New London weather in December

In December, New London sees average daytime highs of 44°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 4.9 in of precipitation across 11.5 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 47°F in the first days to 41°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% 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 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is New London's 11th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see New London's year-round climate.

Daytime high
44°
9th warmest
Overnight low
35°
4th coldest
Precipitation
4.9 in
11.5 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:14 AM – 4:15 PM
Cloud cover
62%
11th clearest
Wind
15 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.69 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.7
out of 10

New London is city in Connecticut, United States.

Density
989/km²
people per km²
Founded
1646

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 47°F in the first days to 41°F by the end.

A typical December day in New London reaches about 44°F in the afternoon and slips back to 35°F overnight — a 9°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 34°F and 54°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14839
24739
34738
44738
54738
64638
74637
84637
94537
104536
114536
124436
134436
144435
154435
164435
174435
184335
194334
204334
214334
224334
234234
244233
254233
264233
274233
284233
294132
304132
314132

How December really feels in New London

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.

New London weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan38° / 29°4.010.44.59.40.0
Feb38° / 29°3.69.1410.30.0
Mar43° / 34°4.710.53.411.70.4
Apr50° / 43°4.210.90.413.12.3
May58° / 51°3.510.8014.34.3
Jun67° / 61°3.69.6014.96.3
Jul74° / 68°3.08.7014.77.2
Aug74° / 68°3.88.8013.77.2
Sep69° / 62°4.18.8012.36.8
Oct61° / 53°4.89.40.110.95.3
Nov52° / 44°4.29.30.39.72.8
Dec44° / 35°4.911.52.89.10.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24654
34654
44654
54654
64456
74456
84357
94456
104357
114357
124258
134258
144258
154060
164159
174159
184159
194258
204258
214258
224357
234456
244456
254456
264555
274555
284555
294555
304555
314555

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

New London gets around 4.9 in of rain and snow over 11.5 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 36% and peaks near 38% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1355
2355
3366
4367
5377
6378
7388
8389
9389
10389
113810
123710
133710
143710
153710
163610
17369
18369
19369
20369
21359
22359
23359
24359
25359
26359
273510
283610
293610
303611
313612

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
51000
61000
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
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 15 mph in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 mph on the calmest days to 15 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
114breezy
214breezy
314breezy
414breezy
514breezy
614breezy
714breezy
814breezy
914breezy
1015breezy
1115breezy
1215breezy
1315breezy
1415breezy
1515breezy
1615breezy
1715breezy
1815breezy
1915breezy
2015breezy
2115breezy
2215breezy
2315breezy
2415breezy
2515breezy
2615breezy
2715breezy
2815breezy
2915breezy
3015breezy
3115breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 12 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 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:01 AM to 7:20 AM, and sunset from 4:15 PM to 4:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:014:15
29.27:024:15
39.27:034:15
49.27:044:15
59.27:054:14
69.17:064:14
79.17:074:14
89.17:084:14
99.17:094:14
109.17:094:14
119.17:104:14
129.17:114:15
139.17:124:15
149.07:124:15
159.07:134:15
169.07:144:15
179.07:144:16
189.07:154:16
199.07:164:16
209.07:164:17
219.07:174:17
229.07:174:18
239.07:184:18
249.07:184:19
259.07:184:19
269.07:194:20
279.07:194:20
289.07:194:21
299.07:204:22
309.07:204:22
319.17:204:23

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.69 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.69 kWh/m² to a high of 6.35 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.69 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.8Dim
21.8Dim
31.8Dim
41.8Dim
51.8Dim
61.8Dim
71.7Dim
81.7Dim
91.7Dim
101.7Dim
111.7Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.7Dim
161.6Dim
171.6Dim
181.6Dim
191.6Dim
201.7Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.7Dim
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for New London

In seasonPeak

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

New London 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 New London?

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

0.7
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in New London.

What to pack for New London in December

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

In December, New London sees daytime highs around 44°F and nights near 35°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near New London in December

The nearest coast averages about 48°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 16 mi away) is warmest in August at about 71°F and coldest in February near 39°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 15 to Sep 15 — about 2.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan42Bracing
Feb39Bracing
Mar39Bracing
Apr44Bracing
May52Bracing
Jun61Cool
Jul69Refreshing
Aug71Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct63Cool
Nov55Bracing
Dec48Bracing

UV index in New London 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 New London peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in New London 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 New London is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1515 µg/m³Nov 206 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May14Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is New London?

New London sits at 41.4°N, 72.1°W, 56 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Waterford, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around New London

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around New London has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 266 ft around an average of 82 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 656 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,325 ft.

The land around New London is covered by trees (41%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 2 miles, trees (55%) and water (35%) within 10 miles, and trees (49%) and water (44%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
266 ft
10 miles
656 ft
50 miles
1,325 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Waterford 1.9 mi · Ledyard 7.5 mi · Montville Center 8.7 mi · Norwich 12 mi · Westerly 14 mi · Windham 24 mi · Plainfield 24 mi · Willimantic 25 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 New London (41.3556°, -72.0995°, elevation 56 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).