Algeria Weather in December
With the arrival of winter, Algeria weather in December turns chilly and cold countrywide, but the degrees and actual feelings vary among different regions. Meanwhile, northern Algeria enters into the peak rainy season, receiving the monthly highest precipitation of the year, and heavy rainfall is of higher possibility in this month. Strong winds might hit the country as well. Except that, December sees pretty short daylight and sunlight duration. All the above unfavorable factors collectively exclude December as a good time to visit Algeria, but it is not bad to go sightseeing in some southern desert areas.
Temperature: Slightly Cold with Regional Differences
In the north represented by the capital Algiers, the temperature during daytime usually lies in the range of 15 - 18 degrees Celsius (59 - 64 degrees Fahrenheit) with occasional heat over 20°C (68°F); temperature at night is 3 - 5°C (37 - 41°F) lower. But in some cities like Annaba, low values under 10°C (50°F) could be commonly seen. To summarize, the weather of northern Algeria in December is generally cool and occasionally chilly when strong winds hit.For central cities like Constantine and Batna, high degrees mostly fluctuate between 9 and 17°C (48 - 63°F), making you feel a little cold; the temperatures drop significantly to 2 - 7°C (36 - 45°F) after sunset and the weather turns rather cold. Extreme situation might occur, bringing daily highs down to around 5°C (41°F) and lows below freezing, which means heavy clothes and warm accessories are quite necessary.
Cold Algeria during December
|
Moving southward, the weather becomes somewhat complex since the desert areas are particularly vast and scattered with several oasis regions. For instance, the relatively northern Ghardaia has the daily high temperatures ranging from 13 to 19°C (55 - 66°F) and low ones 5 - 10°C (41 -50°F), so it feels cool at daytime and cold at night. In contrast, the southmost In Guezzam sees daily highs of 23 - 30°C (73 - 86°F) and lows of 11 - 17°C (52 - 63°F), a quite pleasant level for desert exploration both during daytime and nighttime.
Peak Rainy Season
October is the center month of local rainy season when Algeria receives the yearly highest precipitation. Unevenly distributed, most of it falls in northern coast of Algeria and the south enjoys the least.The south only has about 2 days with some rainfall, which brings the total amount no more than 5 mm (0.2 in). Therefore, southern Algeria climate in December is quite drought.
Rainy December in Algeria
|
The central areas witness the average precipitation around 33 mm (1.3 in) distributed over 8 days in December, a relatively moderate level for itself, but low compared with world’s other destinations. It mainly falls as light showers and visitors can continue the outdoor visits as long as with an umbrella or raincoat. Sometimes, snowfall occurs as well, but usually light and limited to certain areas like Setif in high altitude. In short, snow views are available here in December, short-lived in urban areas and more long-lasting on the mountains.
Shortest Daylight / Sunlight Hours of the Year
As the dawn falls at 7:00 - 8:00 and dusk at 17:30 - 18:10 throughout December, Algeria experiences the yearly shortest daytime, averaging less than 10 hours in the north and about 11 hours in the south. It is far from ample for visitors to explore a city thoroughly in a single day.Similarly, the sunlight duration is also in the lowest range of the year. Even so, the southern deserts still enjoy abundant and bright sunshine, averaging 8 hours per day. In northern Algeria, where is impacted by high rainfall, completely sunny days are rarely seen and most days are gloomy or cloudy, leaving the sunshine duration of only 6 hours per day on average. Meanwhile, the UV index in most areas has decreased to a low level under 4, which indicates you can hardly get sunburnt even if without taking sunscreen measures; but some southmost cities are the exception with that of level 6.
Is December a Good Time to Visit Algeria?
To be honest, it is not suggested to visit most parts of Algeria in December since the climate is a bit cold, changeable and disapproving. Much rainfall in the north leads to certain disruptions on your travel schedule and makes the coastal scenery looks unattractively grey. In central mountain areas, the fluctuating temperatures require you to be fully prepared. Except that, it is highly possible that strong winds blow across Algeria for occasional days. The wind force could reach 5 - 6 and cause negative impacts like lower perceived temperatures and dusty days.
|
|
|
However, December is actually a good time to explore southern desert areas. There are no suffering feelings of burning hot or severe cold; instead, it is generally agreeable for daytime outdoor activities like hiking and motorcycle riding. Abundant but not intense sunshine there also provides a good condition for traveling around there.
Packing Lists for Algeria Trip in December
Upper Body: Tops with long sleeves are preferred across Algeria in this month, such as knit wear, shirts, hoodies and sweaters. But to keep warm at night or in the cold central mountain areas, you need to bring thick coats like 3-in-1 windbreakers, woolen coats even thin down coats. Thin ones like casual jackets and trench coats are needed for the north. In some southern desert cities, T-shirts remain useful around noon.
|
Lower Body: Thick jeans and sweatpants suit the temperatures in most parts, but a pair of long johns or fleece trousers should be prepared for sudden temperature drops or cold nights in central Algeria.Shoes: It is suggested to choose waterproof shoes with anti-slip soles to deal with frequent rainy days and slippery roads in the north; or, you can pack potable shoe covers. For example, leather shoes, sport shoes with shoe covers and hiking boots are all good choices. Others: Accessories including hats and scarves become important in December, not only used to keep warm but also to prevent winds. Raincoats and umbrella are the musts in the north. Masks are also necessary for sand prevention in the south. To explore southern deserts, sunglasses, sunblock and moisturizing products are also advised to protect your skin.Travel Tips and Recommendations for Algeria in December
1. Travelling in this rainiest month in the north, you should check weather forecast frequently and adjust your schedule accordingly. In heavily rainy days, it is recommended to visit indoor attractions like Bardo Museum and Notre Dame d’Afrique in Algiers; if it rains lightly, outdoor sightseeing of Roman Ruins and urban squares is suitable with an umbrella. You had better avoid going out when storm happens.2. To appreciate snow views, you are suggested to visit mountainous cities like Setif as well as snow mountains in Chréa and Tikjda National Park in Bouria. But large-scaled snow scenery could be seen only in those days after snowfall especially for urban areas.
