Shibetsu weather in December

In December, Shibetsu sees average daytime highs of 1°C and overnight lows near -5°C, with 78 mm of precipitation across 9.7 wet days and about 8.8 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 3°C in the first days to -1°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shibetsu's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shibetsu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
10th warmest
Overnight low
-5°
4th coldest
Precipitation
78 mm
9.7 wet days
Daylight
8 h 48 min
6:53 AM – 3:38 PM
Cloud cover
57%
2nd clearest
Wind
17 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.64 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 3°C in the first days to -1°C by the end.

A typical December day in Shibetsu reaches about 1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -5°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -3°C and 5°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°C cooler than November and about 3°C warmer than January.

-15°-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13-2
23-2
33-2
43-2
52-2
62-3
72-3
82-3
92-3
101-4
111-4
121-4
131-4
141-4
151-5
160-5
170-5
180-5
190-5
200-5
210-6
220-6
23-1-6
24-1-6
25-1-6
26-1-6
27-1-6
28-1-7
29-1-7
30-1-7
31-1-7

How December really feels in Shibetsu

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
19 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

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

Shibetsu weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan-3° / -9°598.710.79.10.0
Feb-3° / -10°486.97.710.20.0
Mar / -6°769.8911.60.0
Apr / -0°8611.2513.20.7
May11° / 9611.20.614.52.8
Jun15° / 8310.1015.24.3
Jul18° / 13°11511.1014.95.5
Aug21° / 16°15012.4013.85.7
Sep19° / 13°16612.5012.35.5
Oct14° / 12711.10.110.83.9
Nov / 8711.22.99.51.0
Dec / -5°789.79.68.80.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35644
45644
55743
65743
75743
85743
95743
105743
115644
125743
135743
145644
155743
165644
175644
185644
195545
205545
215545
225446
235347
245248
255248
265149
275149
285050
295050
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Shibetsu gets around 78 mm of rain and snow over 9.7 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 31% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days, and about 10 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13421
23422
33422
43423
53324
63325
73326
83327
93328
103328
113229
123230
133230
143231
153131
163131
173131
183132
193032
203032
213033
223033
233034
243034
253035
263035
273035
283035
293035
303036
312936

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 17 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

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

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1817light breeze
1917light breeze
2017light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 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 6:40 AM to 6:59 AM, and sunset from 3:39 PM to 3:46 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.06:403:39
29.06:413:39
38.96:423:38
48.96:433:38
58.96:443:38
68.96:453:38
78.96:463:38
88.96:463:38
98.86:473:38
108.86:483:38
118.86:493:38
128.86:503:38
138.86:513:38
148.86:513:38
158.86:523:38
168.86:533:38
178.86:533:39
188.86:543:39
198.76:553:39
208.76:553:40
218.76:563:40
228.76:563:41
238.76:573:41
248.76:573:42
258.76:573:42
268.86:583:43
278.86:583:43
288.86:583:44
298.86:593:45
308.86:593:46
318.86:593:46

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.64 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.64 kWh/m² to a high of 5.21 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 1.64 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.6Dim
131.6Dim
141.6Dim
151.6Dim
161.6Dim
171.6Dim
181.6Dim
191.6Dim
201.6Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.7Dim
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.8Dim
311.8Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Shibetsu

In seasonPeak

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

Shibetsu 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 Shibetsu?

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
6th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Shibetsu.

What to pack for Shibetsu in December

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

In December, Shibetsu sees daytime highs around 1°C and nights near -5°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Shibetsu in December

The nearest coast averages about 5°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 September at about 17°C and coldest in February near -0°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

0°10°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan2Bracing
Feb0Bracing
Mar0Bracing
Apr2Bracing
May5Bracing
Jun9Bracing
Jul13Bracing
Aug17Cool
Sep17Cool
Oct14Bracing
Nov10Bracing
Dec5Bracing

UV index in Shibetsu 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 Shibetsu peaks around August 17 at about 9 (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 7 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highModerateLowAug 17UV 9Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar3Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May7High
Jun7High
Jul6High
Aug9Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Shibetsu?

Shibetsu sits at 43.7°N, 145.1°E, 2 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Nakashibetsu, 18 km away.

EngaruMombetsu

Topography around Shibetsu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shibetsu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 35 m around an average of 6 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 482 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,608 m.

The land around Shibetsu is covered by water (43%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, water (45%) and trees (27%) within 16 km, and water (55%) and trees (31%) within 80 km.

3 km
35 m
16 km
482 m
80 km
1,608 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Nakashibetsu 18 km · Nemuro 52 km · Abashiri 80 km · Motomachi 85 km · Kushiro 98 km · Kitami 101 km · Engaru 134 km · Mombetsu 162 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 Shibetsu (43.659°, 145.132°, elevation 2 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).