Singapore weather in December: hot, wet and rarely all day
In short: Singapore weather in December is warm and wet. The usual high is 30.5 °C, and rain averages 331.9 mm over about 19 days. It mostly comes as afternoon showers, not a washed-out day.
Everyone says December is the monsoon month, and then your cousin adds “it rains all day, don’t bother”. That’s the worry I’d want settled before paying for flights from Delhi. The numbers say something calmer, and the next sections show how.
If you want the hotel, transfers and sightseeing sorted in one place, VeeTrips lists a Delhi-departure package with the inclusions spelled out, and the about page shows who you’d be talking to in Dwarka. Weather first, though.
The numbers, in one table
The Singapore weather service (MSS) quotes these as December averages for 1991 to 2020, through the National Environment Agency (NEA). The humidity and thunder figures come from Current Results. They’re averages. A given week can differ, and I can’t promise you a dry one.
Singapore in December, usual figures
| What | Usual figure |
|---|---|
| Daily high | 30.5 °C |
| Daily low | 24.3 °C |
| Rain for the month | 331.9 mm |
| Rain days | About 19 |
| Humidity | 86% |
| Days with thunder | 14 |
| Sunshine | About 4.3 hours a day |
Source: NEA advisory, Current Results
Two things stand out. The heat isn’t the story: a low of 24.3 °C means the night doesn’t cool you down much. And 19 rain days out of 31 sounds grim until you look at how the rain arrives.
Does it rain all day?
Usually not. Wikivoyage says rain in Singapore falls in sudden, heavy showers that rarely last longer than an hour. The weather service says the same thing in its own way. Its advisories for December keep using one phrase: thundery showers “on most afternoons”.
Look at December 2025. The NEA reported moderate to heavy showers on most afternoons from 1 to 15 December, sometimes running into the evening. On 4 December, Jurong West recorded 134.2 mm in a day. That’s well over a third of the usual month in one afternoon, so “a shower” can mean a proper storm. But it was an afternoon, not a day.
The exception is a monsoon surge. Wikivoyage says the northeast monsoon, November to January, occasionally brings lengthy spells of continuous rain. In December 2022 a Sumatra squall on 11 December brought widespread showers through the morning and early afternoon, and the first fortnight’s highest daily total was 127.4 mm. It happens. It isn’t every day, and you can’t book around it, only plan for it.
Early or late December?
I wanted a tidy answer here and there isn’t one. Three recent Decembers behaved differently.
What the weather service said about recent Decembers
| December | What it reported |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Wet phase expected to run on into January; showers on most afternoons in the second half |
| 2024 | Drier days forecast for the first week; thundery showers on most afternoons from the second |
| 2025 | Showers on most afternoons from 1 to 15 December; wet weather expected to continue |
Source: NEA 2022, The Star on MSS 2024, NEA 2025
So there’s no reliable “go in the first week”. As for this December, I looked for the official outlook and it isn’t out yet. The advisories are fortnightly, so check the weather service’s site once December starts, and plan for afternoon showers either way.
Plan the day around it
This is where December can work in your favour. Showers arrive mostly in the afternoon, so the morning is the outdoor part. Do the parks and the waterfront walks early, before it gets hot and before the sky turns. Wikivoyage warns that more than about an hour outdoors can be exhausting in the heat and humidity, so shade and breaks aren’t optional.
Keep afternoons for a museum, a mall or a long lunch, and go out again in the evening. Orchard Road suits an evening walk in December: Wikivoyage says the street is extensively lined with Christmas decorations. It adds that New Year comes with fireworks and parties. I couldn’t find official dates for the lights or the countdown, so check those closer to your trip.
If you only have one outdoor day that matters, don’t put it in mid-afternoon.
Getting around when it rains
You don’t need a car here, and in December you won’t want to walk far between showers either. Wikivoyage calls the MRT and LRT trains a cheap, fast and reliable way to get around. Contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards work for tapping in and out. Foreign-issued cards carry a small daily handling fee, so check what your Indian card will charge. There is also a Singapore Tourist Pass with unlimited rides for 1, 2 or 3 days.
