Goshen weather in December

In December, Goshen sees average daytime highs of 37°F and overnight lows near 25°F, with 2.4 in of precipitation across 9.5 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 40°F in the first days to 34°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% 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 Goshen's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Goshen's year-round climate.

Daytime high
37°
10th warmest
Overnight low
25°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.4 in
9.5 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
8:09 AM – 5:10 PM
Cloud cover
76%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
1.52 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Goshen is city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States.

Density
748/km²
people per km²

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 40°F in the first days to 34°F by the end.

A typical December day in Goshen reaches about 37°F in the afternoon and slips back to 25°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°F and 51°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)
14129
24129
34029
44028
54028
63928
73927
83827
93826
103826
113726
123726
133725
143725
153625
163625
173624
183624
193624
203524
213524
223524
233524
243523
253523
263523
273523
283423
293423
303422
313422

How December really feels in Goshen

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
12 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Goshen weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 19°2.610.27.59.30.0
Feb35° / 21°2.28.25.510.30.0
Mar47° / 30°3.010.93.611.71.3
Apr59° / 41°3.912.51.113.14.2
May69° / 51°4.213.1014.35.9
Jun79° / 61°4.112.10156.3
Jul82° / 65°3.911.5014.76.2
Aug80° / 63°3.710.4013.76.6
Sep74° / 55°2.99.3012.36.9
Oct62° / 44°3.1100.210.95.1
Nov48° / 34°2.99.92.29.71.7
Dec37° / 25°2.49.55.290.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 14% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 77%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12674
22674
32674
42575
52575
62575
72476
82278
92278
102278
112278
122278
132278
142278
152278
162377
172377
182377
192476
202476
212476
222476
232476
242476
252377
262377
272476
282476
292278
302278
312278

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Goshen gets around 2.4 in of rain and snow over 9.5 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 31% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13413
23414
33414
43314
53315
63315
73315
83216
93216
103216
113216
123216
133216
143216
153216
163116
173116
183116
193117
203017
213017
223017
233017
242917
252918
262918
272918
283019
293019
303019
313020

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
13991
14991
15991
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 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light 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
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light 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 7:57 AM to 8:16 AM, and sunset from 5:09 PM to 5:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:575:09
29.27:585:09
39.27:595:09
49.28:005:09
59.18:015:09
69.18:025:09
79.18:025:09
89.18:035:08
99.18:045:08
109.18:055:09
119.08:065:09
129.08:075:09
139.08:075:09
149.08:085:09
159.08:095:09
169.08:095:10
179.08:105:10
189.08:115:10
199.08:115:11
209.08:125:11
219.08:125:11
229.08:135:12
239.08:135:12
249.08:145:13
259.08:145:13
269.08:145:14
279.08:155:15
289.08:155:15
299.08:155:16
309.08:165:17
319.08:165:17

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.52 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.52 kWh/m² to a high of 6.29 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.52 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.6Dim
21.6Dim
31.6Dim
41.6Dim
51.6Dim
61.6Dim
71.5Dim
81.5Dim
91.5Dim
101.5Dim
111.5Dim
121.5Dim
131.5Dim
141.5Dim
151.5Dim
161.5Dim
171.5Dim
181.5Dim
191.5Dim
201.5Dim
211.5Dim
221.5Dim
231.5Dim
241.5Dim
251.5Dim
261.5Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.6Dim
311.6Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Goshen?

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
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Goshen.

What to pack for Goshen in December

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

In December, Goshen sees daytime highs around 37°F and nights near 25°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Goshen 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 Goshen peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 18UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Goshen 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 Goshen is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1716 µg/m³Oct 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Goshen?

Goshen sits at 41.6°N, 85.8°W, 801 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Elkhart, 9.9 mi away.

Topography around Goshen

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Goshen has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 164 ft around an average of 817 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 335 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 659 ft.

The land around Goshen is covered by trees (39%), grassland (28%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 2 miles, cropland (46%), trees (25%) and grassland (21%) within 10 miles, and cropland (53%) and trees (32%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
164 ft
10 miles
335 ft
50 miles
659 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Elkhart 9.9 mi · Mishawaka 17 mi · Granger 19 mi · South Bend 22 mi · Portage 45 mi · La Porte 45 mi · Fort Wayne 48 mi · Kalamazoo 50 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 Goshen (41.5823°, -85.8344°, elevation 801 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. 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).