Princeton in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Princeton sees average daytime highs around 77°F and overnight lows near 62°F, with 3.9 in of rain over about 17 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 77°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels muggy.
Winter is Princeton's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Princeton's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 77°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 62°F
- Rainfall
- 3.9 in
- 17 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 mph
- Travel score
- 7.7
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Princeton in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 77°F.
A typical winter day in Princeton reaches about 77°F and drops to 62°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Princeton
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Princeton weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75° / 61° | 1.4 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 7.8 |
| Feb | 77° / 62° | 1.3 | 5.8 | 11.1 | 7.7 |
| Mar | 80° / 65° | 1.6 | 6.2 | 11.8 | 7.4 |
| Apr | 83° / 69° | 2.0 | 7.7 | 12.6 | 6.4 |
| May | 85° / 73° | 3.8 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 4.9 |
| Jun | 87° / 77° | 7.3 | 23.7 | 13.6 | 3.1 |
| Jul | 88° / 78° | 5.9 | 24.7 | 13.4 | 2.9 |
| Aug | 89° / 78° | 6.9 | 25.7 | 12.9 | 2.8 |
| Sep | 87° / 77° | 6.7 | 23.2 | 12.2 | 3.2 |
| Oct | 85° / 74° | 4.0 | 15 | 11.4 | 4.9 |
| Nov | 80° / 68° | 1.5 | 6.8 | 10.8 | 7.1 |
| Dec | 77° / 64° | 1.2 | 5.5 | 10.4 | 7.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Princeton gets around 3.9 in of rain over 17 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 8 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 24 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 3.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Princeton
None of Princeton's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Princeton sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Princeton's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Princeton?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Princeton for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Princeton in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Princeton sees daytime highs around 77°F and nights near 62°F. Worth packing: light clothes. About 17 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Princeton in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 77°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 19 mi away) is warmest in August at about 85°F and coldest in February near 76°F.
The water stays above 68°F all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 76 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 81 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 80 | 78 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76 | Warm |
| Feb | 76 | Warm |
| Mar | 77 | Warm |
| Apr | 78 | Warm |
| May | 81 | Warm |
| Jun | 83 | Tropical |
| Jul | 85 | Tropical |
| Aug | 85 | Tropical |
| Sep | 85 | Tropical |
| Oct | 83 | Tropical |
| Nov | 80 | Warm |
| Dec | 78 | Warm |
UV index in Princeton in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Princeton peaks around July 15 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 5 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | High |
| Feb | 7 | Very high |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 10 | Very high |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 8 | Very high |
| Nov | 6 | High |
| Dec | 5 | Moderate |
Air quality in Princeton in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Princeton is worst in July — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (November, 9 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 11 | Good |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 14 | Moderate |
| Jun | 19 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 15 | Moderate |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Princeton?
Princeton sits at 25.5°N, 80.4°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Leisure City, 3.1 mi away.
Topography around Princeton
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Princeton.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Princeton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 49 ft around an average of 13 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 148 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 171 ft.
The land around Princeton is covered by grassland (35%), artificial surfaces (32%) and trees (22%) within 2 miles, grassland (20%) within 10 miles, and water (43%) and wetland (36%) within 50 miles.
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
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 Princeton (25.5384°, -80.4089°, elevation 10 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.