Minamishibetsuchō weather in December

In December, Minamishibetsuchō sees average daytime highs of -2°C and overnight lows near -9°C, with 110 mm of precipitation across 21 wet days and about 8.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about -0°C in the first days to -4°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 8 h 54 min at the start of December to 8 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Minamishibetsuchō's 10th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Minamishibetsuchō's year-round climate.

Daytime high
-2°
10th warmest
Overnight low
-9°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
110 mm
21 wet days
Daylight
8 h 42 min
7:06 AM – 3:48 PM
Cloud cover
76%
10th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.44 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about -0°C in the first days to -4°C by the end.

A typical December day in Minamishibetsuchō reaches about -2°C in the afternoon and slips back to -9°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -7°C and 2°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

-20°-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
10-6
20-6
30-7
4-1-7
5-1-7
6-1-7
7-1-8
8-1-8
9-2-8
10-2-8
11-2-8
12-2-9
13-2-9
14-2-9
15-3-9
16-3-9
17-3-9
18-3-9
19-3-9
20-3-10
21-3-10
22-3-10
23-3-10
24-3-10
25-4-10
26-4-10
27-4-10
28-4-10
29-4-10
30-4-10
31-4-10

How December really feels in Minamishibetsuchō

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
31 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

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

Minamishibetsuchō weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-5° / -12°6816.1219.10.0
Feb-4° / -11°6014.317.410.20.0
Mar / -7°8115.816.911.60.0
Apr / -1°8414.18.213.21.3
May15° / 9613.40.714.54.2
Jun19° / 11°9812.8015.25.5
Jul23° / 15°15714.40155.9
Aug23° / 16°17415.6013.85.8
Sep19° / 11°16915.9012.35.2
Oct13° / 13716.71.510.83.0
Nov / -2°1452015.19.40.3
Dec-2° / -9°1102123.68.70.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 4% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 82%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11882
21882
31882
41882
51981
61981
71882
81783
91783
101783
111882
121882
131882
141882
151882
161882
171882
181981
191981
201981
211981
221882
231882
241882
251882
261882
271882
281882
291882
301783
311783

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Minamishibetsuchō gets around 110 mm of rain and snow over 21 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 67% and peaks near 71% on the wettest days, and about 24 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
17072
27073
37073
47074
57075
67075
77176
87176
97177
107177
117177
127077
137077
147077
156977
166877
176877
186777
196776
206676
216676
226576
236475
246475
256375
266274
276174
286174
296073
305973
315973

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 11 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312calm
412calm
512calm
612calm
712calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 8 h 54 min at the start of December to 8 h 42 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 6:52 AM to 7:12 AM, and sunset from 3:48 PM to 3:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.96:523:48
28.96:533:48
38.96:543:48
48.96:553:47
58.86:563:47
68.86:573:47
78.86:583:47
88.86:593:47
98.87:003:47
108.87:013:47
118.87:023:47
128.77:033:47
138.77:033:47
148.77:043:47
158.77:053:47
168.77:063:48
178.77:063:48
188.77:073:48
198.77:073:49
208.77:083:49
218.77:093:49
228.77:093:50
238.77:103:50
248.77:103:51
258.77:103:51
268.77:113:52
278.77:113:53
288.77:113:53
298.77:113:54
308.77:123:55
318.77:123:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.44 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.44 kWh/m² to a high of 5.37 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 1.44 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.5Dim
61.5Dim
71.5Dim
81.5Dim
91.4Dim
101.4Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.4Dim
231.4Dim
241.5Dim
251.5Dim
261.5Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.5Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Minamishibetsuchō

In seasonPeak

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

Minamishibetsuchō 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 Minamishibetsuchō?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Minamishibetsuchō.

What to pack for Minamishibetsuchō in December

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

In December, Minamishibetsuchō sees daytime highs around -2°C and nights near -9°C. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. About 21 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Minamishibetsuchō in December

The nearest coast averages about 9°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 60 km away) is warmest in August at about 21°C and coldest in February near 5°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Aug 5 to Sep 20 — about 1.5 months when the water holds above 20°C.

0°10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarm
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan6Bracing
Feb5Bracing
Mar5Bracing
Apr7Bracing
May10Bracing
Jun14Bracing
Jul18Cool
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct17Cool
Nov12Bracing
Dec9Bracing

UV index in Minamishibetsuchō in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Minamishibetsuchō peaks around August 15 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 15UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar3Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun7High
Jul7High
Aug9Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Minamishibetsuchō 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 Minamishibetsuchō is worst in April — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1516 µg/m³Dec 197 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb10Good
Mar15Moderate
Apr17Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun10Good
Jul10Good
Aug8Good
Sep7Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Minamishibetsuchō?

Minamishibetsuchō sits at 44.2°N, 142.4°E, 134 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Nayoro, 23 km away.

Topography around Minamishibetsuchō

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Minamishibetsuchō has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 138 m around an average of 145 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 686 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,253 m.

The land around Minamishibetsuchō is covered by cropland (50%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, trees (60%) and cropland (34%) within 16 km, and trees (74%) within 80 km.

3 km
138 m
16 km
686 m
80 km
2,253 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Nayoro 23 km · Asahikawa 43 km · Fukagawa 56 km · Rumoi 63 km · Ashibetsu 73 km · Takikawa 77 km · Mombetsu 81 km · Sunagawa 83 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 Minamishibetsuchō (44.154°, 142.3731°, elevation 134 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).