Portage weather in December

In December, Portage sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 25°F, with 2.5 in of precipitation across 11 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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 9 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Portage's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Portage's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
25°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.5 in
11 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
8:10 AM – 5:06 PM
Cloud cover
80%
11th clearest
Wind
8 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.4 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Portage is city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States of America.

Density
529/km²
people per km²
Founded
1830

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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Portage reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 25°F overnight — a 11°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°F and 49°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)
14029
24028
33928
43928
53828
63827
73827
83726
93726
103726
113626
123625
133625
143625
153525
163524
173524
183524
193524
203524
213424
223423
233423
243423
253423
263423
273322
283322
293322
303322
313322

How December really feels in Portage

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
9 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Portage 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
Jan31° / 19°2.811.310.49.30.0
Feb34° / 20°2.28.36.610.30.0
Mar45° / 28°2.710.24.411.61.0
Apr57° / 39°3.912.71.413.13.8
May68° / 49°4.413.1014.45.8
Jun78° / 59°4.311.70156.4
Jul81° / 63°4.011.4014.86.3
Aug79° / 61°3.811.1013.76.6
Sep73° / 54°3.19.7012.36.8
Oct60° / 43°3.4110.210.84.6
Nov46° / 33°2.810.139.61.3
Dec36° / 25°2.5117.990.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 7% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 82%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12080
22080
32080
42080
51981
61981
71981
81981
91882
101882
111882
121783
131783
141783
151882
161783
171783
181783
191783
201684
211684
221783
231783
241783
251783
261783
271684
281684
291684
301684
311684

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Portage gets around 2.5 in of rain and snow over 11 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 36% and peaks near 39% on the wettest days, and about 8 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13919
23920
33921
43822
53822
63823
73823
83724
93724
103624
113624
123624
133524
143524
153525
163525
173525
183525
193525
203426
213426
223426
233426
243427
253427
263427
273428
283428
293529
303529
313529

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 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.

051015151015202531
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 06 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 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:58 AM to 8:17 AM, and sunset from 5:06 PM to 5:14 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:585:06
29.17:595:06
39.18:005:06
49.18:015:06
59.18:025:06
69.08:035:06
79.08:035:05
89.08:045:05
99.08:055:05
109.08:065:05
119.08:075:06
129.08:085:06
139.08:085:06
148.98:095:06
158.98:105:06
168.98:105:06
178.98:115:07
188.98:125:07
198.98:125:07
208.98:135:08
218.98:135:08
228.98:145:09
238.98:145:09
248.98:155:10
258.98:155:10
268.98:165:11
278.98:165:11
288.98:165:12
298.98:165:13
308.98:175:13
319.08:175:14

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.4 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.4 kWh/m² to a high of 6.36 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.4 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.4Dim
41.4Dim
51.4Dim
61.4Dim
71.4Dim
81.4Dim
91.4Dim
101.4Dim
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
281.4Dim
291.4Dim
301.4Dim
311.4Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Portage?

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 Portage.

What to pack for Portage in December

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

In December, Portage sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 25°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Portage 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 42 mi away) is warmest in August at about 72°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 14 to Sep 13 — about 2 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May45Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul69Refreshing
Aug72Refreshing
Sep68Cool
Oct59Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Portage 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 Portage peaks around June 22 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 highHighModerateLowJun 22UV 9Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Portage 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 Portage is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1515 µg/m³Oct 228 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Portage?

Portage sits at 42.2°N, 85.6°W, 879 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Kalamazoo, 6.2 mi away.

Topography around Portage

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Portage has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 141 ft around an average of 876 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 358 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 679 ft.

The land around Portage is covered by trees (50%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 2 miles, trees (48%) and cropland (24%) within 10 miles, and trees (42%) and cropland (37%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
141 ft
10 miles
358 ft
50 miles
679 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Kalamazoo 6.2 mi · Battle Creek 22 mi · Granger 41 mi · Elkhart 41 mi · Goshen 45 mi · Kentwood 47 mi · Mishawaka 48 mi · Holland 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 Portage (42.2011°, -85.58°, elevation 879 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).