Branford weather in December

In December, Branford sees average daytime highs of 43°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 5.1 in of precipitation across 10.9 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 46°F in the first days to 40°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 12 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Branford's 10th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Branford's year-round climate.

Daytime high
43°
9th warmest
Overnight low
34°
4th coldest
Precipitation
5.1 in
10.9 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:16 AM – 4:18 PM
Cloud cover
60%
10th clearest
Wind
13 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.72 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.5
out of 10

Branford is town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.

Founded
1644

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 46°F in the first days to 40°F by the end.

A typical December day in Branford reaches about 43°F in the afternoon and slips back to 34°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 33°F and 53°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14738
24738
34638
44637
54637
64537
74536
84436
94436
104435
114435
124335
134335
144334
154334
164234
174234
184234
194233
204233
214233
224133
234133
244133
254132
264132
274032
284032
294031
304031
314031

How December really feels in Branford

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.

Branford weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan37° / 28°3.99.94.69.40.0
Feb38° / 28°3.58.94.210.30.0
Mar43° / 34°4.810.53.311.70.5
Apr52° / 43°4.211.10.513.12.7
May61° / 52°3.510.9014.35.0
Jun71° / 62°3.79.8014.96.6
Jul77° / 69°3.19014.77.0
Aug77° / 68°3.99.2013.77.1
Sep71° / 63°4.18.7012.36.9
Oct62° / 53°4.89.70.110.95.3
Nov52° / 43°4.09.30.59.72.7
Dec43° / 34°5.110.939.10.5

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 15% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34852
44852
54852
64753
74753
84753
94654
104654
114555
124456
134456
144456
154456
164357
174357
184357
194456
204555
214555
224654
234654
244753
254753
264753
274753
284753
294852
304852
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Branford gets around 5.1 in of rain and snow over 10.9 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 35% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1346
2357
3357
4358
5368
6369
7379
83710
93710
103710
113711
123711
133611
143611
153510
163510
173410
183410
193410
203310
213310
22339
23329
243210
253210
263310
273310
283311
293411
303412
313413

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 (%)Comfortable (%)
1991
2991
31000
41000
51000
61000
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 13 mph in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 13 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1913breezy
2013breezy
2113breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2413breezy
2513breezy
2613breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3013breezy
3113breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 12 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:04 AM to 7:23 AM, and sunset from 4:18 PM to 4:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:044:18
29.27:054:18
39.27:064:18
49.27:074:18
59.27:084:18
69.17:094:17
79.17:094:17
89.17:104:17
99.17:114:17
109.17:124:17
119.17:134:18
129.17:144:18
139.17:144:18
149.17:154:18
159.07:164:18
169.07:164:18
179.07:174:19
189.07:184:19
199.07:184:19
209.07:194:20
219.07:194:20
229.07:204:21
239.07:204:21
249.07:214:22
259.07:214:22
269.07:214:23
279.07:224:23
289.07:224:24
299.07:224:25
309.17:224:25
319.17:234:26

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.72 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.72 kWh/m² to a high of 6.26 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.72 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.9Dim
21.8Dim
31.8Dim
41.8Dim
51.8Dim
61.8Dim
71.8Dim
81.8Dim
91.7Dim
101.7Dim
111.7Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.7Dim
161.7Dim
171.7Dim
181.7Dim
191.7Dim
201.7Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.7Dim
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.8Dim
301.8Dim
311.8Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Branford

In seasonPeak

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

Branford 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 Branford?

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

0.5
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Branford.

What to pack for Branford in December

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

In December, Branford sees daytime highs around 43°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Branford 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 11 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 4 to Sep 28 — about 2.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar37Bracing
Apr44Bracing
May54Bracing
Jun64Cool
Jul71Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep71Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov55Bracing
Dec46Bracing

UV index in Branford 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 Branford peaks around July 11 at about 8 (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 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Branford 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 Branford is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.7× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1120 µg/m³Nov 188 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May19Moderate
Jun20Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Branford?

Branford sits at 41.3°N, 72.8°W, 46 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is East Haven, 2.5 mi away.

Topography around Branford

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Branford has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 272 ft around an average of 66 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 686 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,680 ft.

The land around Branford is covered by trees (62%) within 2 miles, trees (42%) and water (42%) within 10 miles, and trees (58%) and water (34%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
272 ft
10 miles
686 ft
50 miles
1,680 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: East Haven 2.5 mi · New Haven 6.2 mi · West Haven 6.8 mi · Guilford 6.8 mi · North Haven 8.1 mi · Hamden 9.3 mi · Madison 11 mi · Wallingford Center 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 Branford (41.2795°, -72.8151°, elevation 46 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).