Elmhurst weather in December

In December, Elmhurst sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 24°F, with 2.1 in of precipitation across 8.2 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% 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 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Elmhurst's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Elmhurst's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
24°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.1 in
8.2 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:19 AM – 4:17 PM
Cloud cover
70%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.61 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Elmhurst is city in Illinois, United States.

Density
1,721/km²
people per km²
Founded
1882

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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Elmhurst reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 24°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°F and 49°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14028
24028
33927
43927
53826
63826
73826
83725
93725
103724
113624
123624
133624
143624
153523
163523
173523
183523
193523
203522
213422
223422
233422
243422
253422
263422
273321
283321
293321
303321
313321

How December really feels in Elmhurst

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
17 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Elmhurst 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
Jan31° / 18°2.18.16.19.30.0
Feb35° / 20°1.96.94.810.30.0
Mar46° / 30°2.59.73.211.71.2
Apr57° / 40°4.312.3113.13.8
May68° / 50°4.312.5014.35.9
Jun78° / 61°3.9120156.3
Jul82° / 66°3.611.4014.76.0
Aug80° / 64°3.710.5013.76.5
Sep74° / 56°2.98.5012.37.1
Oct61° / 44°3.19.10.110.95.2
Nov47° / 33°2.48.11.39.61.6
Dec36° / 24°2.18.24.390.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 66%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13565
23565
33565
43565
53565
63565
73466
83466
93466
103466
113565
123565
133565
143565
153466
163466
173466
183367
193268
203268
213367
223367
233367
243367
253268
263268
273268
283268
293169
303169
313169

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Elmhurst gets around 2.1 in of rain and snow over 8.2 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 27% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12912
22912
32912
42813
52813
62813
72813
82813
92713
102713
112713
122713
132713
142713
152713
162713
172713
182713
192713
202613
212613
222613
232614
242514
252514
262514
272515
282515
292615
302616
312616

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
3991
4991
5991
6991
7991
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
311000

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 12 min at the start of December to 9 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:06 AM to 7:25 AM, and sunset from 4:17 PM to 4:25 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:064:17
29.27:074:17
39.17:084:16
49.17:094:16
59.17:104:16
69.17:114:16
79.17:124:16
89.17:134:16
99.07:144:16
109.07:144:16
119.07:154:16
129.07:164:16
139.07:174:16
149.07:184:16
159.07:184:17
169.07:194:17
179.07:204:17
189.07:204:18
199.07:214:18
208.97:214:18
218.97:224:19
228.97:224:19
238.97:234:20
248.97:234:20
259.07:244:21
269.07:244:21
279.07:244:22
289.07:254:23
299.07:254:23
309.07:254:24
319.07:254:25

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.61 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.61 kWh/m² to a high of 6.43 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.61 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.6Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.6Dim
131.6Dim
141.6Dim
151.6Dim
161.6Dim
171.6Dim
181.6Dim
191.6Dim
201.6Dim
211.6Dim
221.6Dim
231.6Dim
241.6Dim
251.6Dim
261.6Dim
271.6Dim
281.6Dim
291.6Dim
301.6Dim
311.6Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Elmhurst?

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
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Elmhurst.

What to pack for Elmhurst in December

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

In December, Elmhurst sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 24°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Elmhurst in December

The nearest coast averages about 42°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 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 15 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun57Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 921 µg/m³Oct 2410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Elmhurst?

Elmhurst sits at 41.9°N, 87.9°W, 686 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Villa Park, 2.5 mi away.

Topography around Elmhurst

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Elmhurst has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 164 ft around an average of 686 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 436 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 810 ft.

The land around Elmhurst is covered by artificial surfaces (58%) and trees (33%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (54%) and trees (32%) within 10 miles, and cropland (29%) and water (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
164 ft
10 miles
436 ft
50 miles
810 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Villa Park 2.5 mi · Bellwood 3.1 mi · Addison 3.1 mi · Lombard 3.7 mi · Bensenville 3.7 mi · Melrose Park 4.3 mi · Westchester 4.3 mi · Franklin Park 4.3 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 Elmhurst (41.8995°, -87.9403°, elevation 686 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. 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).