Duluth weather in December

In December, Duluth sees average daytime highs of 26°F and overnight lows near 17°F, with 1.8 in of precipitation across 7.4 wet days and about 8.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 30°F in the first days to 22°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 8 h 36 min at the start of December to 8 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Duluth's 12th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Duluth's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
10th warmest
Overnight low
17°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
1.8 in
7.4 wet days
Daylight
8 h 24 min
7:54 AM – 4:15 PM
Cloud cover
75%
12th clearest
Wind
12 mph
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.21 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Duluth is city in Minnesota, United States; county seat of St. Louis County.

Density
364/km²
people per km²
Founded
1679

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 30°F in the first days to 22°F by the end.

A typical December day in Duluth reaches about 26°F in the afternoon and slips back to 17°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 12°F and 37°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 12°F cooler than November and about 7°F warmer than January.

20°40°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13123
23122
33022
43021
52921
62920
72920
82820
92819
102819
112718
122718
132718
142617
152617
162617
172616
182516
192515
202515
212515
222414
232414
242414
252313
262313
272312
282212
292211
302211
312111

How December really feels in Duluth

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
31 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Duluth weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan19° / 1.06.36.98.80.0
Feb22° / 10°1.15.35.6100.0
Mar31° / 20°1.97.35.111.60.0
Apr41° / 31°3.310.24.213.30.4
May53° / 42°3.811.10.514.82.9
Jun65° / 55°4.111.6015.65.5
Jul73° / 64°3.911.7015.36.7
Aug73° / 64°4.010.50146.9
Sep66° / 56°3.610.7012.45.9
Oct52° / 44°4.110.80.810.62.8
Nov38° / 30°2.68.959.20.1
Dec26° / 17°1.87.47.88.40.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 73%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22377
32476
42476
52476
62476
72476
82575
92674
102575
112575
122575
132575
142575
152773
162773
172773
182773
192773
202773
212872
222971
232971
242971
252971
263169
273169
283169
293367
303367
313367

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Duluth gets around 1.8 in of rain and snow over 7.4 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 24% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days, and about 8 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12622
22622
32522
42522
52523
62423
72523
82523
92524
102524
112524
122524
132525
142525
152525
162526
172526
182526
192526
202426
212427
222427
232327
242326
252226
262226
272225
282125
292124
302124
312023

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 11 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
212breezy
312breezy
412breezy
512breezy
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
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 36 min at the start of December to 8 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 7:40 AM to 8:00 AM, and sunset from 4:17 PM to 4:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.67:404:17
28.67:414:16
38.67:424:16
48.57:434:16
58.57:444:15
68.57:454:15
78.57:464:15
88.57:474:15
98.47:484:15
108.47:494:15
118.47:504:15
128.47:514:15
138.47:524:15
148.47:524:15
158.47:534:15
168.47:544:15
178.47:544:16
188.37:554:16
198.37:564:16
208.37:564:17
218.37:574:17
228.37:574:17
238.37:584:18
248.37:584:18
258.37:594:19
268.37:594:20
278.47:594:20
288.47:594:21
298.48:004:22
308.48:004:22
318.48:004:23

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.21 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.21 kWh/m² to a high of 6.06 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.21 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.2Dim
21.2Dim
31.2Dim
41.2Dim
51.2Dim
61.2Dim
71.2Dim
81.2Dim
91.2Dim
101.2Dim
111.2Dim
121.2Dim
131.2Dim
141.2Dim
151.2Dim
161.2Dim
171.2Dim
181.2Dim
191.2Dim
201.2Dim
211.2Dim
221.3Dim
231.3Dim
241.3Dim
251.3Dim
261.3Dim
271.3Dim
281.3Dim
291.4Dim
301.4Dim
311.4Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Duluth?

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 Duluth.

What to pack for Duluth in December

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

In December, Duluth sees daytime highs around 26°F and nights near 17°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Duluth in December

The nearest coast averages about 38°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 12 mi away) is warmest in August at about 62°F and coldest in February near 34°F.

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

30°40°50°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan36Bracing
Feb34Bracing
Mar34Bracing
Apr36Bracing
May38Bracing
Jun44Bracing
Jul55Bracing
Aug62Cool
Sep58Bracing
Oct50Bracing
Nov43Bracing
Dec38Bracing

UV index in Duluth 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 Duluth peaks around June 17 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 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 17UV 8Jan 11UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar3Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May6High
Jun8Very high
Jul7High
Aug7High
Sep5High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Duluth?

Duluth sits at 46.8°N, 92.1°W, 702 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Superior, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around Duluth

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Duluth has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 778 ft around an average of 856 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 938 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,401 ft.

The land around Duluth is covered by trees (33%), water (30%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 2 miles, trees (51%) and water (31%) within 10 miles, and trees (76%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
778 ft
10 miles
938 ft
50 miles
1,401 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Superior 4.3 mi · Hibbing 59 mi · Forest Lake 112 mi · Ham Lake 119 mi · Andover 121 mi · Lino Lakes 122 mi · Ramsey 124 mi · Elk River 124 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 Duluth (46.7833°, -92.1066°, elevation 702 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).