Kesennuma weather in December

In December, Kesennuma sees average daytime highs of 6°C and overnight lows near 0°C, with 59 mm of precipitation across 8.9 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 8°C in the first days to 4°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Kesennuma's 3rd-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Kesennuma's year-round climate.

Daytime high
10th warmest
Overnight low
3rd coldest
Precipitation
59 mm
8.9 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
6:51 AM – 4:08 PM
Cloud cover
54%
3rd clearest
Wind
14 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
2.09 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.5
out of 10

Kesennuma is city in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Density
184/km²
people per km²
Founded
1953

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 8°C in the first days to 4°C by the end.

A typical December day in Kesennuma reaches about 6°C in the afternoon and slips back to 0°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 2°C and 10°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-5°10°15°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
192
282
382
482
582
681
771
871
971
1071
1171
1261
1360
1460
1560
1660
1760
1860
1950
2050
2150
2250
2350
245-1
255-1
265-1
275-1
285-1
295-1
304-1
314-1

How December really feels in Kesennuma

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
31
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Kesennuma weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -2°497.24.89.60.0
Feb / -2°457.44.910.50.0
Mar / 9210.84.411.71.2
Apr13° / 10011.21.1133.5
May18° / 11°11611.7014.15.3
Jun21° / 15°12612.1014.75.7
Jul24° / 19°16415.6014.45.7
Aug26° / 21°15414.2013.55.8
Sep23° / 17°17113.7012.35.9
Oct18° / 11°14010.40115.6
Nov12° / 708.60.39.93.3
Dec / 598.93.29.30.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 43%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35545
45545
55545
65545
75446
85446
95446
105446
115545
125545
135545
145545
155644
165545
175644
185743
195743
205743
215941
225941
235941
245941
255941
266040
276040
286040
296040
306040
316139

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Kesennuma gets around 59 mm of rain and snow over 8.9 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 28% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1294
2294
3294
4295
5295
6296
7296
8297
9297
10298
11298
12299
13299
142910
152911
162911
172912
182812
192812
202813
212813
222813
232813
242813
252713
262713
272713
282613
292613
302513
312513

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 14 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:39 AM to 6:58 AM, and sunset from 4:08 PM to 4:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.56:394:08
29.56:404:07
39.46:414:07
49.46:424:07
59.46:434:07
69.46:444:07
79.46:454:07
89.46:454:07
99.36:464:07
109.36:474:07
119.36:484:07
129.36:494:08
139.36:494:08
149.36:504:08
159.36:514:08
169.36:514:08
179.36:524:09
189.36:524:09
199.36:534:09
209.36:544:10
219.36:544:10
229.36:554:11
239.36:554:11
249.36:554:12
259.36:564:12
269.36:564:13
279.36:574:13
289.36:574:14
299.36:574:15
309.36:574:15
319.36:584:16

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.09 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.09 kWh/m² to a high of 5.46 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.09 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.1Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Kesennuma

In seasonPeak

In December, Kesennuma sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Kesennuma sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Kesennuma?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.5
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Kesennuma.

What to pack for Kesennuma in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Kesennuma sees daytime highs around 6°C and nights near 0°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Kesennuma in December

The nearest coast averages about 13°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 22°C and coldest in March near 7°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 21 to Oct 3 — about 2.5 months when the water holds above 20°C.

5°10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan11Bracing
Feb8Bracing
Mar7Bracing
Apr9Bracing
May12Bracing
Jun17Cool
Jul20Cool
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct19Cool
Nov16Cool
Dec13Bracing

UV index in Kesennuma in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kesennuma peaks around August 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highVery highHighModerateLowAug 18UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul7High
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Kesennuma in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Kesennuma is worst in April — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1319 µg/m³Dec 179 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun12Moderate
Jul11Good
Aug9Good
Sep10Good
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Kesennuma?

Kesennuma sits at 38.9°N, 141.6°E, 14 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Rikuzen-Takata, 15 km away.

Topography around Kesennuma

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kesennuma.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Kesennuma has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 350 m around an average of 54 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 890 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,889 m.

The land around Kesennuma is covered by trees (54%) and artificial surfaces (30%) within 3 km, trees (55%) and water (36%) within 16 km, and trees (54%) and water (33%) within 80 km.

3 km
350 m
16 km
890 m
80 km
1,889 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Rikuzen-Takata 15 km · Ōfunato 22 km · Ichinoseki 38 km · Tome 42 km · Ōshū 44 km · Mizusawa 46 km · Tōno 46 km · Kamaishi 49 km

Japan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B
100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 65% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
3.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 446
Religion
Shintoism 49%Buddhism 46%other 4%Christianity 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Kesennuma (38.9011°, 141.5775°, elevation 14 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).