Hinsdale weather in December

In December, Hinsdale sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 24°F, with 2.2 in of precipitation across 8 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-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 22% 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 Hinsdale's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hinsdale's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
24°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.2 in
8 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:19 AM – 4:17 PM
Cloud cover
70%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.63 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Hinsdale is village in Cook and DuPage counties, Illinois, United States; suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

Founded
1873

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 Hinsdale reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 24°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°F and 50°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 12°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14128
24028
34027
43927
53926
63826
73826
83825
93725
103725
113724
123724
133624
143624
153623
163623
173523
183523
193523
203523
213522
223522
233522
243422
253422
263422
273422
283422
293421
303421
313321

How December really feels in Hinsdale

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
17 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Hinsdale weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 18°2.18.35.99.30.0
Feb35° / 21°2.07.14.610.30.0
Mar47° / 30°2.710.12.911.71.4
Apr59° / 40°4.412.2113.14.2
May69° / 51°4.412.7014.35.9
Jun79° / 61°4.212.20156.2
Jul83° / 66°3.711.4014.75.8
Aug81° / 64°3.710.9013.76.5
Sep74° / 56°2.98.3012.37.1
Oct62° / 44°3.19.10.110.95.3
Nov48° / 33°2.58.31.39.61.7
Dec36° / 24°2.284.290.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13367
23466
33466
43466
53466
63466
73565
83565
93565
103565
113565
123466
133466
143466
153466
163367
173367
183367
193367
203367
213367
223268
233268
243268
253268
263268
273268
283268
293367
303169
313169

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Hinsdale gets around 2.2 in of rain and snow over 8 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 26% and peaks near 29% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12911
22812
32812
42812
52812
62713
72713
82713
92713
102613
112613
122613
132613
142613
152613
162613
172613
182613
192613
202613
212513
222513
232513
242514
252514
262514
272514
282514
292515
302515
312615

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
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
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light 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 7:06 AM to 7:25 AM, and sunset from 4:17 PM to 4:25 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:064:17
29.27:074:17
39.17:084:17
49.17:094:17
59.17:104:16
69.17:114:16
79.17:124:16
89.17:124:16
99.07:134:16
109.07:144:16
119.07:154:16
129.07:164:16
139.07:164:17
149.07:174:17
159.07:184:17
169.07:194:17
179.07:194:18
189.07:204:18
199.07:204:18
209.07:214:19
219.07:214:19
229.07:224:19
239.07:224:20
249.07:234:20
259.07:234:21
269.07:244:22
279.07:244:22
289.07:244:23
299.07:244:24
309.07:254:24
319.07:254:25

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.63 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.63 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.63 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
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
261.6Dim
271.6Dim
281.6Dim
291.6Dim
301.6Dim
311.6Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Hinsdale?

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
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Hinsdale.

What to pack for Hinsdale in December

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

In December, Hinsdale sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 24°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Hinsdale in December

The nearest coast averages about 42°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 17 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 15 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun57Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct58Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale peaks around June 23 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 23UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 921 µg/m³Oct 2410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar18Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hinsdale?

Hinsdale sits at 41.8°N, 87.9°W, 699 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Westmont, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Hinsdale

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hinsdale has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 148 ft around an average of 715 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 456 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 751 ft.

The land around Hinsdale is covered by trees (59%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (43%) and trees (42%) within 10 miles, and cropland (33%), water (23%) and trees (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
148 ft
10 miles
456 ft
50 miles
751 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Westmont 1.9 mi · La Grange 3.7 mi · Downers Grove 3.7 mi · Darien 3.7 mi · Westchester 4.3 mi · Brookfield 5.0 mi · Bellwood 6.2 mi · Lombard 6.8 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 Hinsdale (41.8009°, -87.937°, elevation 699 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. 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).