Ruskin weather in December

In December, Ruskin sees average daytime highs of 73°F and overnight lows near 56°F, with 1.8 in of rain across 5.2 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 75°F in the first days to 72°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% 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 Ruskin's 6th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ruskin's year-round climate.

Daytime high
73°
10th warmest
Overnight low
56°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
1.8 in
5.2 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:18 AM – 5:34 PM
Cloud cover
49%
6th clearest
Wind
8 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
3.2 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.7
out of 10

Ruskin is census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States.

Density
340/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 75°F in the first days to 72°F by the end.

A typical December day in Ruskin reaches about 73°F in the afternoon and slips back to 56°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 62°F and 82°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17558
27557
37557
47557
57557
67557
77457
87457
97456
107456
117456
127456
137356
147356
157356
167356
177355
187355
197355
207355
217255
227255
237255
247255
257255
267255
277255
287255
297254
307254
317154

How December really feels in Ruskin

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.

Ruskin weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan71° / 53°2.46.610.47.3
Feb73° / 55°1.85.8117.6
Mar77° / 59°2.26.211.87.6
Apr83° / 64°1.95.712.66.8
May87° / 70°2.68.413.45.0
Jun89° / 75°6.218.513.73.4
Jul89° / 76°5.922.813.62.9
Aug89° / 76°6.023.1132.8
Sep88° / 75°5.21712.23.6
Oct85° / 69°2.3811.35.8
Nov78° / 60°1.54.210.67.9
Dec73° / 56°1.85.210.37.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 40%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16733
26733
36733
46634
56634
66535
76535
86436
96436
106337
116337
126238
136238
146139
156139
166040
175941
185842
195743
205644
215644
225644
235545
245446
255446
265446
275347
285347
295347
305347
315347

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Ruskin gets around 1.8 in of rain over 5.2 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 17% and peaks near 19% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
114
215
315
415
515
615
716
816
916
1016
1116
1217
1317
1417
1518
1618
1718
1818
1918
2018
2118
2218
2318
2418
2519
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 44% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 16% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1411922152
2411923152
3411923152
4411823152
5411823162
6411823162
7411824162
8411724162
9411724162
10411723162
11421723162
12421723162
13431723162
14441722161
15441722151
16451722151
17461721151
18471721141
19471721141
20481720131
21481720131
22491820131
23491820131
24481820131
25481920131
26471920131
27471920131
28472019131
29462019141
30462019141
31462019141

Wind in December

Winds average 8 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17light breeze
27light breeze
37light breeze
47light breeze
57light breeze
67light breeze
77light 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 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 5:31 PM to 5:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.47:085:31
210.47:095:31
310.37:105:31
410.37:105:31
510.37:115:31
610.37:125:31
710.37:135:31
810.37:135:31
910.37:145:32
1010.37:155:32
1110.37:155:32
1210.37:165:32
1310.37:165:33
1410.37:175:33
1510.37:185:33
1610.37:185:34
1710.37:195:34
1810.27:195:34
1910.27:205:35
2010.27:205:35
2110.27:215:36
2210.27:215:36
2310.27:225:37
2410.27:225:37
2510.27:235:38
2610.27:235:38
2710.37:245:39
2810.37:245:39
2910.37:245:40
3010.37:255:40
3110.37:255:41

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.2 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.2 kWh/m² to a high of 6.47 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.2 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.4Moderate
23.4Moderate
33.4Moderate
43.3Moderate
53.3Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.2Moderate
123.2Moderate
133.2Moderate
143.2Moderate
153.2Moderate
163.2Moderate
173.2Moderate
183.2Moderate
193.2Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.1Moderate
223.1Moderate
233.1Moderate
243.1Moderate
253.1Moderate
263.1Moderate
273.2Moderate
283.2Moderate
293.2Moderate
303.2Moderate
313.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Ruskin

In seasonPeak

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

Ruskin sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Ruskin's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Atlantic hurricane
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Ruskin?

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

7.7
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
5.9
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Ruskin for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Ruskin in December

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

In December, Ruskin sees daytime highs around 73°F and nights near 56°F. Worth packing: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Ruskin 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 14 mi away) is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in January near 65°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 15 to Dec 20 — about 9.2 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan65Cool
Feb65Cool
Mar68Refreshing
Apr73Refreshing
May79Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul86Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep85Tropical
Oct80Warm
Nov73Refreshing
Dec69Refreshing

UV index in Ruskin 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 Ruskin peaks around July 12 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 12UV 11Dec 19UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb7High
Mar9Very high
Apr9Very high
May10Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct7Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Ruskin 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 Ruskin is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 2019 µg/m³Nov 2310 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb11Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov10Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ruskin?

Ruskin sits at 27.7°N, 82.4°W, 3 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Sun City Center, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Ruskin

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Ruskin has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 66 ft around an average of 13 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 230 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 377 ft.

The land around Ruskin is covered by trees (31%), grassland (28%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 2 miles, water (36%), trees (26%) and grassland (22%) within 10 miles, and trees (36%), water (33%) and grassland (21%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
66 ft
10 miles
230 ft
50 miles
377 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Sun City Center 5.0 mi · Riverview 12 mi · Palm River-Clair Mel 14 mi · St. Petersburg 16 mi · Tampa 16 mi · Lealman 17 mi · Bloomingdale 17 mi · West and East Lealman 17 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 Ruskin (27.7209°, -82.4331°, elevation 3 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).