Brighton weather in December

In December, Brighton sees average daytime highs of 38°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 3.7 in of precipitation across 15.8 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 41°F in the first days to 35°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Brighton's 11th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Brighton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
38°
10th warmest
Overnight low
29°
4th coldest
Precipitation
3.7 in
15.8 wet days
Daylight
8 h 48 min
7:42 AM – 4:31 PM
Cloud cover
82%
11th clearest
Wind
12 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.23 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Brighton is town in Monroe County, New York, USA.

Founded
1814

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 41°F in the first days to 35°F by the end.

A typical December day in Brighton reaches about 38°F in the afternoon and slips back to 29°F overnight — a 9°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°F and 49°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14233
24232
34132
44132
54031
64031
74031
83930
93930
103930
113829
123829
133829
143829
153729
163728
173728
183728
193728
203728
213728
223628
233627
243627
253627
263627
273627
283526
293526
303526
313526

How December really feels in Brighton

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.

Brighton weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 22°3.415.5149.20.0
Feb33° / 21°2.610.99.310.20.0
Mar39° / 28°3.111.75.911.60.1
Apr50° / 38°3.911.82.213.12.1
May60° / 48°3.211.4014.44.5
Jun70° / 58°3.511.5015.16.3
Jul77° / 65°3.511.1014.96.8
Aug76° / 65°3.211.7013.86.8
Sep71° / 58°3.410.7012.36.5
Oct59° / 48°4.313.30.110.84.1
Nov47° / 37°3.7143.99.51.4
Dec38° / 29°3.715.810.68.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 7% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 8% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 85%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11981
21981
31882
41882
51783
61783
71882
81882
91783
101783
111783
121684
131684
141684
151585
161585
171486
181486
191486
201486
211486
221288
231288
241288
251288
261288
271288
281189
291189
301189
311189

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Brighton gets around 3.7 in of rain and snow over 15.8 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 51% and peaks near 55% on the wettest days, and about 11 days bring snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
15224
25225
35226
45227
55229
65230
75231
85232
95133
105133
115134
125134
135135
145035
155035
165036
175036
185036
195036
205036
215036
225036
235036
245136
255137
265237
275238
285338
295439
305440
315540

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 12 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2312light breeze
2412breezy
2512breezy
2612breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3013breezy
3113breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of December to 8 h 48 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 7:29 AM to 7:48 AM, and sunset from 4:31 PM to 4:39 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.07:294:31
29.07:304:31
39.07:314:31
49.07:324:31
59.07:334:30
68.97:344:30
78.97:354:30
88.97:354:30
98.97:364:30
108.97:374:30
118.97:384:30
128.97:394:30
138.87:404:30
148.87:404:31
158.87:414:31
168.87:424:31
178.87:424:31
188.87:434:32
198.87:444:32
208.87:444:32
218.87:454:33
228.87:454:33
238.87:464:34
248.87:464:34
258.87:464:35
268.87:474:35
278.87:474:36
288.87:474:37
298.87:484:37
308.87:484:38
318.87:484:39

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.23 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.23 kWh/m² to a high of 6.26 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.23 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.3Dim
21.3Dim
31.3Dim
41.3Dim
51.3Dim
61.3Dim
71.3Dim
81.3Dim
91.3Dim
101.3Dim
111.3Dim
121.2Dim
131.2Dim
141.2Dim
151.2Dim
161.2Dim
171.2Dim
181.2Dim
191.2Dim
201.2Dim
211.2Dim
221.2Dim
231.2Dim
241.2Dim
251.2Dim
261.2Dim
271.2Dim
281.2Dim
291.2Dim
301.2Dim
311.2Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Brighton?

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
7th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Brighton.

What to pack for Brighton in December

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

In December, Brighton sees daytime highs around 38°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. About 16 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Brighton 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 16 mi away) is warmest in August at about 72°F and coldest in March near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 16 to Sep 11 — about 1.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar37Bracing
Apr38Bracing
May42Bracing
Jun56Bracing
Jul69Refreshing
Aug72Refreshing
Sep67Cool
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Brighton 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 Brighton peaks around June 23 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. 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 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7High
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Brighton?

Brighton sits at 43.1°N, 77.6°W, 446 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Rochester, 3.1 mi away.

Topography around Brighton

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Brighton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 515 ft around an average of 453 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 699 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,067 ft.

The land around Brighton is covered by trees (67%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 2 miles, trees (54%) within 10 miles, and water (37%) and trees (36%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
515 ft
10 miles
699 ft
50 miles
2,067 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Rochester 3.1 mi · Irondequoit 5.0 mi · Henrietta 6.8 mi · Gates-North Gates 7.5 mi · Batavia 34 mi · Auburn 52 mi · Oswego 57 mi · Lockport 57 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 Brighton (43.1476°, -77.5506°, elevation 446 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).