Paradise weather in December

In December, Paradise sees average daytime highs of 51°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 10.7 in of precipitation across 12.3 wet days and about 9.2 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 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 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Paradise's 10th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Paradise's year-round climate.

Daytime high
51°
12th warmest
Overnight low
36°
1st coldest
Precipitation
10.7 in
12.3 wet days
Daylight
9 h 12 min
7:27 AM – 4:39 PM
Cloud cover
60%
10th clearest
Wind
7 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.96 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.5
out of 10

Paradise is town in Butte County, California, United States.

Density
558/km²
people per km²
Founded
1979

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 Paradise reaches about 51°F in the afternoon and slips back to 36°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 43°F and 60°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°30°40°50°60°70°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15438
25438
35337
45337
55337
65337
75337
85237
95237
105237
115237
125136
135136
145136
155136
165136
175136
185136
195136
205135
215135
225135
235135
245135
255135
265135
275135
285135
295135
305135
315135

How December really feels in Paradise

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 26 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
26
wind chill below the day's low

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

Paradise 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
Jan53° / 37°9.61269.52.8
Feb55° / 38°9.211.3610.43.4
Mar59° / 40°8.112.44.811.74.5
Apr65° / 44°4.19.22.5136.1
May74° / 51°2.86.90.314.27.6
Jun83° / 58°0.92.9014.87.1
Jul90° / 62°0.00.3014.55.2
Aug89° / 61°0.10.7013.65.5
Sep84° / 57°0.51.6012.37.4
Oct73° / 49°2.74.30.110.98.1
Nov59° / 41°5.68.82.19.84.9
Dec51° / 36°10.712.35.49.22.5

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 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14753
24753
34654
44555
54456
64357
74258
84258
94159
104159
114159
124159
134060
144060
154159
164159
174159
184258
194258
204258
214258
224357
234357
244357
254258
264258
274357
284258
294258
304159
314258

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Paradise gets around 10.7 in of rain and snow over 12.3 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 39% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13811
23912
34012
44013
54113
64214
74214
84315
94315
104316
114317
124317
134318
144218
154219
164119
174019
183920
193920
203820
213720
223720
233720
243620
253620
263620
273620
283620
293620
303620
313720

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 6 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
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 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 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 7:15 AM to 7:33 AM, and sunset from 4:38 PM to 4:46 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:154:38
29.47:154:38
39.47:164:38
49.37:174:38
59.37:184:37
69.37:194:37
79.37:204:37
89.37:214:37
99.37:224:37
109.37:224:37
119.27:234:38
129.27:244:38
139.27:254:38
149.27:254:38
159.27:264:38
169.27:274:39
179.27:274:39
189.27:284:39
199.27:284:40
209.27:294:40
219.27:304:40
229.27:304:41
239.27:304:41
249.27:314:42
259.27:314:42
269.27:324:43
279.27:324:44
289.27:324:44
299.27:334:45
309.27:334:46
319.27:334:46

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.96 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.96 kWh/m² to a high of 8.25 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.96 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.0Moderate
32.0Moderate
42.0Moderate
52.0Dim
62.0Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.9Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.9Dim
141.9Dim
151.9Dim
161.9Dim
171.9Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
221.9Dim
231.9Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Dim
262.0Dim
272.0Moderate
282.0Moderate
292.0Moderate
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Paradise

In seasonPeak

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

Paradise'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 Paradise?

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

2.5
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Paradise.

What to pack for Paradise in December

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

In December, Paradise sees daytime highs around 51°F and nights near 36°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Paradise 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 Paradise peaks around July 10 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 14 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 10Dec 14UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep6High
Oct5Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec2Low

Air quality in Paradise 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 Paradise is worst in July — around 64 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 8.2× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateUnhealthyModerateJul 2363 µg/m³Dec 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May10Good
Jun10Good
Jul64Unhealthy
Aug59Unhealthy
Sep63Unhealthy
Oct17Moderate
Nov37Poor
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Paradise?

Paradise sits at 39.8°N, 121.6°W, 1,778 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chico, 12 mi away.

Topography around Paradise

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Paradise has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,535 ft around an average of 1,608 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,101 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9,377 ft.

The land around Paradise is covered by trees (47%) and grassland (43%) within 2 miles, trees (57%) and grassland (39%) within 10 miles, and trees (58%) and grassland (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
1,535 ft
10 miles
4,101 ft
50 miles
9,377 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Chico 12 mi · Oroville 17 mi · Yuba City 43 mi · Linda 44 mi · South Yuba City 45 mi · Lincoln 63 mi · Susanville 68 mi · Rocklin 70 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 Paradise (39.7596°, -121.6219°, elevation 1,778 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).