Greenville weather in December

In December, Greenville sees average daytime highs of 54°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 4.5 in of precipitation across 9.4 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-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 39% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Greenville's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Greenville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
54°
11th warmest
Overnight low
36°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
4.5 in
9.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 42 min
7:36 AM – 5:16 PM
Cloud cover
56%
6th clearest
Wind
5 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.3 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.3
out of 10

Greenville is county seat of Greenville County, South Carolina, United States.

Density
858/km²
people per km²
Founded
1831

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 Greenville reaches about 54°F in the afternoon and slips back to 36°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 42°F and 66°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15738
25738
35638
45637
55637
65637
75537
85537
95537
105536
115436
125436
135436
145436
155336
165336
175335
185335
195335
205335
215335
225335
235235
245235
255235
265235
275235
285235
295235
305235
315235

How December really feels in Greenville

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 22 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
22
wind chill below the day's low

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

Greenville weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan52° / 34°4.51019.92.8
Feb55° / 36°4.09.10.810.73.7
Mar63° / 42°4.810.30.311.75.6
Apr72° / 51°3.98.9012.96.9
May79° / 59°3.39.9013.86.7
Jun86° / 67°3.713014.34.7
Jul89° / 71°3.613.5014.13.9
Aug87° / 70°4.012.5013.34.4
Sep82° / 63°3.68.7012.26.4
Oct72° / 52°3.26.8011.17.4
Nov62° / 41°3.88.3010.25.6
Dec54° / 36°4.59.40.59.73.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15446
25446
35347
45248
55248
65149
75149
85050
94852
104951
114951
124753
134852
144852
154852
164852
174753
184753
194852
204852
214852
224852
234852
244852
254753
264753
274753
284654
294654
304654
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Greenville gets around 4.5 in of rain and snow over 9.4 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 30% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1291
2291
3281
4281
5281
6281
7282
8282
9282
10282
11282
12292
13292
14292
15302
16302
17312
18312
19322
20322
21322
22322
23322
24332
25332
26332
27332
28332
29332
30332
31332

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 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19262
29262
39262
49262
59262
69451
79451
89451
99451
109451
119451
129451
139451
149541
159541
169541
179541
189541
199541
209631
219631
229631
239631
249631
259541
269541
279541
289541
299541
309541
319541

Wind in December

Winds average 5 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 5 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 42 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 7:24 AM to 7:42 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:245:14
29.87:255:14
39.87:265:14
49.87:275:14
59.87:285:14
69.87:295:14
79.77:295:14
89.77:305:14
99.77:315:14
109.77:325:14
119.77:325:15
129.77:335:15
139.77:345:15
149.77:345:15
159.77:355:16
169.77:365:16
179.77:365:16
189.77:375:17
199.77:375:17
209.77:385:17
219.77:385:18
229.77:395:18
239.77:395:19
249.77:405:19
259.77:405:20
269.77:415:20
279.77:415:21
289.77:415:21
299.77:425:22
309.77:425:23
319.77:425:23

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.3 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.3 kWh/m² to a high of 6.18 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.3 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.5Moderate
22.5Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.4Moderate
62.4Moderate
72.4Moderate
82.4Moderate
92.3Moderate
102.3Moderate
112.3Moderate
122.3Moderate
132.3Moderate
142.3Moderate
152.3Moderate
162.3Moderate
172.3Moderate
182.3Moderate
192.3Moderate
202.3Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Greenville?

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

3.3
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Greenville.

What to pack for Greenville in December

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

In December, Greenville sees daytime highs around 54°F and nights near 36°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Greenville 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 Greenville peaks around July 10 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 10UV 9Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Greenville 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 Greenville is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodJul 1718 µg/m³Jan 118 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr11Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov10Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Greenville?

Greenville sits at 34.9°N, 82.4°W, 1,007 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Wade Hampton, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Greenville

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Greenville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft around an average of 965 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,434 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,096 ft.

The land around Greenville is covered by trees (57%) and artificial surfaces (36%) within 2 miles, trees (67%) within 10 miles, and trees (82%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
210 ft
10 miles
1,434 ft
50 miles
6,096 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Wade Hampton 5.0 mi · Mauldin 6.8 mi · Taylors 7.5 mi · Greer 11 mi · Simpsonville 11 mi · Easley 12 mi · Spartanburg 27 mi · Clemson 28 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 Greenville (34.8526°, -82.394°, elevation 1,007 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).