Beckley weather in December

In December, Beckley sees average daytime highs of 44°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 4.1 in of precipitation across 12.2 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 47°F in the first days to 42°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Beckley's 10th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Beckley's year-round climate.

Daytime high
44°
10th warmest
Overnight low
29°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.1 in
12.2 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:39 AM – 5:03 PM
Cloud cover
68%
10th clearest
Wind
8 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
1.85 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.7
out of 10

Beckley is city in and county seat of Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States.

Density
693/km²
people per km²
Founded
1838

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 47°F in the first days to 42°F by the end.

A typical December day in Beckley reaches about 44°F in the afternoon and slips back to 29°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°F and 58°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14732
24731
34731
44631
54631
64630
74530
84530
94530
104430
114429
124429
134429
144429
154429
164329
174328
184328
194328
204328
214328
224328
234228
244228
254228
264228
274227
284227
294227
304227
314227

How December really feels in Beckley

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
wind chill below the day's low

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

Beckley weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan40° / 25°4.012.86.89.70.0
Feb44° / 27°4.013610.50.6
Mar52° / 34°4.914.84.711.72.5
Apr63° / 44°4.513.31.312.95.0
May69° / 52°5.316.20145.5
Jun76° / 60°5.015.8014.65.9
Jul79° / 63°5.516.6014.35.7
Aug78° / 62°3.914013.56.2
Sep73° / 56°3.910.2012.36.8
Oct63° / 45°3.49.80.4115.6
Nov53° / 35°3.410.21.9102.9
Dec44° / 29°4.112.25.49.40.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33664
43664
53565
63367
73367
83367
93268
103268
113169
123169
133268
143268
153268
163268
173367
183367
193367
203367
213466
223466
233367
243367
253367
263268
273268
283367
293367
303367
313268

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Beckley gets around 4.1 in of rain and snow over 12.2 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 41% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
14013
24014
34114
44115
54115
64116
74116
84116
94117
104117
114117
124017
134017
143917
153917
163917
173817
183817
193817
203717
213717
223718
233718
243718
253718
263718
273718
283819
293819
303819
313920

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 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1991
2991
3991
4991
5991
6991
7991
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
29991
30991
31991

Wind in December

Winds average 8 mph in December.

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

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light 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 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 7:27 AM to 7:45 AM, and sunset from 5:02 PM to 5:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:275:02
29.67:285:02
39.57:295:02
49.57:305:01
59.57:315:01
69.57:325:01
79.57:325:01
89.57:335:01
99.57:345:01
109.47:355:02
119.47:365:02
129.47:365:02
139.47:375:02
149.47:385:02
159.47:385:03
169.47:395:03
179.47:405:03
189.47:405:04
199.47:415:04
209.47:415:04
219.47:425:05
229.47:425:05
239.47:435:06
249.47:435:06
259.47:445:07
269.47:445:07
279.47:445:08
289.47:455:08
299.47:455:09
309.47:455:10
319.47:455:10

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.85 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.85 kWh/m² to a high of 6.04 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.85 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.0Moderate
22.0Dim
32.0Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.8Dim
111.8Dim
121.8Dim
131.8Dim
141.8Dim
151.8Dim
161.8Dim
171.8Dim
181.8Dim
191.8Dim
201.8Dim
211.8Dim
221.8Dim
231.8Dim
241.8Dim
251.9Dim
261.9Dim
271.9Dim
281.9Dim
291.9Dim
301.9Dim
311.9Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Beckley?

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

0.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Beckley.

What to pack for Beckley in December

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

In December, Beckley sees daytime highs around 44°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Beckley 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 Beckley peaks around July 11 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 10Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Beckley 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 Beckley is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1516 µg/m³Dec 146 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr10Good
May12Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Beckley?

Beckley sits at 37.8°N, 81.2°W, 2,421 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Charleston, 47 mi away.

Topography around Beckley

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Beckley has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 568 ft around an average of 2,382 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,149 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,157 ft.

The land around Beckley is covered by trees (68%) within 2 miles, trees (88%) within 10 miles, and trees (91%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
568 ft
10 miles
2,149 ft
50 miles
4,157 ft
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Charleston 47 mi · Radford 56 mi · Blacksburg 57 mi · Christiansburg 62 mi · Salem 71 mi · Cave Spring 75 mi · Roanoke 77 mi · Huntington 81 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 Beckley (37.7782°, -81.1882°, elevation 2,421 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. 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).