Acton weather in December

In December, Acton sees average daytime highs of 40°F and overnight lows near 26°F, with 4.1 in of precipitation across 10.3 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 44°F in the first days to 37°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Acton's 7th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Acton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
40°
10th warmest
Overnight low
26°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.1 in
10.3 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
7:15 AM – 4:09 PM
Cloud cover
59%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
1.59 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.1
out of 10

Acton is town in Massachusetts, United States.

Founded
1639

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 44°F in the first days to 37°F by the end.

A typical December day in Acton reaches about 40°F in the afternoon and slips back to 26°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°F and 53°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14430
24430
34429
44329
54329
64228
74228
84228
94127
104127
114027
124026
134026
144026
153926
163926
173925
183925
193925
203925
213825
223824
233824
243824
253824
263824
273824
283723
293723
303723
313723

How December really feels in Acton

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
2 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Acton weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan35° / 20°3.29.66.29.20.0
Feb37° / 22°3.08.55.710.30.0
Mar45° / 29°4.111.15.111.61.1
Apr57° / 39°3.610.51.213.14.0
May67° / 49°3.110.5014.46.0
Jun77° / 58°3.510.7015.16.5
Jul83° / 64°3.210.3014.85.8
Aug81° / 62°3.49.6013.76.5
Sep73° / 55°3.48012.37.0
Oct61° / 44°3.79.30.210.85.3
Nov50° / 34°3.39.11.19.62.3
Dec40° / 26°4.110.358.90.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24753
34753
44753
54753
64753
74753
84753
94753
104555
114555
124555
134555
144654
154654
164555
174555
184654
194654
204654
214654
224654
234753
244852
254951
264951
274951
285050
295050
305050
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Acton gets around 4.1 in of rain and snow over 10.3 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 33% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13111
23112
33213
43214
53214
63215
73216
83316
93317
103417
113417
123417
133417
143417
153417
163417
173416
183416
193416
203416
213416
223316
233316
243316
253316
263316
273316
283316
293316
303317
313317

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 8 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17light breeze
27light breeze
37light breeze
47light breeze
57light breeze
67light breeze
77light breeze
87light breeze
97light breeze
107light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 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 7:02 AM to 7:21 AM, and sunset from 4:09 PM to 4:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:024:09
29.17:034:09
39.17:044:08
49.17:054:08
59.07:064:08
69.07:074:08
79.07:084:08
89.07:094:08
99.07:104:08
109.07:104:08
118.97:114:08
128.97:124:08
138.97:134:08
148.97:144:08
158.97:144:09
168.97:154:09
178.97:164:09
188.97:164:10
198.97:174:10
208.97:174:10
218.97:184:11
228.97:184:11
238.97:194:12
248.97:194:12
258.97:204:13
268.97:204:13
278.97:204:14
288.97:214:15
298.97:214:15
308.97:214:16
318.97:214:17

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.59 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.59 kWh/m² to a high of 5.88 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.59 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.6Dim
61.6Dim
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
211.6Dim
221.6Dim
231.6Dim
241.6Dim
251.6Dim
261.6Dim
271.6Dim
281.6Dim
291.6Dim
301.6Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Acton

In seasonPeak

None of Acton's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Acton sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Acton?

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

0.1
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 Acton.

What to pack for Acton in December

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

In December, Acton sees daytime highs around 40°F and nights near 26°F. 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 Acton in December

The nearest coast averages about 46°F 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 29 mi away) is warmest in August at about 66°F and coldest in February near 38°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan41Bracing
Feb38Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr42Bracing
May50Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul65Cool
Aug66Cool
Sep63Cool
Oct56Bracing
Nov50Bracing
Dec46Bracing

UV index in Acton 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 Acton peaks around July 10 at about 7 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 23 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 highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 7Dec 23UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun7Very high
Jul7Very high
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Acton 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 Acton is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1715 µg/m³Nov 188 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Acton?

Acton sits at 42.5°N, 71.4°W, 266 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Concord, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around Acton

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Acton.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Acton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 315 ft around an average of 236 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 574 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,176 ft.

The land around Acton is covered by trees (86%) within 2 miles, trees (84%) within 10 miles, and trees (77%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
315 ft
10 miles
574 ft
50 miles
3,176 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Concord 4.3 mi · Westford 6.2 mi · Sudbury 6.8 mi · Chelmsford 8.7 mi · Billerica 9.9 mi · Lexington 11 mi · Marlborough 11 mi · Lowell 12 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

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 Acton (42.4851°, -71.4328°, elevation 266 ft), 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).