Rikuzen-Takata weather in December

In December, Rikuzen-Takata sees average daytime highs of 7°C and overnight lows near 2°C, with 70 mm of precipitation across 9.5 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 9°C in the first days to 5°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% 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 Rikuzen-Takata's 3rd-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Rikuzen-Takata's year-round climate.

Daytime high
9th warmest
Overnight low
4th coldest
Precipitation
70 mm
9.5 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
6:51 AM – 4:08 PM
Cloud cover
52%
3rd clearest
Wind
21 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.7
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 9°C in the first days to 5°C by the end.

A typical December day in Rikuzen-Takata reaches about 7°C in the afternoon and slips back to 2°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 3°C and 11°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-5°10°15°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
194
294
394
484
584
683
783
883
973
1073
1173
1273
1372
1472
1562
1662
1762
1862
1962
2062
2162
2261
2361
2451
2551
2651
2751
2851
2951
3051
3151

How December really feels in Rikuzen-Takata

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 30 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
30
wind chill below the day's low

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

Rikuzen-Takata weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -1°557.74.39.60.0
Feb / -1°507.24.710.50.0
Mar / 9910.94.111.70.6
Apr10° / 10910.91132.4
May14° / 11°12911.8014.14.0
Jun18° / 15°13812.4014.75.1
Jul21° / 19°17615.5014.55.5
Aug23° / 21°16013.7013.56.1
Sep21° / 18°18814.1012.35.7
Oct17° / 13°16010.90115.3
Nov12° / 828.90.39.93.3
Dec / 709.52.99.30.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 40%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15941
25941
35842
45842
55842
65842
75842
85842
95842
105842
115743
125842
135842
145743
155842
165842
175842
185941
195941
206040
216040
226139
236238
246238
256238
266337
276337
286337
296535
306535
316535

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Rikuzen-Takata gets around 70 mm of rain and snow over 9.5 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 30% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1293
2293
3293
4294
5304
6305
7305
8306
9306
10307
11307
12308
13308
14309
15319
163110
173111
183111
193111
203112
213012
223012
233013
243013
253013
262913
272913
282813
292813
302713
312713

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 21 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 20 km/h on the calmest days to 22 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
120light breeze
220light breeze
320light breeze
420light breeze
520light breeze
620light breeze
720breezy
820breezy
920breezy
1020breezy
1120breezy
1220breezy
1321breezy
1421breezy
1521breezy
1621breezy
1721breezy
1821breezy
1921breezy
2021breezy
2121breezy
2221breezy
2322breezy
2422breezy
2522breezy
2622breezy
2722breezy
2822breezy
2922breezy
3022breezy
3122breezy

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 4:07 PM to 4:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.56:394:07
29.46:404:07
39.46:414:07
49.46:424:07
59.46:434:06
69.46:444:06
79.46:454:06
89.36:454:06
99.36:464:07
109.36:474:07
119.36:484:07
129.36:494:07
139.36:494:07
149.36:504:07
159.36:514:08
169.36:514:08
179.36:524:08
189.36:534:08
199.36:534:09
209.36:544:09
219.36:544:10
229.36:554:10
239.36:554:11
249.36:564:11
259.36:564:12
269.36:564:12
279.36:574:13
289.36:574:13
299.36:574:14
309.36:574:15
319.36:584:15

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.13 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.13 kWh/m² to a high of 5.56 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.13 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
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
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Rikuzen-Takata

In seasonPeak

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

Rikuzen-Takata 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 Rikuzen-Takata?

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

0.7
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 Rikuzen-Takata.

What to pack for Rikuzen-Takata in December

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

In December, Rikuzen-Takata sees daytime highs around 7°C and nights near 2°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Rikuzen-Takata 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 at the nearest coast (about 16 km away) 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 Rikuzen-Takata 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 Rikuzen-Takata peaks around August 19 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 highHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 19UV 9Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul6High
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Rikuzen-Takata 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 Rikuzen-Takata 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 Rikuzen-Takata?

Rikuzen-Takata sits at 39.0°N, 141.7°E, 44 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Ōfunato, 8.0 km away.

Topography around Rikuzen-Takata

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Rikuzen-Takata has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 690 m around an average of 129 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 880 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,889 m.

The land around Rikuzen-Takata is covered by trees (53%) within 3 km, trees (67%) and water (26%) within 16 km, and trees (56%) and water (31%) within 80 km.

3 km
690 m
16 km
880 m
80 km
1,889 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Ōfunato 8.0 km · Kesennuma 15 km · Kamaishi 34 km · Tōno 35 km · Ōshū 44 km · Ichinoseki 46 km · Mizusawa 47 km · Kanegasaki 50 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 Rikuzen-Takata (39.0203°, 141.6542°, elevation 44 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).