#1Hot
Hawaii
- Day
- 25.1°C
- Sea
- 25.2°C
- Sun
- 6.0h
- Rain days
- 7
Your December weather guide
Weather in United States in December
December is a good month for the United States if you choose your destination around the weather you want. The country’s daytime average of 19°C hides a wide gap: Hawaii reaches 25°C, while New York averages 6°C. For warmth and swimming, favour Hawaii or Florida. Las Vegas suits travellers who prefer cooler, relatively dry days, while New York calls for winter clothing rather than a search for sunshine and outdoor warmth.
Long-term climate averages, not a forecast · 1991-2020
- Average daytime high
- 18.8°Cacross 6 destinations
- Average night-time low
- 12.2°Cafter dark
- Sea temperature
- 20.8°Cbracing
- Rainy days
- 7days1 mm or more
United States, month by month
Turn up the warmth
Warmest places in United States in December
Ranked by average daytime high. The full comparison is in the table below.
United States destinations ranked for December
All 6 places we track in United States, ordered by daytime high.
Scroll sideways for more weather, down for more places. Click a heading to sort.
| # | Destination | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 25.1°C | 22.1°C | 25.2°C | 6.0 h | 7 | 15 h 18 min |
| 2 | Miami | 24.2°C | 19.6°C | 24.9°C | 5.3 h | 8 | 9 h 42 min |
| 3 | Florida | 23.0°C | 16.2°C | 24.9°C | 5.1 h | 7 | 9 h 30 min |
| 4 | Orlando | 21.9°C | 12.8°C | - | 4.9 h | 6 | 9 h 30 min |
| 5 | Las Vegas | 12.9°C | 3.5°C | - | 5.8 h | 3 | 11 h 18 min |
| 6 | New York | 6.0°C | -1.2°C | 8.0°C | 3.7 h | 10 | 7 h 42 min |
6 destinations shownClimate averages, not a forecast.
December climate overview
Daytime highs across United States in December run from 6.0°C (New York) to 25.1°C (Hawaii). In Hawaii about 59% of December days reach 25°C. Nights average 12.2°C; the coldest 10% of nights in New York fall to -7°C or below.
Rainfall in December
Expect around 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) in December, with Las Vegas the driest (3 days) and New York the wettest (10 days). The wettest December at Hawaii between 1991 and 2020 was 2010 with 260 mm; the driest was 2005 with 2 mm.
Sea temperature
The sea averages 20.8°C around United States in December - warmest at Hawaii (25.2°C). That is bracing: fine for a dip, cool for long swims.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.1 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 10.7 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).
December against the rest of the year in United States
December is the 11th warmest month of the twelve in United States. It is 3.0°C cooler than November and 1.0°C cooler in January. The hottest month here is July (31°C) and the coolest January (18°C).
Which part of United States in December?
- Most sunshine: Hawaii, 6.0 h a day.
- Driest: Las Vegas, about 3 rainy days.
- Warmest sea: Hawaii, 25°C.
- Hottest: Hawaii, 25°C by day.
- Coolest (better for walking and cities): New York, 6°C.
What to pack for United States in December
Based on the averages: light layers - warm in the sun, cooler in the shade; a light jumper for evenings (12°C at night); a light waterproof for the odd shower; swimwear if you do not mind a bracing 21°C sea.
Similar weather elsewhere in December
Within 1.5°C of United States's December daytime average: Fuerteventura (20°C, sea 20°C), Hong Kong (20°C, sea 20°C), Lanzarote (20°C, sea 20°C), Marrakech (19°C), La Palma (18°C, sea 21°C). See the full ranking for December.
Hawaii and Florida for warmth and swimming
Hawaii is the warmest choice, with nights averaging 22°C, so it suits travellers who want warmth beyond the middle of the day. Miami is close behind at 24°C by day and 20°C at night. Both have sea temperatures of 25°C, making swimming a more appealing prospect than the national average suggests. The catch is rain: Hawaii averages 7 rainy days and Miami 8, so leave some flexibility in outdoor plans. Florida more broadly averages 23°C by day, but its 16°C nights make a light evening layer useful. Orlando is cooler again after dark, dropping from 22°C by day to 13°C at night. It works well for daytime outdoor plans if you pack layers rather than expecting the warmth to last through the evening.
Las Vegas and New York for cooler weather
Las Vegas is the better fit if avoiding rain matters more than finding heat. Its 3 rainy days make it the driest option here, but daytime temperatures of 13°C are mild rather than warm. Nights fall to 4°C, so bring a warm jacket for evenings and do not pack as though you were heading to Florida. New York is the coldest choice, averaging 6°C by day and -1°C at night. With 10 rainy days, waterproof outerwear is useful alongside warm layers. It suits travellers happy to spend time outdoors in winter conditions and take indoor breaks, not those seeking a warm-weather holiday. Neither destination is a substitute for Hawaii or Miami if comfortable evening warmth is your priority.
A little more detail
United States in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Where is the hottest place in United States in December?
Hawaii is the warmest of the 6 places we track in United States in December with an average high of 25.1°C; New York is the coolest at 6.0°C.
Is the sea warm in United States in December?
The sea averages 22°C or more at Hawaii (25°C), Miami (25°C), Florida (25°C) in December.
Is December warm enough to swim?
Hawaii, Miami and Florida have average sea temperatures of 25°C, making them the strongest choices for swimming. New York’s sea averages 8°C, so it is not a comparable option for a comfortable holiday swim. Choose by destination rather than the country’s 21°C sea average.
How much sunshine and rain should I expect?
The country averages 5.1 hours of sunshine and 7 rainy days in December, so allow for mixed conditions rather than uninterrupted sun. Las Vegas has 3 rainy days, compared with 10 in New York; your destination makes a substantial difference to wet-weather planning.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at 6 destination points.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C