ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Hilton Head vs Jamaica: weather in December
Jamaica edges out Hilton Head for sun in December: 21% clear historically versus 6% (8-year ERA5 average, a 15-point gap). Jamaica also sees measurably more rain than Hilton Head this month (45% vs 27% of days). Both are viable — Jamaica is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific December. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Hilton Head
SC
- Clear days, December
- 6%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 62°F
- Early December (1st–15th)
- 3%
- Late December (16th–end)
- 8%
- Rain frequency
- 27% of days
Jamaica
JM
- Clear days, December
- 21%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 82°F
- Early December (1st–15th)
- 17%
- Late December (16th–end)
- 24%
- Rain frequency
- 45% of days
Compare Hilton Head vs Jamaica in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.