Galveston weather in December

In December, Galveston sees average daytime highs of 62°F and overnight lows near 55°F, with 4.5 in of rain across 10.1 wet days and about 10.2 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 65°F in the first days to 60°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 18 min at the start of December to 10 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Galveston's 11th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Galveston's year-round climate.

Daytime high
62°
10th warmest
Overnight low
55°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
4.5 in
10.1 wet days
Daylight
10 h 06 min
7:11 AM – 5:19 PM
Cloud cover
58%
11th clearest
Wind
13 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
2.75 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Galveston is city in and county seat of Galveston County, Texas, United States; port and coastal city.

Density
93/km²
people per km²
Founded
1785

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 65°F in the first days to 60°F by the end.

A typical December day in Galveston reaches about 62°F in the afternoon and slips back to 55°F overnight — a 7°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 53°F and 69°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16558
26558
36558
46558
56457
66457
76457
86457
96456
106456
116356
126356
136356
146356
156355
166255
176255
186255
196255
206255
216255
226154
236154
246154
256154
266154
276054
286053
296053
306053
316053

How December really feels in Galveston

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

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Galveston weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan60° / 53°4.810.410.34.7
Feb61° / 55°3.58.710.95.2
Mar66° / 61°3.47.911.86.4
Apr72° / 67°3.57.212.77.3
May78° / 74°3.07.613.47.4
Jun83° / 79°4.310.713.86.1
Jul84° / 81°3.711.613.75.4
Aug85° / 81°4.513.113.15.0
Sep83° / 78°6.312.512.25.8
Oct77° / 71°4.78.611.37.4
Nov69° / 62°4.48.210.56.8
Dec62° / 55°4.510.110.25.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25050
34951
44951
54753
64753
74753
84852
94753
104753
114753
124852
134852
144852
154951
164951
175050
184951
194951
204951
214951
224852
234852
244753
254753
264654
274555
284555
294456
304357
314456

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Galveston gets around 4.5 in of rain over 10.1 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 33% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
131
231
331
431
531
631
731
831
931
1032
1132
1232
1332
1432
1532
1633
1733
1833
1933
2034
2134
2234
2334
2434
2534
2634
2734
2834
2934
3034
3134

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 58% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 9% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1481618171
2491618171
3501617161
4501617161
5501617161
6511617151
7521617141
8521617141
9541617130
10551617120
11561617110
12561617110
13571617100
1457171790
1557171790
1658171780
1758171780
1859171770
1959171770
2061161760
2162161660
2262161660
2363161650
2463161650
2563161650
2664171540
2764171540
2864171540
2965171530
3065171530
3165171530

Wind in December

Winds average 13 mph in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 13 mph on the calmest days to 14 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1214breezy
1314breezy
1414breezy
1514breezy
1614breezy
1714breezy
1814breezy
1914breezy
2014breezy
2114breezy
2214breezy
2314breezy
2414breezy
2514breezy
2614breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3013breezy
3113breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 18 min at the start of December to 10 h 06 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 7:01 AM to 7:18 AM, and sunset from 5:17 PM to 5:27 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.37:015:17
210.27:025:17
310.27:035:17
410.27:035:17
510.27:045:17
610.27:055:17
710.27:065:17
810.27:065:17
910.27:075:17
1010.27:085:18
1110.27:085:18
1210.27:095:18
1310.17:105:18
1410.17:105:19
1510.17:115:19
1610.17:115:19
1710.17:125:20
1810.17:125:20
1910.17:135:21
2010.17:145:21
2110.17:145:21
2210.17:145:22
2310.17:155:22
2410.17:155:23
2510.17:165:23
2610.17:165:24
2710.17:175:24
2810.17:175:25
2910.17:175:26
3010.17:185:26
3110.17:185:27

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.75 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.75 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.75 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.0Moderate
22.9Moderate
32.9Moderate
42.9Moderate
52.9Moderate
62.8Moderate
72.8Moderate
82.8Moderate
92.8Moderate
102.8Moderate
112.8Moderate
122.8Moderate
132.7Moderate
142.7Moderate
152.7Moderate
162.7Moderate
172.7Moderate
182.7Moderate
192.7Moderate
202.7Moderate
212.7Moderate
222.7Moderate
232.7Moderate
242.7Moderate
252.7Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.7Moderate
282.7Moderate
292.7Moderate
302.8Moderate
312.8Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Galveston

In seasonPeak

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

Galveston 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 Galveston?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
1.3
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Galveston for sightseeing.

What to pack for Galveston in December

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

In December, Galveston sees daytime highs around 62°F and nights near 55°F. Worth packing: a warm layer, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Galveston in December

The nearest coast averages about 62°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 86°F and coldest in January near 58°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 4 to Nov 21 — about 7.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan58Bracing
Feb59Cool
Mar64Cool
Apr71Refreshing
May78Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul85Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep84Tropical
Oct78Warm
Nov69Refreshing
Dec62Cool

UV index in Galveston in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Galveston peaks around July 18 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 18UV 11Dec 21UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb6High
Mar7High
Apr10Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov5High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Galveston 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 Galveston is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1519 µg/m³Dec 176 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr9Good
May12Good
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Galveston?

Galveston sits at 29.3°N, 94.8°W, 7 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Texas City, 8.7 mi away.

Topography around Galveston

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Galveston has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 ft around an average of 7 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 62 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 236 ft.

The land around Galveston is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and water (32%) within 2 miles, water (80%) within 10 miles, and water (45%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
43 ft
10 miles
62 ft
50 miles
236 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Texas City 8.7 mi · La Marque 11 mi · Dickinson 19 mi · League City 23 mi · Alvin 28 mi · La Porte 29 mi · Friendswood 29 mi · Baytown 32 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 Galveston (29.3013°, -94.7977°, elevation 7 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).