Huntsville weather in December

In December, Huntsville sees average daytime highs of 53°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 5.5 in of precipitation across 11.2 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 55°F in the first days to 51°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% 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 Huntsville's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Huntsville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
53°
11th warmest
Overnight low
36°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
5.5 in
11.2 wet days
Daylight
9 h 42 min
6:52 AM – 4:33 PM
Cloud cover
62%
11th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.16 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
out of 10

Huntsville is county seat of Madison County, Alabama, United States.

Density
387/km²
people per km²
Founded
1805

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 55°F in the first days to 51°F by the end.

A typical December day in Huntsville reaches about 53°F in the afternoon and slips back to 36°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 40°F and 65°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15638
25638
35538
45538
55537
65437
75437
85437
95337
105337
115337
125337
135336
145336
155236
165236
175236
185236
195236
205236
215135
225135
235135
245135
255135
265135
275135
285135
295135
305035
315035

How December really feels in Huntsville

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 24 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
24
wind chill below the day's low

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

Huntsville weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan50° / 33°5.110.30.79.92.2
Feb54° / 36°4.9110.910.73.2
Mar62° / 43°5.711.80.311.75.2
Apr71° / 51°4.910.4012.86.5
May78° / 60°4.211.1013.86.5
Jun85° / 68°4.112.5014.34.9
Jul88° / 71°4.412.9014.14.2
Aug87° / 70°3.111.1013.34.5
Sep83° / 64°3.67.5012.26.3
Oct72° / 52°3.47.2011.17.3
Nov61° / 42°4.29010.25.2
Dec53° / 36°5.511.20.39.72.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% 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 59%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14555
24456
34456
44357
54258
64258
74159
84159
94159
104060
114060
124060
134060
144060
154159
164159
174159
184159
194159
204060
214159
224159
234159
244060
254060
264060
274060
284060
293961
303862
313862

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Huntsville gets around 5.5 in of rain and snow over 11.2 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 37% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
235
335
436
536
636
736
837
937
1037
1137
1237
1337
1437
1537
1638
1738
1838
1938
2038
2137
2237
2337
2437
2536
2636
2736
2836
2936
3035
3135

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 93% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19253
29253
39163
49163
59163
69262
79262
89262
99262
109262
119451
129451
139451
149451
159451
169541
179541
189541
199541
209532
219532
229532
239532
249532
259433
269433
279433
289343
299343
309343
319343

Wind in December

Winds average 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

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 6:41 AM to 6:58 AM, and sunset from 4:31 PM to 4:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.86:414:31
29.86:424:31
39.86:434:31
49.86:434:31
59.86:444:31
69.86:454:31
79.86:464:31
89.76:474:31
99.76:474:31
109.76:484:32
119.76:494:32
129.76:494:32
139.76:504:32
149.76:514:32
159.76:514:33
169.76:524:33
179.76:534:33
189.76:534:34
199.76:544:34
209.76:544:34
219.76:554:35
229.76:554:35
239.76:564:36
249.76:564:36
259.76:574:37
269.76:574:37
279.76:574:38
289.76:584:39
299.76:584:39
309.76:584:40
319.76:584:41

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.16 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.16 kWh/m² to a high of 6.16 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.16 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.3Moderate
42.3Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.1Moderate
232.1Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.1Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.1Moderate
312.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Huntsville?

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

2.8
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 Huntsville.

What to pack for Huntsville in December

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

In December, Huntsville sees daytime highs around 53°F and nights near 36°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Huntsville 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 Huntsville peaks around July 11 at about 10 (extreme) — 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 highVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5High
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Huntsville 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 Huntsville is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1619 µg/m³Jan 116 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr10Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Huntsville?

Huntsville sits at 34.7°N, 86.6°W, 633 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Madison, 9.3 mi away.

Topography around Huntsville

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Huntsville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 459 ft around an average of 669 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,165 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,555 ft.

The land around Huntsville is covered by trees (42%) and artificial surfaces (42%) within 2 miles, trees (53%) and grassland (23%) within 10 miles, and trees (59%) and grassland (26%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
459 ft
10 miles
1,165 ft
50 miles
1,555 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Madison 9.3 mi · Athens 22 mi · Decatur 24 mi · Albertville 39 mi · Cullman 41 mi · Tullahoma 48 mi · Shelbyville 53 mi · Gadsden 60 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 Huntsville (34.7304°, -86.5859°, elevation 633 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).