Sarasota weather in December

In December, Sarasota sees average daytime highs of 71°F and overnight lows near 60°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 73°F in the first days to 70°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% 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 Sarasota's 6th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sarasota's year-round climate.

Daytime high
71°
10th warmest
Overnight low
60°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
1.8 in
5.2 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:18 AM – 5:35 PM
Cloud cover
46%
6th clearest
Wind
9 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
3.39 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.6
out of 10

Sarasota is city in and county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States.

Density
844/km²
people per km²
Founded
1763

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 73°F in the first days to 70°F by the end.

A typical December day in Sarasota reaches about 71°F in the afternoon and slips back to 60°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 63°F and 78°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 5°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
17362
27362
37361
47361
57361
67361
77361
87361
97261
107261
117260
127260
137260
147260
157160
167160
177160
187159
197159
207159
217159
227159
237059
247059
257059
267059
277059
287058
297058
307058
317058

How December really feels in Sarasota

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.

Sarasota 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
Jan69° / 57°2.35.710.57.2
Feb70° / 58°1.65.3117.4
Mar73° / 62°2.05.311.87.9
Apr78° / 67°1.95.312.67.8
May83° / 72°2.27.913.36.6
Jun85° / 77°5.818.213.74.2
Jul86° / 78°5.421.613.63.6
Aug87° / 78°6.023133.4
Sep85° / 77°6.017.512.24.2
Oct82° / 72°2.67.711.36.6
Nov76° / 64°1.53.810.68.1
Dec71° / 60°1.85.210.37.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% 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 38%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
26931
36931
46931
56931
66931
76832
86832
96733
106634
116634
126535
136436
146337
156238
166139
176040
185941
196040
205941
215842
225842
235743
245743
255644
265545
275545
285545
295545
305644
315644

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Sarasota 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
214
314
414
514
615
715
815
916
1016
1116
1217
1317
1418
1518
1618
1718
1819
1919
2019
2119
2218
2318
2418
2518
2618
2718
2818
2918
3018
3118

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 34% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 25% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1291825245
2291725244
3301726244
4301726244
5301626244
6311626244
7311626244
8311526244
9311526234
10321527234
11321527234
12331527223
13331526223
14341526223
15351526213
16351525213
17361525213
18371624203
19371624203
20381624193
21381724193
22381724193
23381723192
24381723192
25381723192
26371823202
27371823202
28371823202
29371723202
30371723202
31371723202

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light 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 7:24 AM, and sunset from 5:32 PM to 5:42 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.47:085:32
210.47:095:32
310.47:095:32
410.47:105:32
510.47:115:32
610.37:115:32
710.37:125:32
810.37:135:33
910.37:135:33
1010.37:145:33
1110.37:155:33
1210.37:155:34
1310.37:165:34
1410.37:175:34
1510.37:175:34
1610.37:185:35
1710.37:185:35
1810.37:195:36
1910.37:195:36
2010.37:205:36
2110.37:205:37
2210.37:215:37
2310.37:215:38
2410.37:225:38
2510.37:225:39
2610.37:235:39
2710.37:235:40
2810.37:235:40
2910.37:245:41
3010.37:245:42
3110.37:245:42

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.39 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.86 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 3.39 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.6Moderate
23.6Moderate
33.6Moderate
43.5Moderate
53.5Moderate
63.5Moderate
73.5Moderate
83.5Moderate
93.5Moderate
103.4Moderate
113.4Moderate
123.4Moderate
133.4Moderate
143.4Moderate
153.4Moderate
163.4Moderate
173.4Moderate
183.4Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.3Moderate
233.3Moderate
243.3Moderate
253.3Moderate
263.3Moderate
273.3Moderate
283.3Moderate
293.4Moderate
303.4Moderate
313.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Sarasota

In seasonPeak

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

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

Sarasota'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 Sarasota?

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

7.6
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
5.2
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Sarasota in December

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

In December, Sarasota sees daytime highs around 71°F and nights near 60°F. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 5 days see rain.

Sea temperature near Sarasota 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 offshore is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in February near 65°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Mar 13 to Dec 26 — about 9.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan65Cool
Feb65Cool
Mar68Refreshing
Apr73Refreshing
May78Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul85Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep85Tropical
Oct81Warm
Nov74Refreshing
Dec69Refreshing

UV index in Sarasota 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 Sarasota peaks around July 14 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 14UV 11Dec 19UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan5Moderate
Feb7High
Mar9Very high
Apr9Very high
May10Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Sarasota 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 Sarasota is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1717 µg/m³Nov 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr12Good
May11Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Sarasota?

Sarasota sits at 27.3°N, 82.5°W, 23 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bayshore Gardens, 7.5 mi away.

Topography around Sarasota

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Sarasota has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 69 ft around an average of 23 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 95 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 384 ft.

The land around Sarasota is covered by artificial surfaces (43%), trees (30%) and water (20%) within 2 miles, water (41%) and trees (27%) within 10 miles, and water (43%), trees (27%) and grassland (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
69 ft
10 miles
95 ft
50 miles
384 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: Bayshore Gardens 7.5 mi · South Bradenton 9.3 mi · Bradenton 12 mi · Venice 17 mi · North Port 27 mi · Ruskin 27 mi · Sun City Center 29 mi · St. Petersburg 31 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 Sarasota (27.3364°, -82.5306°, 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. 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).