Minami-Sōma weather in December

In December, Minami-Sōma sees average daytime highs of 9°C and overnight lows near 6°C, with 58 mm of precipitation across 8.7 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 11°C in the first days to 8°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Minami-Sōma's 1st-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Minami-Sōma's year-round climate.

Daytime high
9th warmest
Overnight low
4th coldest
Precipitation
58 mm
8.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
6:50 AM – 4:15 PM
Cloud cover
48%
1st clearest
Wind
19 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
2.21 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.0
out of 10

Minami-Sōma is city in Fukushima prefecture, Japan.

Density
148/km²
people per km²
Founded
2006

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 11°C in the first days to 8°C by the end.

A typical December day in Minami-Sōma reaches about 9°C in the afternoon and slips back to 6°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 6°C and 13°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

10°15°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
1117
2117
3117
4117
5117
6117
7107
8106
9106
10106
11106
12106
1396
1496
1596
1695
1795
1895
1995
2095
2195
2285
2385
2485
2585
2684
2784
2884
2984
3084
3174

How December really feels in Minami-Sōma

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 3 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
3
wind chill below the day's low

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

Minami-Sōma weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 628.22.89.70.7
Feb / 527.42.910.50.7
Mar / 9810.21.511.71.6
Apr12° / 11310.50.212.93.3
May16° / 13°12111.20145.0
Jun20° / 17°13512.8014.55.5
Jul23° / 21°19116.2014.35.6
Aug25° / 23°14813.2013.46.2
Sep23° / 21°19414.1012.36.0
Oct19° / 16°19111.60115.8
Nov14° / 10°788.10104.3
Dec / 588.71.29.42.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in December, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 34%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
25941
35941
46040
56040
66040
76139
86139
96337
106337
116337
126436
136436
146436
156535
166535
176634
186733
196733
206832
216931
226931
236931
247129
257129
267129
277129
287129
297228
307129
317129

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Minami-Sōma gets around 58 mm of rain and snow over 8.7 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 27% and peaks near 30% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1271
2271
3281
4281
5282
6292
7292
8302
9302
10302
11292
12292
13293
14283
15283
16283
17274
18274
19274
20264
21265
22265
23265
24256
25256
26256
27256
28256
29256
30256
31256

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 19 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 17 km/h on the calmest days to 20 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
818light breeze
918light breeze
1018light breeze
1118light breeze
1218light breeze
1318light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1719light breeze
1819light breeze
1919light breeze
2019light breeze
2119light breeze
2219light breeze
2319light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2620light breeze
2720light breeze
2820light breeze
2920light breeze
3020light breeze
3120light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 6:38 AM to 6:56 AM, and sunset from 4:14 PM to 4:22 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.66:384:14
29.66:394:13
39.66:404:13
49.56:414:13
59.56:424:13
69.56:434:13
79.56:434:13
89.56:444:13
99.56:454:13
109.56:464:13
119.56:464:13
129.46:474:14
139.46:484:14
149.46:494:14
159.46:494:14
169.46:504:15
179.46:504:15
189.46:514:15
199.46:524:16
209.46:524:16
219.46:534:16
229.46:534:17
239.46:544:17
249.46:544:18
259.46:544:18
269.46:554:19
279.46:554:20
289.46:554:20
299.46:564:21
309.46:564:22
319.46:564:22

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.21 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.21 kWh/m² to a high of 5.4 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.21 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.3Moderate
202.3Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.4Moderate
272.4Moderate
282.4Moderate
292.4Moderate
302.4Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Minami-Sōma

In seasonPeak

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

Minami-Sōma sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Minami-Sōma's rainy season runs March–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Minami-Sōma?

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

2.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Minami-Sōma.

What to pack for Minami-Sōma in December

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

In December, Minami-Sōma sees daytime highs around 9°C and nights near 6°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Minami-Sōma in December

The nearest coast averages about 15°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) is warmest in August at about 23°C and coldest in March near 10°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 9 to Oct 11 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan12Bracing
Feb10Bracing
Mar10Bracing
Apr11Bracing
May14Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul21Refreshing
Aug23Refreshing
Sep23Refreshing
Oct20Cool
Nov17Cool
Dec15Bracing

UV index in Minami-Sōma 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 Minami-Sōma peaks around July 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 10 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateJul 20UV 9Jan 10UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Minami-Sōma 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 Minami-Sōma is worst in April — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1720 µg/m³Dec 169 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul12Good
Aug10Good
Sep10Good
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Minami-Sōma?

Minami-Sōma sits at 37.6°N, 141.0°E, 27 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Namie, 16 km away.

Topography around Minami-Sōma

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Minami-Sōma has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 80 m around an average of 22 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 725 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,031 m.

The land around Minami-Sōma is covered by artificial surfaces (38%) and cropland (35%) within 3 km, trees (43%) and water (36%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) and water (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
80 m
16 km
725 m
80 km
2,031 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Namie 16 km · Sōma 19 km · Tamura 40 km · Funehikimachi-funehiki 41 km · Yanagawamachi-saiwaichō 41 km · Kakuda 42 km · Hobaramachi 43 km · Watari 47 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 Minami-Sōma (37.6291°, 140.9787°, elevation 27 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).