Shelby weather in December

In December, Shelby sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 25°F, with 2.2 in of precipitation across 9.2 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shelby's 11th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shelby's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
25°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.2 in
9.2 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
8:02 AM – 4:55 PM
Cloud cover
77%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
1.39 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Shelby is charter township and census-designated place in Macomb County, Michigan.

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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Shelby reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 25°F overnight — a 11°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°F and 48°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14029
24029
33928
43928
53828
63827
73827
83727
93726
103726
113626
123625
133625
143525
153525
163524
173524
183524
193524
203424
213424
223423
233423
243423
253423
263323
273322
283322
293322
303322
313322

How December really feels in Shelby

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 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
31
10 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Shelby weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 18°2.39.36.49.20.0
Feb34° / 20°2.08.16.210.30.0
Mar44° / 27°2.39.84.111.60.8
Apr56° / 38°3.511.81.613.13.6
May67° / 49°3.712.20.114.45.8
Jun77° / 59°3.710.9015.16.6
Jul81° / 63°3.111014.86.4
Aug79° / 62°3.010.4013.76.6
Sep72° / 54°2.89.1012.36.8
Oct59° / 44°2.89.80.210.84.6
Nov46° / 34°2.692.29.61.3
Dec36° / 25°2.29.258.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 13% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 78%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22179
32179
42278
52278
62278
72278
82278
92278
102278
112377
122377
132377
142377
152377
162377
172377
182377
192179
202179
212179
222278
232278
242278
252278
262278
272179
282179
292179
302179
312179

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Shelby gets around 2.2 in of rain and snow over 9.2 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 33% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13315
23315
33216
43216
53216
63117
73117
83117
93117
103117
113017
123017
133017
143017
153017
163017
173016
182916
192916
202915
212915
222915
232915
242915
252915
262915
272915
283016
293016
303016
313117

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 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

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 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:49 AM to 8:08 AM, and sunset from 4:55 PM to 5:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:494:55
29.17:504:55
39.17:514:54
49.07:524:54
59.07:534:54
69.07:544:54
79.07:554:54
89.07:564:54
99.07:574:54
108.97:574:54
118.97:584:54
128.97:594:54
138.98:004:54
148.98:014:54
158.98:014:54
168.98:024:55
178.98:034:55
188.98:034:55
198.98:044:56
208.98:044:56
218.98:054:56
228.98:054:57
238.98:064:57
248.98:064:58
258.98:074:58
268.98:074:59
278.98:075:00
288.98:085:00
298.98:085:01
308.98:085:02
318.98:085:02

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.39 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.34 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.39 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.4Dim
51.4Dim
61.4Dim
71.4Dim
81.4Dim
91.4Dim
101.4Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.4Dim
231.4Dim
241.4Dim
251.4Dim
261.4Dim
271.4Dim
281.4Dim
291.4Dim
301.4Dim
311.4Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Shelby?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Shelby.

What to pack for Shelby in December

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

In December, Shelby sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 25°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Shelby in December

The nearest coast averages about 39°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 9 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 33°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 2 to Sep 15 — about 2.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan34Bracing
Feb33Bracing
Mar34Bracing
Apr41Bracing
May52Bracing
Jun64Cool
Jul72Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep68Refreshing
Oct57Bracing
Nov47Bracing
Dec39Bracing

UV index in Shelby in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shelby peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 20UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug7High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Shelby 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 Shelby is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1415 µg/m³Oct 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct8Good
Nov9Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Shelby?

Shelby sits at 42.7°N, 83.0°W, 679 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Rochester Hills, 6.2 mi away.

Topography around Shelby

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Shelby has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 148 ft around an average of 679 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 538 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 915 ft.

The land around Shelby is covered by trees (44%), grassland (26%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, trees (40%), artificial surfaces (26%) and grassland (25%) within 10 miles, and trees (34%) and cropland (32%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
148 ft
10 miles
538 ft
50 miles
915 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Rochester Hills 6.2 mi · Sterling Heights 6.2 mi · Troy 7.5 mi · Clinton Township 8.1 mi · Mount Clemens 9.3 mi · Auburn Hills 11 mi · Birmingham 12 mi · Warren 12 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 Shelby (42.6709°, -83.033°, elevation 679 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. 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).