Hilton Head weather in December

In December, Hilton Head sees average daytime highs of 61°F and overnight lows near 48°F, with 3.3 in of rain across 8.6 wet days and about 9.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 63°F in the first days to 59°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Hilton Head's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hilton Head's year-round climate.

Daytime high
61°
10th warmest
Overnight low
48°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
3.3 in
8.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 54 min
7:22 AM – 5:16 PM
Cloud cover
54%
6th clearest
Wind
9 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.64 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.3
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 63°F in the first days to 59°F by the end.

A typical December day in Hilton Head reaches about 61°F in the afternoon and slips back to 48°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 50°F and 70°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

30°40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16451
26351
36350
46350
56350
66250
76250
86249
96249
106249
116249
126149
136149
146149
156148
166148
176148
186048
196048
206048
216047
226047
236047
246047
256047
265947
275947
285947
295947
305947
315947

How December really feels in Hilton Head

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.

Hilton Head weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan58° / 46°3.38.510.14.7
Feb61° / 48°3.28.410.85.1
Mar66° / 53°3.17.911.86.5
Apr72° / 60°2.76.812.87.3
May79° / 68°2.48.513.67.1
Jun84° / 74°4.615.314.15.0
Jul87° / 77°4.816.613.94.1
Aug85° / 77°6.118.913.24.1
Sep82° / 73°4.613.212.25.7
Oct75° / 64°3.87.611.27.4
Nov67° / 54°2.46.310.36.9
Dec61° / 48°3.38.69.95.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 49%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15842
25743
35644
45644
55545
65446
75347
85347
95248
105149
115149
125248
135149
145149
155149
165149
175149
185149
195149
205149
215149
225050
235050
245050
255050
264951
274852
284852
294852
304852
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Hilton Head gets around 3.3 in of rain over 8.6 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 28% and peaks near 30% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
123
223
324
424
525
625
726
826
927
1027
1128
1228
1329
1429
1529
1630
1730
1830
1930
2030
2130
2230
2330
2430
2530
2630
2729
2829
2929
3028
3128

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 72% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
16418153
26418153
36518152
46618142
56618142
66618142
76718132
86718132
96818122
106818122
117018111
127117111
137117111
147217101
157216102
167216102
17741592
18741592
19751492
20751492
21761392
22761392
23771292
24771292
25771292
26771292
27771292
28771292
29771292
30771292
31761392

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
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light 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 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 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 7:12 AM to 7:29 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:24 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.07:125:14
210.07:125:14
310.07:135:14
410.07:145:14
510.07:155:14
610.07:155:14
710.07:165:14
810.07:175:14
99.97:185:14
109.97:185:15
119.97:195:15
129.97:205:15
139.97:205:15
149.97:215:16
159.97:225:16
169.97:225:16
179.97:235:16
189.97:235:17
199.97:245:17
209.97:245:18
219.97:255:18
229.97:255:19
239.97:265:19
249.97:265:20
259.97:275:20
269.97:275:21
279.97:275:21
289.97:285:22
299.97:285:22
309.97:285:23
319.97:295:24

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.64 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 6.48 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 2.64 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.9Moderate
22.8Moderate
32.8Moderate
42.8Moderate
52.8Moderate
62.7Moderate
72.7Moderate
82.7Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.7Moderate
112.6Moderate
122.6Moderate
132.6Moderate
142.6Moderate
152.6Moderate
162.6Moderate
172.6Moderate
182.6Moderate
192.6Moderate
202.6Moderate
212.6Moderate
222.6Moderate
232.6Moderate
242.6Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.6Moderate
302.6Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Hilton Head

In seasonPeak

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

Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head?

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

5.3
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
0.8
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Hilton Head for sightseeing.

What to pack for Hilton Head in December

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

In December, Hilton Head sees daytime highs around 61°F and nights near 48°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Hilton Head in December

The nearest coast averages about 63°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 10 mi away) is warmest in August at about 84°F and coldest in February near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 23 to Nov 17 — about 6.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan60Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar61Cool
Apr66Cool
May74Refreshing
Jun80Warm
Jul83Tropical
Aug84Tropical
Sep82Warm
Oct76Warm
Nov68Refreshing
Dec63Cool

UV index in Hilton Head in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hilton Head peaks around July 11 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 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 11UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar7High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Hilton Head 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 Hilton Head is worst in March — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodMar 1723 µg/m³Dec 158 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar25Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hilton Head?

Hilton Head sits at 32.2°N, 80.8°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hilton Head Island, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Hilton Head

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hilton Head has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 105 ft around an average of 26 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 128 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 249 ft.

The land around Hilton Head is covered by trees (53%) and water (21%) within 2 miles, water (53%) and trees (25%) within 10 miles, and trees (49%) and water (35%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
105 ft
10 miles
128 ft
50 miles
249 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Hilton Head Island 1.9 mi · Bluffton 6.2 mi · Wilmington Island 20 mi · Savannah 22 mi · Pooler 30 mi · Hinesville 55 mi · Charleston 62 mi · Statesboro 62 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 Hilton Head (32.2163°, -80.7526°, elevation 10 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).