Salisbury weather in December

In December, Salisbury sees average daytime highs of 50°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 3.5 in of precipitation across 9.1 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 53°F in the first days to 48°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 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Salisbury's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Salisbury's year-round climate.

Daytime high
50°
10th warmest
Overnight low
35°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.5 in
9.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:18 AM – 4:39 PM
Cloud cover
58%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.05 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.3
out of 10

Salisbury is city in southeastern Maryland, United States.

Density
916/km²
people per km²
Founded
1732

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 53°F in the first days to 48°F by the end.

A typical December day in Salisbury reaches about 50°F in the afternoon and slips back to 35°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 37°F and 63°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15438
25438
35338
45338
55337
65237
75237
85137
95137
105136
115136
125036
135036
145035
155035
165035
174935
184935
194935
204934
214934
224934
234834
244834
254834
264834
274834
284833
294833
304833
314733

How December really feels in Salisbury

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 29 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
29
wind chill below the day's low

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

Salisbury weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan46° / 31°3.39.52.19.61.2
Feb48° / 32°3.08.82.110.51.8
Mar55° / 39°4.110.71.211.73.6
Apr65° / 48°3.39.60.2136.0
May74° / 57°3.510.4014.16.7
Jun82° / 66°3.711.2014.65.9
Jul87° / 72°4.413014.44.6
Aug85° / 70°4.712013.55.1
Sep79° / 64°4.09.8012.36.7
Oct69° / 53°4.18.10116.8
Nov58° / 42°3.08.109.94.7
Dec50° / 35°3.59.119.42.3

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 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15248
25149
35149
44951
54852
64852
74654
84654
94654
104555
114555
124555
134654
144654
154555
164654
174654
184753
194753
204951
214951
225050
235050
245050
255149
265050
275050
285050
295050
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Salisbury gets around 3.5 in of rain and snow over 9.1 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 30% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1282
2292
3292
4292
5302
6302
7313
8313
9313
10313
11313
12313
13313
14313
15313
16313
17303
18303
19303
20293
21293
22293
23284
24284
25284
26284
27284
28284
29294
30294
31294

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 96% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19352
29451
39451
49451
59451
69451
79541
89541
99541
109631
119631
129730
139730
149730
159820
169721
179721
189721
199721
209721
219721
229721
239721
249820
259820
269820
279820
289820
299820
309820
319820

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 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 7:06 AM to 7:25 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)
19.57:064:38
29.57:074:38
39.57:084:38
49.57:094:37
59.57:104:37
69.47:114:37
79.47:124:37
89.47:134:37
99.47:134:37
109.47:144:38
119.47:154:38
129.47:164:38
139.47:164:38
149.47:174:38
159.37:184:38
169.37:184:39
179.37:194:39
189.37:204:39
199.37:204:40
209.37:214:40
219.37:214:41
229.37:224:41
239.37:224:42
249.37:234:42
259.37:234:43
269.37:234:43
279.37:244:44
289.37:244:44
299.37:244:45
309.47:244:46
319.47:254:46

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.05 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.05 kWh/m² to a high of 6.58 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.05 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.1Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.0Moderate
112.0Moderate
122.0Moderate
132.0Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.0Moderate
162.0Moderate
172.0Moderate
182.0Moderate
192.0Moderate
202.0Moderate
212.0Moderate
222.0Moderate
232.0Moderate
242.0Moderate
252.0Moderate
262.1Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.1Moderate
312.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Salisbury

In seasonPeak

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

Salisbury 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 Salisbury?

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

2.3
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Salisbury.

What to pack for Salisbury in December

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

In December, Salisbury sees daytime highs around 50°F and nights near 35°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Salisbury in December

The nearest coast averages about 50°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 30 mi away) is warmest in August at about 76°F and coldest in February near 41°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 17 to Oct 9 — about 3.8 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan44Bracing
Feb41Bracing
Mar43Bracing
Apr49Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun68Refreshing
Jul75Refreshing
Aug76Warm
Sep73Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov58Bracing
Dec50Bracing

UV index in Salisbury 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 Salisbury peaks around July 10 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 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 highHighModerateJul 10UV 8Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low
Location & terrain

Where is Salisbury?

Salisbury sits at 38.4°N, 75.6°W, 23 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Easton, 39 mi away.

Topography around Salisbury

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Salisbury has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 121 ft around an average of 36 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 164 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 230 ft.

The land around Salisbury is covered by trees (45%) and artificial surfaces (28%) within 2 miles, trees (62%) within 10 miles, and water (47%) and trees (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
121 ft
10 miles
164 ft
50 miles
230 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Easton 39 mi · Cape May 55 mi · Dover 55 mi · Annapolis 65 mi · Parole 66 mi · Arnold 67 mi · Greater Upper Marlboro 70 mi · Lake Shore 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 Salisbury (38.3607°, -75.5994°, elevation 23 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).