Elizabeth City weather in December

In December, Elizabeth City sees average daytime highs of 54°F and overnight lows near 40°F, with 3.9 in of precipitation across 9.7 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 57°F in the first days to 52°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Elizabeth City's 5th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Elizabeth City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
54°
10th warmest
Overnight low
40°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.9 in
9.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 30 min
7:15 AM – 4:47 PM
Cloud cover
56%
5th clearest
Wind
9 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.23 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.4
out of 10

Elizabeth City is city in Pasquotank County and Camden County, North Carolina, United States.

Density
567/km²
people per km²
Founded
1794

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 57°F in the first days to 52°F by the end.

A typical December day in Elizabeth City reaches about 54°F in the afternoon and slips back to 40°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 42°F and 67°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15842
25742
35742
45742
55642
65641
75641
85641
95641
105540
115540
125540
135540
145440
155440
165440
175439
185439
195339
205339
215339
225339
235338
245338
255338
265338
275338
285238
295238
305238
315238

How December really feels in Elizabeth City

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 6 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
6
wind chill below the day's low

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

Elizabeth City weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan51° / 36°3.99.61.19.82.5
Feb53° / 37°3.49.70.810.63.0
Mar59° / 43°4.010.80.311.74.6
Apr68° / 52°3.49.7012.96.4
May75° / 60°4.011.2013.96.7
Jun83° / 69°4.412.7014.45.5
Jul86° / 73°5.116.5014.24.3
Aug84° / 72°5.214.3013.44.9
Sep80° / 67°5.011.4012.26.4
Oct71° / 56°3.77.6011.17.1
Nov62° / 46°3.78.40.110.15.5
Dec54° / 40°3.99.70.39.63.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% 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 (%)
15248
25248
35149
45050
54951
64951
74852
84753
94753
104753
114753
124654
134654
144753
154753
164753
174852
184852
194852
204951
214951
224852
234951
244951
254951
264951
274852
284951
294951
304951
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Elizabeth City gets around 3.9 in of rain and snow over 9.7 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 32% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1290
2300
3300
4300
5310
6310
7310
8320
9320
10320
11320
12330
13330
14330
15331
16331
17331
18331
19321
20321
21321
22321
23321
24322
25322
26322
27322
28322
29322
30322
31322

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 91% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
188741
288741
388741
489740
589740
690730
790730
890730
990730
1090730
1191720
1291720
1391720
1491720
1591720
1692620
1792620
1891621
1991621
2092521
2192521
2292521
2392521
2492521
2592521
2693511
2793511
2893511
2993511
3093511
3193511

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light 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 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 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 7:21 AM, and sunset from 4:46 PM to 4:55 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.77:044:46
29.77:044:46
39.77:054:46
49.77:064:46
59.67:074:46
69.67:084:46
79.67:094:46
89.67:094:46
99.67:104:46
109.67:114:46
119.67:124:46
129.67:124:46
139.67:134:47
149.67:144:47
159.57:144:47
169.57:154:47
179.57:164:48
189.57:164:48
199.57:174:48
209.57:174:49
219.57:184:49
229.57:184:50
239.57:194:50
249.57:194:51
259.57:204:51
269.57:204:52
279.57:204:52
289.57:214:53
299.57:214:54
309.67:214:54
319.67:214:55

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.23 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.23 kWh/m² to a high of 6.41 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.23 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.5Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.4Moderate
62.3Moderate
72.3Moderate
82.3Moderate
92.3Moderate
102.3Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.2Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Elizabeth City

In seasonPeak

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

Elizabeth City 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 Elizabeth City?

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

3.4
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 Elizabeth City.

What to pack for Elizabeth City in December

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

In December, Elizabeth City sees daytime highs around 54°F and nights near 40°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Elizabeth City in December

The nearest coast averages about 54°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 24 mi away) is warmest in August at about 79°F and coldest in February near 46°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 28 to Oct 21 — about 4.8 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan49Bracing
Feb46Bracing
Mar49Bracing
Apr56Bracing
May65Cool
Jun73Refreshing
Jul78Warm
Aug79Warm
Sep76Warm
Oct69Refreshing
Nov61Cool
Dec54Bracing

UV index in Elizabeth City 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 Elizabeth City peaks around July 13 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 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 13UV 9Dec 18UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Elizabeth City 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 Elizabeth City is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 917 µg/m³Dec 126 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar12Good
Apr12Moderate
May12Good
Jun17Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Elizabeth City?

Elizabeth City sits at 36.3°N, 76.3°W, 3 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is South Suffolk, 35 mi away.

Topography around Elizabeth City

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Elizabeth City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 105 ft around an average of 16 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 128 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 226 ft.

The land around Elizabeth City is covered by trees (37%), cropland (26%) and grassland (25%) within 2 miles, cropland (50%) and trees (31%) within 10 miles, and trees (43%) and water (34%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
105 ft
10 miles
128 ft
50 miles
226 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: South Suffolk 35 mi · Suffolk 35 mi · Chesapeake 36 mi · Portsmouth Heights 37 mi · Portsmouth 37 mi · Norfolk 38 mi · Virginia Beach 42 mi · Newport News 48 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 Elizabeth City (36.2946°, -76.2511°, elevation 3 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).