Middletown weather in December

In December, Middletown sees average daytime highs of 46°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 3.7 in of precipitation across 8.9 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 49°F in the first days to 43°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Middletown's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Middletown's year-round climate.

Daytime high
46°
10th warmest
Overnight low
34°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.7 in
8.9 wet days
Daylight
9 h 12 min
7:22 AM – 4:36 PM
Cloud cover
59%
6th clearest
Wind
8 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
1.88 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.1
out of 10

Middletown is town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States.

Density
674/km²
people per km²
Founded
1861

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 49°F in the first days to 43°F by the end.

A typical December day in Middletown reaches about 46°F in the afternoon and slips back to 34°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 34°F and 57°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15037
24937
34937
44837
54836
64836
74736
84735
94735
104635
114635
124634
134634
144534
154534
164534
174533
184533
194433
204433
214433
224433
234432
244432
254432
264432
274332
284332
294332
304331
314331

How December really feels in Middletown

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
wind chill below the day's low

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

Middletown weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan41° / 29°3.18.839.50.1
Feb43° / 30°2.98.9310.40.6
Mar52° / 38°4.010.31.811.72.7
Apr63° / 48°3.510.20.2135.5
May72° / 58°3.310.3014.16.6
Jun81° / 67°3.610.8014.76.1
Jul85° / 72°3.611.1014.55.2
Aug83° / 71°3.79.9013.55.9
Sep77° / 64°4.19.1012.37.0
Oct66° / 52°3.57.90116.3
Nov55° / 42°2.97.90.29.83.6
Dec46° / 34°3.78.91.69.31.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34753
44753
54654
64555
74456
84456
94456
104456
114456
124456
134456
144555
154555
164555
174753
184753
194753
204951
214951
225050
235149
245149
255149
265149
275149
285149
295149
305149
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Middletown gets around 3.7 in of rain and snow over 8.9 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 29% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1292
2293
3303
4303
5303
6304
7304
8314
9314
10315
11315
12315
13315
14315
15305
16305
17306
18306
19296
20296
21286
22286
23286
24276
25276
26276
27276
28276
29276
30286
31287

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 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1973
2973
3982
4982
5982
6982
7982
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
291000
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 8 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 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 7:10 AM to 7:28 AM, and sunset from 4:35 PM to 4:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:104:35
29.47:114:35
39.47:124:35
49.47:134:35
59.47:144:35
69.37:154:35
79.37:154:35
89.37:164:35
99.37:174:35
109.37:184:35
119.37:194:35
129.37:194:35
139.37:204:35
149.27:214:35
159.27:214:36
169.27:224:36
179.27:234:36
189.27:234:37
199.27:244:37
209.27:244:37
219.27:254:38
229.27:254:38
239.27:264:39
249.27:264:39
259.27:274:40
269.27:274:40
279.27:274:41
289.27:284:42
299.27:284:42
309.27:284:43
319.37:284:44

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.88 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.88 kWh/m² to a high of 6.11 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.88 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.0Moderate
22.0Dim
32.0Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.9Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.8Dim
141.8Dim
151.8Dim
161.8Dim
171.8Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
221.9Dim
231.9Dim
241.9Dim
251.9Dim
261.9Dim
271.9Dim
281.9Dim
291.9Dim
301.9Dim
311.9Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Middletown

In seasonPeak

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

Middletown 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 Middletown?

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

1.1
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Middletown.

What to pack for Middletown in December

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

In December, Middletown sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Middletown in December

The nearest coast averages about 44°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 29 mi away) is warmest in August at about 76°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 19 to Oct 3 — about 3.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr49Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun67Cool
Jul74Refreshing
Aug76Warm
Sep73Refreshing
Oct64Cool
Nov53Bracing
Dec44Bracing

UV index in Middletown 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 Middletown peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 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 highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Middletown 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 Middletown is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1317 µg/m³Nov 128 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Middletown?

Middletown sits at 39.4°N, 75.7°W, 69 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Elkton, 12 mi away.

Topography around Middletown

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Middletown has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 59 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 190 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,385 ft.

The land around Middletown is covered by grassland (38%) and trees (22%) within 2 miles, trees (36%) and cropland (28%) within 10 miles, and trees (44%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
151 ft
10 miles
190 ft
50 miles
1,385 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Elkton 12 mi · Bear 13 mi · Newark 16 mi · Wilmington 22 mi · Dover 22 mi · Aberdeen 24 mi · Bridgeton 25 mi · Edgewood 31 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 Middletown (39.4496°, -75.7163°, elevation 69 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).