The MRT is also the dry route. Wikivoyage mentions air-conditioned underground crossings and MRT walkways, and says some stations have up to 25 different walkways. Buses are fine too, but they stop on request only, and you must tap out when you get off or you’re charged the maximum fare.
For a sudden downpour, a taxi or a ride-hailing app helps. Grab and Gojek are the two biggest, and surge pricing applies when it’s busy, which a wet afternoon often is. From Changi Airport, Wikivoyage says a taxi or ride-hail is the fastest way into the city, while the MRT takes about 45 minutes with a change at Tanah Merah. With bags and a monsoon sky, I’d pick the taxi on arrival night and the train for the rest of the trip.
Places to visit in December, by time of day
Here is how I’d split the usual stops, using the morning-outdoors, afternoon-indoors idea above. Wikivoyage doesn’t say which attractions are covered, so check each one before you rely on it for a wet day.
- Morning, outdoors: the Gardens by the Bay in the Marina Bay area, a walk through Chinatown’s restored shophouses, or Little India, which Wikivoyage describes as a piece of India north of the city core. The Mandai Wildlife Reserve (Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Bird Paradise and River Wonders) also needs planning around the weather.
- Afternoon, indoors: the malls along Orchard Road, which Wikivoyage describes as miles of shopping malls in air-conditioned comfort. Jewel Changi Airport is essentially an indoor park with the Rain Vortex. The museums and theatres in the Civic District by the Singapore River also work. Museum entry is charged for visitors.
- Evening: Orchard Road for the Christmas decorations, and Marina Bay Sands and the waterfront once the rain clears. Sentosa, the resort island with Universal Studios, suits a full day more than a gap between showers.
Wikivoyage also mentions bustling hawker centres and 24-hour coffee shops, so a long lunch or a late snack is an easy way to wait out a shower. I haven’t checked opening hours for any one stall, so look those up before you go.
What to pack
Think hot, damp and air-conditioned. Light cotton or quick-dry tops, because 86% humidity means a shirt doesn’t dry. A compact umbrella that works as shade and rain cover, which is exactly what Wikivoyage suggests. Sandals that cope with wet pavement, and one thin layer for malls and trains, where the air-con is cold. A waterproof pouch for your phone and passport. Sunscreen too, even on grey days.
Is December worth it?
For me, yes, if you accept the rain. Highs stay around 30.5 °C and the city is dressed up for Christmas. A wet afternoon costs you less in a city with plenty of malls and museums.
It’s a poor pick if your trip is outdoor all day, every day. I’d also be careful with Sentosa-style beach plans, because showers can stop them for the afternoon.
Notes for travellers from Delhi
December is a holiday month in India, and I’d expect flights and hotels to cost more. That’s my expectation, not a figure: I couldn’t find a dated source for December prices, so ask for quotes for two different weeks and compare line by line (flights, hotel, transfers, meals, visa). Entry rules change, so check them for your dates, and ask us about visa assistance if you’d like a hand with the forms.
With a usual low of 24.3 °C, Singapore won’t need your Delhi winter layers. Leave the sweaters at home.
We’re a single-owner agency in Dwarka, so if your dates move you can call the office and speak to one person.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Singapore in December?
Warm, humid and wet. The usual high is 30.5 °C, the low 24.3 °C, humidity about 86%, and rain averages 331.9 mm over about 19 days. Showers are most often in the afternoon.
Does it rain all day in Singapore in December?
Usually not. Showers tend to be sudden and heavy, and rarely last longer than an hour, according to Wikivoyage. The northeast monsoon can occasionally bring longer spells, so keep a plan B.
Is December the rainiest month in Singapore?
It’s among the wettest, and the northeast monsoon runs from November to January. I didn’t read a month-by-month table, so I won’t rank it.
Is December a good time to visit Singapore?
Yes, if you’re happy with afternoon showers. Do outdoor things in the morning and indoor ones after lunch.
What should I pack for Singapore in December?
Light clothes, a compact umbrella, sandals for wet pavement, a thin layer for air-con, and sunscreen.
