Dover weather in December

In December, Dover sees average daytime highs of 47°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 3.7 in of precipitation across 9.1 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 50°F in the first days to 45°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Dover's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Dover's year-round climate.

Daytime high
47°
10th warmest
Overnight low
35°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.7 in
9.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:20 AM – 4:36 PM
Cloud cover
59%
6th clearest
Wind
9 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
1.93 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.6
out of 10

Dover is capital city of the U.S. state of Delaware and seat of Kent County.

Density
648/km²
people per km²
Founded
1683

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 50°F in the first days to 45°F by the end.

A typical December day in Dover reaches about 47°F in the afternoon and slips back to 35°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°F and 60°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)
15138
25138
35037
45037
55037
64937
74936
84936
94836
104836
114835
124735
134735
144735
154735
164734
174634
184634
194634
204634
214633
224633
234633
244533
254533
264533
274533
284533
294532
304532
314432

How December really feels in Dover

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.

Dover 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
Jan43° / 30°3.19.22.99.60.4
Feb45° / 31°3.08.92.910.51.0
Mar53° / 38°4.110.31.611.72.9
Apr64° / 47°3.39.90.2135.6
May72° / 57°3.410.7014.16.6
Jun81° / 66°3.610.2014.76.2
Jul85° / 71°3.711014.55.2
Aug83° / 70°4.310.5013.55.8
Sep77° / 63°4.19.2012.37.0
Oct67° / 52°3.780116.5
Nov56° / 42°2.97.50.29.94.0
Dec47° / 35°3.79.11.39.31.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
24852
34852
44852
54753
64654
74654
84555
94555
104555
114456
124456
134555
144555
154555
164555
174753
184753
194753
204852
214951
224951
235050
245050
255149
265149
275149
285050
295050
305050
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Dover gets around 3.7 in of rain and snow over 9.1 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 30% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1282
2283
3293
4293
5293
6303
7304
8304
9314
10314
11314
12314
13314
14314
15314
16314
17314
18304
19304
20305
21295
22295
23295
24295
25295
26295
27295
28295
29295
30295
31295

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 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1964
2964
3964
4964
5973
6973
7973
8982
9982
10982
11982
12982
13982
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 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 7:08 AM to 7:27 AM, and sunset from 4:35 PM to 4:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:084:35
29.47:094:35
39.47:104:35
49.47:114:35
59.47:124:35
69.47:134:35
79.37:144:35
89.37:154:35
99.37:154:35
109.37:164:35
119.37:174:35
129.37:184:35
139.37:184:35
149.37:194:36
159.37:204:36
169.37:204:36
179.37:214:36
189.37:224:37
199.27:224:37
209.27:234:37
219.27:234:38
229.27:244:38
239.27:244:39
249.27:254:39
259.27:254:40
269.37:254:40
279.37:264:41
289.37:264:42
299.37:264:42
309.37:274:43
319.37:274:44

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.93 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.93 kWh/m² to a high of 6.33 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.93 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.0Moderate
42.0Moderate
52.0Moderate
62.0Dim
72.0Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.9Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.9Dim
141.9Dim
151.9Dim
161.9Dim
171.9Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
221.9Dim
231.9Dim
241.9Dim
251.9Dim
261.9Dim
272.0Dim
282.0Dim
292.0Dim
302.0Dim
312.0Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Dover

In seasonPeak

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

Dover 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 Dover?

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

1.6
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 Dover.

What to pack for Dover in December

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

In December, Dover sees daytime highs around 47°F and nights near 35°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Dover in December

The nearest coast averages about 44°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 8 mi away) is warmest in August at about 76°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 19 to Oct 3 — about 3.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr49Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun67Cool
Jul74Refreshing
Aug76Warm
Sep73Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov53Bracing
Dec44Bracing

UV index in Dover 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 Dover peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 8Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Dover 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 Dover is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1115 µg/m³Nov 127 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Dover?

Dover sits at 39.2°N, 75.5°W, 30 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Middletown, 22 mi away.

Topography around Dover

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Dover has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 ft around an average of 39 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 174 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 761 ft.

The land around Dover is covered by trees (41%), artificial surfaces (29%) and grassland (21%) within 2 miles, trees (30%) and cropland (26%) within 10 miles, and trees (39%), water (27%) and cropland (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
131 ft
10 miles
174 ft
50 miles
761 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Middletown 22 mi · Bridgeton 24 mi · Millville 31 mi · South Vineland 33 mi · Bear 34 mi · Vineland 35 mi · Elkton 35 mi · Cape May 37 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 Dover (39.1582°, -75.5244°, elevation 30 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).