Portland weather in December

In December, Portland sees average daytime highs of 67°F and overnight lows near 52°F, with 2.1 in of precipitation across 6.3 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 69°F in the first days to 65°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Portland's 10th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Portland's year-round climate.

Daytime high
67°
11th warmest
Overnight low
52°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
2.1 in
6.3 wet days
Daylight
10 h 12 min
7:18 AM – 5:33 PM
Cloud cover
57%
10th clearest
Wind
10 mph
8th windiest
Solar energy
2.76 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.7
out of 10

Portland is city in Texas, United States.

Density
580/km²
people per km²

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 69°F in the first days to 65°F by the end.

A typical December day in Portland reaches about 67°F in the afternoon and slips back to 52°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 55°F and 76°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 6°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16955
26955
36954
46954
56954
66854
76853
86853
96853
106853
116753
126753
136752
146752
156752
166752
176752
186752
196651
206651
216651
226651
236651
246551
256551
266551
276551
286550
296550
306550
316550

How December really feels in Portland

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.

Portland weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan65° / 51°2.16.510.46.5
Feb68° / 54°1.55.2116.9
Mar73° / 60°2.26.211.87.4
Apr78° / 66°2.06.412.67.4
May83° / 73°2.78.813.46.1
Jun87° / 77°2.910.213.74.8
Jul89° / 78°2.28.613.64.5
Aug89° / 78°2.39.7134.2
Sep87° / 75°4.313.812.24.5
Oct81° / 67°3.48.811.36.8
Nov73° / 59°2.26.810.67.4
Dec67° / 52°2.16.310.36.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% 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 50%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25545
35446
45446
55347
65347
75248
85248
95248
105149
115248
125149
135149
145248
155149
165149
175149
185050
195050
205050
214951
224951
234753
244753
254654
264654
274654
284654
294654
304654
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Portland gets around 2.1 in of rain and snow over 6.3 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 20% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
120
220
320
420
520
621
721
821
921
1021
1121
1221
1321
1421
1521
1621
1720
1820
1920
2020
2120
2220
2320
2420
2520
2619
2719
2819
2919
3019
3119

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 59% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 15% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1491317175
2501317174
3511316164
4521216164
5521216164
6531216163
7541215163
8541215163
9541215163
10561214162
11561214162
12581213152
13581213152
14591213151
15591213151
16601213141
17601213141
18601213141
19601313131
20601313131
21611313121
22611313121
23621313111
24621313111
25631313101
26641213101
27631313101
2865131291
2965131291
3065131291
3165131291

Wind in December

Winds average 10 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
910light breeze
1010light breeze
1110light breeze
1210light breeze
1310light breeze
1410light breeze
1510light breeze
1610light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 24 min at the start of December to 10 h 18 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 7:08 AM to 7:25 AM, and sunset from 5:30 PM to 5:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.47:085:30
210.37:095:30
310.37:105:30
410.37:105:30
510.37:115:30
610.37:125:30
710.37:125:30
810.37:135:31
910.37:145:31
1010.37:145:31
1110.37:155:31
1210.37:165:31
1310.37:165:32
1410.37:175:32
1510.27:185:32
1610.27:185:33
1710.27:195:33
1810.27:195:33
1910.27:205:34
2010.27:205:34
2110.27:215:35
2210.27:215:35
2310.27:225:36
2410.27:225:36
2510.27:235:37
2610.27:235:37
2710.27:235:38
2810.27:245:38
2910.27:245:39
3010.37:245:40
3110.37:255:40

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.76 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.76 kWh/m² to a high of 6.6 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.76 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.9Moderate
22.9Moderate
32.9Moderate
42.8Moderate
52.8Moderate
62.8Moderate
72.8Moderate
82.8Moderate
92.8Moderate
102.8Moderate
112.8Moderate
122.8Moderate
132.8Moderate
142.8Moderate
152.8Moderate
162.8Moderate
172.8Moderate
182.8Moderate
192.8Moderate
202.8Moderate
212.8Moderate
222.8Moderate
232.8Moderate
242.8Moderate
252.8Moderate
262.8Moderate
272.8Moderate
282.8Moderate
292.8Moderate
302.8Moderate
312.8Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Portland

In seasonPeak

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

Portland 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 Portland?

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

6.7
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
3.2
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Portland for sightseeing.

What to pack for Portland in December

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

In December, Portland sees daytime highs around 67°F and nights near 52°F. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 6 days see rain.

Sea temperature near Portland in December

The nearest coast averages about 69°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 21 mi away) is warmest in September at about 84°F and coldest in February near 64°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 29 to Dec 20 — about 8.8 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan65Cool
Feb64Cool
Mar66Cool
Apr71Refreshing
May77Warm
Jun82Tropical
Jul83Tropical
Aug84Tropical
Sep84Tropical
Oct80Warm
Nov73Refreshing
Dec69Refreshing

UV index in Portland in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Portland peaks around June 16 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 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 16UV 11Dec 21UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb6High
Mar7High
Apr10Very high
May11Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep10Very high
Oct7High
Nov5High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Portland 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 Portland is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.2× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1419 µg/m³Nov 116 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar12Good
Apr12Good
May16Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Portland?

Portland sits at 27.9°N, 97.3°W, 43 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Corpus Christi, 6.8 mi away.

Topography around Portland

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Portland has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 56 ft around an average of 16 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 115 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 394 ft.

The land around Portland is covered by water (47%) and artificial surfaces (25%) within 2 miles, water (38%) and cropland (33%) within 10 miles, and water (33%), grassland (23%) and cropland (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
56 ft
10 miles
115 ft
50 miles
394 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Corpus Christi 6.8 mi · Kingsville 41 mi · Alice 47 mi · Victoria 67 mi · Bay City 112 mi · Harlingen 119 mi · Edinburg 121 mi · San Benito 122 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 Portland (27.8773°, -97.3239°, elevation 43 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).