Mishawaka weather in December

In December, Mishawaka sees average daytime highs of 37°F and overnight lows near 26°F, with 2.4 in of precipitation across 10.4 wet days and about 9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 11th-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 13% 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 Mishawaka's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mishawaka's year-round climate.

Daytime high
37°
10th warmest
Overnight low
26°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.4 in
10.4 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
8:11 AM – 5:11 PM
Cloud cover
78%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.45 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Mishawaka is city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States.

Density
1,036/km²
people per km²
Founded
1833

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 Mishawaka reaches about 37°F in the afternoon and slips back to 26°F overnight — a 11°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°F and 50°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14130
24129
34029
44029
54028
63928
73928
83827
93827
103827
113726
123726
133726
143726
153726
163625
173625
183625
193625
203524
213524
223524
233524
243524
253524
263524
273523
283423
293423
303423
313423

How December really feels in Mishawaka

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
6 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Mishawaka weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 20°2.710.99.69.30.0
Feb35° / 21°2.18.35.810.30.0
Mar46° / 30°2.810.93.811.71.3
Apr59° / 40°4.012.51.113.14.2
May69° / 51°4.513.1014.36.0
Jun79° / 61°4.211.80156.3
Jul82° / 65°4.111.7014.76.1
Aug80° / 63°3.810.9013.76.5
Sep74° / 55°3.39.8012.36.8
Oct61° / 44°3.310.50.210.95.0
Nov48° / 34°2.99.72.59.71.7
Dec37° / 26°2.410.46.290.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 8% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 79%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12575
22575
32575
42476
52476
62278
72278
82278
92179
102179
112179
122179
132080
142080
152080
162080
172080
181981
191981
201981
212080
222080
232179
242179
252179
262080
272080
282080
292080
302080
312080

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Mishawaka gets around 2.4 in of rain and snow over 10.4 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 6 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13515
23515
33516
43517
53517
63518
73518
83518
93419
103419
113419
123420
133420
143420
153420
163420
173420
183420
193320
203320
213320
223321
233321
243321
253322
263322
273323
283323
293324
303425
313426

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
121000
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 9 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
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light 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 7:58 AM to 8:17 AM, and sunset from 5:10 PM to 5:18 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:585:10
29.27:595:10
39.28:005:10
49.18:015:10
59.18:025:10
69.18:035:10
79.18:045:10
89.18:055:10
99.18:065:10
109.18:075:10
119.08:075:10
129.08:085:10
139.08:095:10
149.08:105:10
159.08:105:10
169.08:115:11
179.08:125:11
189.08:125:11
199.08:135:12
209.08:135:12
219.08:145:12
229.08:145:13
239.08:155:13
249.08:155:14
259.08:165:14
269.08:165:15
279.08:165:16
289.08:175:16
299.08:175:17
309.08:175:18
319.08:175:18

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.45 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.45 kWh/m² to a high of 6.37 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.45 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.5Dim
61.5Dim
71.5Dim
81.5Dim
91.5Dim
101.5Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.4Dim
231.4Dim
241.4Dim
251.4Dim
261.4Dim
271.4Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.5Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Mishawaka?

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 Mishawaka.

What to pack for Mishawaka in December

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

In December, Mishawaka sees daytime highs around 37°F and nights near 26°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Mishawaka in December

The nearest coast averages about 43°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 40 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 11 to Sep 17 — about 2.3 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
May46Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct59Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Mishawaka in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mishawaka peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 18UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Mishawaka 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 Mishawaka is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1316 µg/m³Oct 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mishawaka?

Mishawaka sits at 41.7°N, 86.2°W, 722 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is South Bend, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Mishawaka

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Mishawaka has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 233 ft around an average of 741 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 318 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 614 ft.

The land around Mishawaka is covered by trees (39%), artificial surfaces (32%) and grassland (22%) within 2 miles, trees (37%) and cropland (32%) within 10 miles, and cropland (46%) and trees (30%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
233 ft
10 miles
318 ft
50 miles
614 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: South Bend 5.0 mi · Granger 6.8 mi · Elkhart 9.3 mi · Goshen 17 mi · La Porte 29 mi · Michigan City 38 mi · Portage 48 mi · Valparaiso 48 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 Mishawaka (41.662°, -86.1586°, elevation 722 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).