Busy | Shoulder | |
| 33° | 25° | 9d·110mm | 8h | 80% | 11 | Busy | Shoulder | |
| 32° | 24° | 10d·150mm | 7h | 81% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 32° | 24° | 11d·170mm | 7h | 81% | 10 | Quiet | Low season | |
| November (Best) | 31° | 23° | 8d·90mm | 8h | 78% | 10 | Moderate | Shoulder |
| December (Best) | 30° | 22° | 7d·60mm | 8h | 75% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Montego Bay December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Montego Bay?
Montego Bay in December is high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Montego Bay in December?
Montego Bay December averages a high of 30°C and a low of 22°C.
Does it rain much in Montego Bay in December?
Montego Bay December averages 60mm of rainfall over about 7 rainy days.
What should I wear in Montego Bay in December?
Early dry-season + Christmas peak — light cotton + linen + swimwear + SPF 50. Light cardigan for evenings (22°C / 72°F nights are pleasant). Smart-casual resort signature restaurant attire + festive holiday wear. The Caribbean Christmas-escape peak.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Montego Bay in December?
Montego Bay December sunrise is 06:35 and sunset is 17:35, with 11h of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Montego Bay in December?
Montego Bay December air quality (AQI) averages 32, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 9μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Montego Bay in December?
In December, Montego Bay is great for Tropical Christmas at resort + special menus + beach decorations, Beach New Year's Eve fireworks, Doctor's Cave Beach + Hip Strip + Margaritaville.
Is December peak season in Montego Bay?
Montego Bay December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Montego Bay
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.