Oro Valley weather in December

In December, Oro Valley sees average daytime highs of 61°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 1.5 in of precipitation across 4.4 wet days and about 9.9 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 64°F in the first days to 59°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 57% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Oro Valley's 9th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Oro Valley's year-round climate.

Daytime high
61°
12th warmest
Overnight low
41°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
1.5 in
4.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 54 min
7:23 AM – 5:17 PM
Cloud cover
37%
9th clearest
Wind
5 mph
9th windiest
Solar energy
3.32 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.0
out of 10

Oro Valley is town in Pima County, Arizona, United States.

Density
491/km²
people per km²
Founded
1974

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 64°F in the first days to 59°F by the end.

A typical December day in Oro Valley reaches about 61°F in the afternoon and slips back to 41°F overnight — a 20°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 50°F and 70°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16443
26443
36443
46343
56342
66342
76242
86242
96242
106241
116141
126141
136141
146141
156040
166040
176040
186040
196040
206040
215939
225939
235939
245939
255939
265939
275939
285939
295939
305939
316040

How December really feels in Oro Valley

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

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Oro Valley weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan61° / 41°1.54.50.510.16.2
Feb64° / 43°1.54.70.410.86.9
Mar71° / 48°0.93.50.211.88.0
Apr78° / 54°0.41.60.112.88.7
May87° / 62°0.21.2013.66.2
Jun96° / 71°0.21.4014.13.1
Jul95° / 76°2.310.4013.92.5
Aug93° / 74°2.111.6013.23.0
Sep90° / 69°1.34.9012.24.6
Oct82° / 59°0.73011.27.8
Nov70° / 48°0.930.110.38.1
Dec61° / 41°1.54.40.29.96.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 57% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 28%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37327
47327
57228
67228
77228
87228
97228
107228
117228
127228
137327
147228
157228
167228
177228
187327
197327
207228
217228
227228
237228
247129
257129
267129
277129
287129
297030
307030
317030

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Oro Valley gets around 1.5 in of rain and snow over 4.4 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 14% and peaks near 15% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1121
2131
3131
4131
5131
6131
7131
8141
9140
10140
11140
12140
13140
14150
15150
16150
17150
18150
19151
20151
21151
22151
23151
24151
25151
26151
27151
28152
29152
30152
31152

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 5 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 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 7:13 AM to 7:30 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:24 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.07:135:14
210.07:145:14
310.07:145:14
410.07:155:14
510.07:165:14
610.07:175:14
710.07:175:15
89.97:185:15
99.97:195:15
109.97:205:15
119.97:205:15
129.97:215:15
139.97:225:16
149.97:225:16
159.97:235:16
169.97:235:17
179.97:245:17
189.97:255:17
199.97:255:18
209.97:265:18
219.97:265:19
229.97:275:19
239.97:275:19
249.97:285:20
259.97:285:20
269.97:285:21
279.97:295:22
289.97:295:22
299.97:295:23
309.97:305:23
319.97:305:24

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.32 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.32 kWh/m² to a high of 8.36 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 3.32 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.5Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.4Moderate
53.4Moderate
63.4Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.3Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.3Moderate
163.3Moderate
173.3Moderate
183.3Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.3Moderate
233.3Moderate
243.3Moderate
253.3Moderate
263.3Moderate
273.3Moderate
283.4Moderate
293.4Moderate
303.4Moderate
313.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Oro Valley?

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

6.0
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.9
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Oro Valley for sightseeing.

What to pack for Oro Valley in December

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

In December, Oro Valley sees daytime highs around 61°F and nights near 41°F. Worth packing: a warm layer. About 4 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in Oro Valley in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Oro Valley peaks around June 23 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 11Dec 20UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr9Very high
May9Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct7High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Oro Valley 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 Oro Valley is worst in June — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.6× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 1715 µg/m³Dec 219 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May11Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul12Moderate
Aug11Good
Sep11Good
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Oro Valley?

Oro Valley sits at 32.4°N, 111.0°W, 2,618 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Casas Adobes, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Oro Valley

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Oro Valley has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,694 ft around an average of 2,730 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,654 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,854 ft.

The land around Oro Valley is covered by shrubs (60%) and artificial surfaces (32%) within 2 miles, shrubs (66%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 10 miles, and shrubs (79%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
2,694 ft
10 miles
6,654 ft
50 miles
7,854 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
December weather nearby: Casas Adobes 5.0 mi · Catalina Foothills 6.8 mi · Flowing Wells 7.5 mi · Tucson 12 mi · Marana 16 mi · Tanque Verde 17 mi · Drexel Heights 17 mi · Vail 28 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 Oro Valley (32.3909°, -110.9665°, elevation 2,618 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).