Jackson weather in December

In December, Jackson sees average daytime highs of 51°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 5.1 in of precipitation across 10.2 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 54°F in the first days to 49°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Jackson's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Jackson's year-round climate.

Daytime high
51°
11th warmest
Overnight low
35°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
5.1 in
10.2 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:03 AM – 4:39 PM
Cloud cover
61%
11th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.6
out of 10

Jackson is city in and county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States.

Density
442/km²
people per km²
Founded
1821

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 54°F in the first days to 49°F by the end.

A typical December day in Jackson reaches about 51°F in the afternoon and slips back to 35°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 38°F and 65°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15538
25538
35437
45437
55437
65337
75337
85336
95336
105236
115236
125236
135236
145135
155135
165135
175135
185135
195135
205135
215035
225035
235035
245034
255034
265034
274934
284934
294934
304934
314934

How December really feels in Jackson

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 29 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
29
wind chill below the day's low

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

Jackson 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
Jan49° / 33°4.21019.92.0
Feb53° / 35°4.59.3110.73.0
Mar62° / 43°4.911.50.511.75.2
Apr71° / 52°5.110.2012.96.6
May79° / 61°4.711.5013.96.4
Jun87° / 69°3.810.9014.44.6
Jul90° / 72°3.912.4014.23.8
Aug89° / 70°3.310013.34.2
Sep84° / 64°3.17.6012.26.1
Oct73° / 52°3.87.8011.17.2
Nov60° / 42°4.090.210.15.1
Dec51° / 35°5.110.20.59.62.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 56%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
24852
34753
44753
54555
64555
74456
84456
94456
104258
114258
124258
134159
144159
154258
164258
174159
184159
194258
204258
214258
224258
234258
244357
254357
264357
274357
284357
294357
304357
314357

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Jackson gets around 5.1 in of rain and snow over 10.2 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 34% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1321
2321
3321
4321
5331
6331
7331
8331
9331
10331
11331
12331
13341
14341
15342
16342
17352
18352
19352
20352
21342
22342
23342
24342
25342
26352
27352
28352
29352
30343
31343

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 (%)
19262
29262
39262
49262
59262
69262
79262
89262
99352
109352
119352
129451
139451
149451
159451
169541
179541
189541
199541
209541
219541
229442
239442
249442
259442
269352
279352
289352
299352
309352
319352

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 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:52 AM to 7:10 AM, and sunset from 4:38 PM to 4:47 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.86:524:38
29.76:534:38
39.76:544:38
49.76:554:38
59.76:554:38
69.76:564:38
79.76:574:38
89.76:584:38
99.76:594:38
109.66:594:38
119.67:004:38
129.67:014:38
139.67:014:39
149.67:024:39
159.67:034:39
169.67:034:39
179.67:044:40
189.67:054:40
199.67:054:41
209.67:064:41
219.67:064:41
229.67:074:42
239.67:074:42
249.67:074:43
259.67:084:43
269.67:084:44
279.67:094:45
289.67:094:45
299.67:094:46
309.67:104:46
319.67:104:47

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.13 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.13 kWh/m² to a high of 6.39 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.13 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
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 Jackson?

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

2.6
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 Jackson.

What to pack for Jackson in December

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

In December, Jackson sees daytime highs around 51°F and nights near 35°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Jackson 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 Jackson peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar7High
Apr7Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Jackson 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 Jackson is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.1× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1518 µg/m³Dec 196 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar10Good
Apr9Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Jackson?

Jackson sits at 35.6°N, 88.8°W, 410 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Dyersburg, 43 mi away.

Topography around Jackson

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Jackson has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 223 ft around an average of 400 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 358 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 558 ft.

The land around Jackson is covered by trees (62%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 2 miles, trees (63%) within 10 miles, and trees (61%) and cropland (29%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
223 ft
10 miles
358 ft
50 miles
558 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Dyersburg 43 mi · Collierville 62 mi · Cordova 63 mi · Ellendale 63 mi · Bartlett 66 mi · Germantown 67 mi · Olive Branch 73 mi · Murray 74 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 Jackson (35.6145°, -88.814°, elevation 410 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).