Fairhaven weather in December

In December, Fairhaven sees average daytime highs of 43°F and overnight lows near 30°F, with 4.3 in of precipitation across 10.7 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 46°F in the first days to 40°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 Fairhaven's 8th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Fairhaven's year-round climate.

Daytime high
43°
10th warmest
Overnight low
30°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.3 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:10 AM – 4:10 PM
Cloud cover
60%
8th clearest
Wind
9 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
1.65 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.5
out of 10

Fairhaven is town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States.

Founded
1659

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 46°F in the first days to 40°F by the end.

A typical December day in Fairhaven reaches about 43°F in the afternoon and slips back to 30°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 32°F and 55°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14734
24734
34633
44633
54633
64532
74532
84432
94431
104431
114431
124331
134331
144330
154330
164230
174230
184230
194229
204229
214229
224229
234129
244129
254128
264128
274128
284028
294028
304027
314027

How December really feels in Fairhaven

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.

Fairhaven weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan38° / 25°3.79.94.79.30.0
Feb39° / 26°3.29.14.510.30.0
Mar46° / 32°4.410.64.111.71.2
Apr56° / 42°3.810.80.713.13.7
May65° / 50°3.110.8014.35.7
Jun75° / 60°3.39.10156.8
Jul81° / 66°2.99.6014.76.6
Aug79° / 65°3.49.5013.76.8
Sep72° / 58°3.58.4012.37.0
Oct62° / 48°4.19.30.110.95.5
Nov52° / 38°3.78.90.59.72.8
Dec43° / 30°4.310.73.390.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
24951
34951
44753
54753
64753
74753
84753
94753
104753
114654
124555
134555
144555
154555
164555
174456
184456
194456
204456
214555
224753
234753
244753
254852
264951
274951
284852
294852
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Fairhaven gets around 4.3 in of rain and snow over 10.7 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 34% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1327
2327
3328
4328
5339
6339
73310
83410
93410
103411
113411
123411
133411
143411
153411
163411
173411
183411
193411
203410
213410
223410
233411
243411
253411
263411
273511
283511
293512
303512
313412

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
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
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 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
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light 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 6:57 AM to 7:16 AM, and sunset from 4:09 PM to 4:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.26:574:09
29.26:584:09
39.26:594:09
49.17:004:09
59.17:014:09
69.17:024:09
79.17:034:09
89.17:044:09
99.17:054:09
109.17:054:09
119.07:064:09
129.07:074:09
139.07:084:09
149.07:094:09
159.07:094:09
169.07:104:10
179.07:114:10
189.07:114:10
199.07:124:11
209.07:124:11
219.07:134:11
229.07:134:12
239.07:144:12
249.07:144:13
259.07:154:13
269.07:154:14
279.07:154:15
289.07:164:15
299.07:164:16
309.07:164:17
319.07:164:17

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.65 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.65 kWh/m² to a high of 6.05 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.65 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.8Dim
21.8Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.7Dim
81.7Dim
91.7Dim
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
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Fairhaven

In seasonPeak

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

Fairhaven 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 Fairhaven?

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

0.5
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 Fairhaven.

What to pack for Fairhaven in December

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

In December, Fairhaven sees daytime highs around 43°F and nights near 30°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Fairhaven in December

The nearest coast averages about 47°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 16 to Sep 8 — about 1.8 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan41Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar38Bracing
Apr44Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun61Cool
Jul68Refreshing
Aug70Refreshing
Sep67Cool
Oct62Cool
Nov54Bracing
Dec47Bracing

UV index in Fairhaven 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 Fairhaven peaks around June 23 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 8Dec 23UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Fairhaven 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 Fairhaven is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1516 µg/m³Nov 189 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar14Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct10Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Fairhaven?

Fairhaven sits at 41.6°N, 70.9°W, 20 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is New Bedford, 1.2 mi away.

Topography around Fairhaven

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Fairhaven has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 33 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 600 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,076 ft.

The land around Fairhaven is covered by artificial surfaces (34%), water (28%) and trees (24%) within 2 miles, trees (49%) and water (35%) within 10 miles, and water (55%) and trees (38%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
151 ft
10 miles
600 ft
50 miles
1,076 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: New Bedford 1.2 mi · Fall River 14 mi · Somerset 15 mi · Swansea 17 mi · Middleborough 17 mi · Portsmouth 18 mi · Bristol 19 mi · Taunton 21 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 Fairhaven (41.6376°, -70.9036°, elevation 20 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).