Allendale weather in December

In December, Allendale sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 28°F, with 2.7 in of precipitation across 12.1 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% 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 Allendale's 11th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Allendale's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
28°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.7 in
12.1 wet days
Daylight
8 h 48 min
8:15 AM – 5:05 PM
Cloud cover
83%
11th clearest
Wind
11 mph
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.27 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Allendale is census designated place in Ottawa County, Michigan, United States.

Density
287/km²
people per km²

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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Allendale reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 28°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°F and 46°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)
14032
23931
33931
43931
53830
63830
73830
83729
93729
103729
113729
123628
133628
143628
153628
163528
173527
183527
193527
203527
213526
223526
233426
243426
253426
263426
273425
283325
293325
303325
313325

How December really feels in Allendale

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
1 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Allendale 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 (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 21°2.611.7119.20.0
Feb32° / 20°2.08.46.910.20.0
Mar41° / 28°2.69.54.211.60.4
Apr52° / 38°4.1121.613.12.7
May64° / 49°4.311.7014.45.3
Jun74° / 61°3.610.9015.16.7
Jul78° / 66°3.910.7014.86.7
Aug77° / 64°3.810.3013.86.9
Sep71° / 57°3.310.1012.36.6
Oct58° / 46°3.8120.210.84.2
Nov46° / 36°3.111.63.29.51.1
Dec36° / 28°2.712.19.38.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 8% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 7% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 85%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11882
21783
31783
41783
51783
61684
71684
81684
91585
101585
111684
121585
131585
141585
151585
161585
171585
181486
191486
201585
211585
221585
231486
241486
251486
261486
271486
281486
291486
301486
311387

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Allendale gets around 2.7 in of rain and snow over 12.1 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 39% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days, and about 9 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
14222
24223
34224
44225
54226
64227
74127
84128
94128
104029
114029
123929
133929
143929
153929
163930
173930
183830
193830
203830
213830
223730
233731
243731
253731
263732
273732
283732
293732
303733
313733

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 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
111light breeze
211light breeze
311light breeze
411light breeze
511light breeze
611light breeze
711light breeze
811light breeze
911light breeze
1011light breeze
1111light breeze
1211light breeze
1311light breeze
1411light breeze
1511light breeze
1611light breeze
1711light breeze
1811light breeze
1911light breeze
2011light breeze
2111light breeze
2211light breeze
2311light breeze
2411light breeze
2511light breeze
2611light breeze
2711light breeze
2811light breeze
2911light breeze
3011light breeze
3111light 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 8:02 AM to 8:21 AM, and sunset from 5:05 PM to 5:13 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.18:025:05
29.08:035:05
39.08:045:05
49.08:055:05
59.08:065:05
69.08:075:04
78.98:085:04
88.98:085:04
98.98:095:04
108.98:105:04
118.98:115:04
128.98:125:05
138.98:135:05
148.98:135:05
158.98:145:05
168.88:155:05
178.88:155:06
188.88:165:06
198.88:175:06
208.88:175:07
218.88:185:07
228.88:185:07
238.88:195:08
248.88:195:09
258.88:195:09
268.88:205:10
278.88:205:10
288.88:205:11
298.98:215:12
308.98:215:12
318.98:215:13

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.27 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.27 kWh/m² to a high of 6.65 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.27 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.4Dim
21.4Dim
31.4Dim
41.3Dim
51.3Dim
61.3Dim
71.3Dim
81.3Dim
91.3Dim
101.3Dim
111.3Dim
121.3Dim
131.3Dim
141.3Dim
151.3Dim
161.2Dim
171.2Dim
181.2Dim
191.2Dim
201.2Dim
211.2Dim
221.2Dim
231.2Dim
241.2Dim
251.2Dim
261.3Dim
271.3Dim
281.3Dim
291.3Dim
301.3Dim
311.3Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Allendale?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Allendale.

What to pack for Allendale in December

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

In December, Allendale sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 28°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Allendale in December

The nearest coast averages about 43°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 22 mi away) is warmest in August at about 71°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 20 to Sep 8 — about 1.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr38Bracing
May44Bracing
Jun56Bracing
Jul68Cool
Aug71Refreshing
Sep67Cool
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Allendale 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 Allendale peaks around June 21 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 highHighModerateLowJun 21UV 9Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Allendale 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 Allendale is worst in June — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2216 µg/m³Nov 137 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Allendale?

Allendale sits at 43.0°N, 86.0°W, 653 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Jenison, 9.3 mi away.

Topography around Allendale

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Allendale has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 ft around an average of 650 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 279 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 692 ft.

The land around Allendale is covered by trees (34%), grassland (29%) and cropland (27%) within 2 miles, trees (38%), cropland (29%) and grassland (27%) within 10 miles, and trees (41%) and water (29%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
125 ft
10 miles
279 ft
50 miles
692 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Jenison 9.3 mi · Walker 9.3 mi · Grandville 11 mi · Wyoming 13 mi · Grand Rapids 14 mi · Holland 15 mi · Kentwood 17 mi · Norton Shores 21 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 Allendale (42.9723°, -85.9536°, elevation 653 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. 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).