McKinleyville weather in December

In December, McKinleyville sees average daytime highs of 51°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 11.2 in of precipitation across 15.5 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 51°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is McKinleyville's 10th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see McKinleyville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
51°
12th warmest
Overnight low
41°
1st coldest
Precipitation
11.2 in
15.5 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:40 AM – 4:45 PM
Cloud cover
67%
10th clearest
Wind
7 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.64 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.1
out of 10

McKinleyville is census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, United States.

Density
279/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 51°F through the month.

A typical December day in McKinleyville reaches about 51°F in the afternoon and slips back to 41°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 44°F and 56°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 4°F cooler than November and on par with January.

30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15242
25242
35142
45141
55141
65141
75141
85141
95141
105141
115141
125141
135141
145041
155040
165040
175040
185040
195040
205040
215040
225040
235040
245040
255040
265040
275040
285040
295040
305040
315040

McKinleyville weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan51° / 41°9.315.31.79.42.2
Feb52° / 41°7.413.52.410.42.4
Mar53° / 42°7.815.12.611.72.6
Apr55° / 44°4.812.10.713.13.2
May58° / 47°2.67.4014.34.6
Jun62° / 50°1.03.7014.96.3
Jul66° / 53°0.10.7014.67.9
Aug67° / 53°0.20.9013.68.0
Sep65° / 51°0.82.6012.37.6
Oct61° / 48°3.56.5010.95.8
Nov54° / 44°6.912.60.49.73.2
Dec51° / 41°11.215.51.89.12.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% 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 66%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33664
43664
53466
63466
73367
83367
93268
103268
113268
123169
133169
143169
153169
163169
173268
183268
193367
203367
213565
223565
233565
243763
253763
263763
273664
283664
293565
303565
313466

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

McKinleyville gets around 11.2 in of rain and snow over 15.5 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 50% and peaks near 52% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1483
2483
3493
4493
5503
6504
7514
8514
9524
10524
11525
12525
13525
14526
15526
16516
17517
18517
19507
20507
21498
22498
23498
24488
25488
26488
27488
28488
29488
30488
31488

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 (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 7 mph in December, the windiest month of the year.

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 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 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 7:28 AM to 7:47 AM, and sunset from 4:44 PM to 4:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:284:44
29.37:294:44
39.27:304:44
49.27:314:44
59.27:324:44
69.27:334:44
79.27:344:44
89.27:344:44
99.17:354:44
109.17:364:44
119.17:374:44
129.17:384:44
139.17:384:44
149.17:394:44
159.17:404:44
169.17:404:45
179.17:414:45
189.17:424:45
199.17:424:46
209.17:434:46
219.17:434:47
229.17:444:47
239.17:444:47
249.17:454:48
259.17:454:49
269.17:454:49
279.17:464:50
289.17:464:50
299.17:464:51
309.17:474:52
319.17:474:52

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.64 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.64 kWh/m² to a high of 7.8 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.64 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.8Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
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
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for McKinleyville

In seasonPeak

In December, McKinleyville sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

McKinleyville's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit McKinleyville?

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

2.1
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in McKinleyville.

What to pack for McKinleyville in December

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

In December, McKinleyville sees daytime highs around 51°F and nights near 41°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. About 16 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near McKinleyville in December

The nearest coast averages about 53°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 55°F and coldest in March near 51°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

50°52°54°56°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracing
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan52Bracing
Feb52Bracing
Mar51Bracing
Apr52Bracing
May52Bracing
Jun53Bracing
Jul54Bracing
Aug55Bracing
Sep55Bracing
Oct54Bracing
Nov53Bracing
Dec53Bracing

UV index in McKinleyville 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 McKinleyville peaks around June 21 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 21UV 9Dec 15UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep5High
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec2Low

Air quality in McKinleyville 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 McKinleyville is worst in September — around 154 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 39.6× the cleanest month (January, 4 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150180JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodUnhealthyUnhealthyGoodSep 10151 µg/m³Jan 134 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan4Good
Feb7Good
Mar6Good
Apr7Good
May6Good
Jun6Good
Jul17Moderate
Aug137Unhealthy
Sep154Very unhealthy
Oct13Moderate
Nov6Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is McKinleyville?

McKinleyville sits at 40.9°N, 124.1°W, 144 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Arcata, 5.6 mi away.

Topography around McKinleyville

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around McKinleyville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 643 ft around an average of 180 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,038 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,415 ft.

The land around McKinleyville is covered by trees (50%) and grassland (23%) within 2 miles, trees (48%) and water (41%) within 10 miles, and trees (67%) and water (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
643 ft
10 miles
3,038 ft
50 miles
7,415 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Arcata 5.6 mi · Bayside 7.5 mi · Eureka 11 mi · Redding 93 mi · Grants Pass 111 mi · Ashland 112 mi · Medford 114 mi · Central Point 116 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 McKinleyville (40.9465°, -124.1006°, elevation 144 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).