Bar Harbor weather in December

In December, Bar Harbor sees average daytime highs of 35°F and overnight lows near 24°F, with 4.8 in of precipitation across 11.6 wet days and about 8.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 32°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% 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 Bar Harbor's 6th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Bar Harbor's year-round climate.

Daytime high
35°
10th warmest
Overnight low
24°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.8 in
11.6 wet days
Daylight
8 h 42 min
7:09 AM – 3:49 PM
Cloud cover
62%
6th clearest
Wind
10 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.41 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Bar Harbor is town in Hancock County, Maine, United States.

Air quality
Excellent
PM10 5.1 µg/m³ · 2019
Founded
1763

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 32°F by the end.

A typical December day in Bar Harbor reaches about 35°F in the afternoon and slips back to 24°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°F and 47°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14029
24029
33928
43928
53827
63827
73826
83726
93725
103725
113625
123624
133624
143624
153523
163523
173523
183522
193522
203422
213422
223422
233421
243421
253321
263321
273320
283320
293220
303219
313219

How December really feels in Bar Harbor

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
20 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Bar Harbor weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 16°3.910.27.790.0
Feb31° / 17°3.39.3710.10.0
Mar38° / 25°3.910.6611.60.0
Apr48° / 37°3.811.42.413.21.6
May57° / 46°3.311014.63.9
Jun66° / 54°3.610.1015.35.9
Jul72° / 60°2.8100156.7
Aug72° / 60°2.88.3013.87.0
Sep66° / 54°3.77.9012.36.3
Oct56° / 45°4.79.90.210.83.7
Nov45° / 35°4.3101.59.41.1
Dec35° / 24°4.811.66.28.70.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% 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 54%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14555
24555
34555
44654
54654
64753
74654
84753
94654
104753
114753
124654
134654
144654
154654
164456
174555
184555
194555
204456
214555
224555
234654
244654
254753
264753
274852
284852
294852
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Bar Harbor gets around 4.8 in of rain and snow over 11.6 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 37% and peaks near 39% on the wettest days, and about 6 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13613
23614
33615
43615
53516
63516
73517
83517
93518
103518
113519
123519
133520
143620
153620
163720
173821
183821
193821
203922
213922
223922
233923
243923
253923
263924
273924
283824
293825
303725
313725

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 10 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light 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 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 6:55 AM to 7:15 AM, and sunset from 3:50 PM to 3:57 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.96:553:50
28.96:563:49
38.96:583:49
48.86:593:49
58.87:003:49
68.87:013:49
78.87:013:48
88.87:023:48
98.87:033:48
108.77:043:48
118.77:053:48
128.77:063:48
138.77:073:49
148.77:073:49
158.77:083:49
168.77:093:49
178.77:093:49
188.77:103:50
198.77:113:50
208.77:113:50
218.77:123:51
228.77:123:51
238.77:133:52
248.77:133:52
258.77:133:53
268.77:143:54
278.77:143:54
288.77:143:55
298.77:153:55
308.77:153:56
318.77:153:57

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.41 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.41 kWh/m² to a high of 5.84 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.41 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.4Dim
51.4Dim
61.4Dim
71.4Dim
81.4Dim
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
241.4Dim
251.4Dim
261.5Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.5Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Bar Harbor

In seasonPeak

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

Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor?

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
7th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Bar Harbor.

What to pack for Bar Harbor in December

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

In December, Bar Harbor sees daytime highs around 35°F and nights near 24°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 Bar Harbor 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 offshore is warmest in August at about 55°F and coldest in March near 38°F.

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

40°50°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan42Bracing
Feb39Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr40Bracing
May44Bracing
Jun48Bracing
Jul53Bracing
Aug55Bracing
Sep54Bracing
Oct52Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec46Bracing

UV index in Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor peaks around July 13 at about 7 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighModerateModerateLowJul 13UV 7Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7High
Jun6High
Jul8Very high
Aug4Moderate
Sep5High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor sits at 44.4°N, 68.2°W, 0 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bangor, 40 mi away.

Topography around Bar Harbor

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Bar Harbor has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 938 ft around an average of 105 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,526 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,516 ft.

The land around Bar Harbor is covered by water (52%) and trees (41%) within 2 miles, water (48%) and trees (47%) within 10 miles, and water (49%) and trees (47%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
938 ft
10 miles
1,526 ft
50 miles
1,516 ft
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Bangor 40 mi · Waterville 71 mi · Augusta 78 mi · Brunswick 93 mi · Lewiston 101 mi · Auburn 103 mi · South Portland 114 mi · Portland 114 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 Bar Harbor (44.3876°, -68.2039°, elevation 0 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).