Shirley weather in December

In December, Shirley sees average daytime highs of 45°F and overnight lows near 37°F, with 4.6 in of precipitation across 10.6 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 48°F in the first days to 43°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shirley's 12th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shirley's year-round climate.

Daytime high
45°
9th warmest
Overnight low
37°
4th coldest
Precipitation
4.6 in
10.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:15 AM – 4:20 PM
Cloud cover
62%
12th clearest
Wind
14 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.74 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.1
out of 10

Shirley is census-designated place in New York, USA.

Density
934/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 48°F in the first days to 43°F by the end.

A typical December day in Shirley reaches about 45°F in the afternoon and slips back to 37°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 36°F and 55°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14941
24941
34841
44840
54840
64740
74739
84739
94739
104638
114638
124638
134638
144638
154537
164537
174537
184537
194537
204436
214436
224436
234436
244436
254435
264335
274335
284335
294335
304334
314234

How December really feels in Shirley

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 26 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
26
wind chill below the day's low

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

Shirley weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan40° / 31°3.79.83.99.40.0
Feb40° / 31°3.49.13.510.40.0
Mar44° / 36°4.410.22.811.70.8
Apr52° / 45°3.610.30.413.12.7
May60° / 53°3.310.2014.24.8
Jun70° / 64°3.38.8014.96.7
Jul76° / 71°3.08.6014.67.2
Aug76° / 70°3.79.3013.67.2
Sep71° / 65°3.78.8012.36.9
Oct62° / 55°4.39010.95.5
Nov53° / 46°3.68.70.39.73.2
Dec45° / 37°4.610.62.29.11.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14753
24654
34654
44555
54555
64456
74456
84357
94258
104159
114159
124159
134159
144159
154159
164060
174060
184060
194258
204357
214357
224357
234456
244456
254456
264555
274555
284555
294654
304753
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Shirley gets around 4.6 in of rain and snow over 10.6 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 34% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1343
2344
3354
4355
5355
6366
7366
8367
9367
10367
11368
12358
13358
14348
15348
16348
17338
18338
19337
20327
21327
22327
23327
24318
25328
26328
27328
28329
29329
303210
313210

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 (%)Comfortable (%)
1991
2991
3991
4991
5991
6991
71000
81000
91000
101000
111000
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 14 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 mph on the calmest days to 14 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
114breezy
214breezy
314breezy
414breezy
514breezy
614breezy
714breezy
814breezy
914breezy
1014breezy
1114breezy
1214breezy
1314breezy
1414breezy
1514breezy
1614breezy
1714breezy
1814breezy
1914breezy
2014breezy
2114breezy
2214breezy
2314breezy
2414breezy
2514breezy
2614breezy
2714breezy
2814breezy
2914breezy
3014breezy
3114breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 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 7:03 AM to 7:21 AM, and sunset from 4:20 PM to 4:28 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:034:20
29.37:044:20
39.37:044:19
49.27:054:19
59.27:064:19
69.27:074:19
79.27:084:19
89.27:094:19
99.27:104:19
109.17:114:19
119.17:114:19
129.17:124:19
139.17:134:20
149.17:144:20
159.17:144:20
169.17:154:20
179.17:164:21
189.17:164:21
199.17:174:21
209.17:174:22
219.17:184:22
229.17:184:23
239.17:194:23
249.17:194:24
259.17:204:24
269.17:204:25
279.17:204:25
289.17:214:26
299.17:214:27
309.17:214:27
319.17:214:28

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.74 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.74 kWh/m² to a high of 6.55 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.74 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.9Dim
21.9Dim
31.9Dim
41.8Dim
51.8Dim
61.8Dim
71.8Dim
81.8Dim
91.8Dim
101.7Dim
111.7Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.7Dim
161.7Dim
171.7Dim
181.7Dim
191.7Dim
201.7Dim
211.7Dim
221.7Dim
231.7Dim
241.7Dim
251.7Dim
261.7Dim
271.8Dim
281.8Dim
291.8Dim
301.8Dim
311.8Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Shirley

In seasonPeak

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

Shirley 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 Shirley?

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

1.1
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Shirley.

What to pack for Shirley in December

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

In December, Shirley sees daytime highs around 45°F and nights near 37°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Shirley in December

The nearest coast averages about 49°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 12 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 40°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 4 to Sep 22 — about 2.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan44Bracing
Feb40Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr45Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun64Cool
Jul71Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct63Cool
Nov56Bracing
Dec49Bracing

UV index in Shirley 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 Shirley peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Shirley 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 Shirley is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1016 µg/m³Nov 178 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May16Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct9Good
Nov8Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Shirley?

Shirley sits at 40.8°N, 72.9°W, 52 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Mastic, 1.2 mi away.

Topography around Shirley

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Shirley has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 118 ft around an average of 49 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 335 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,010 ft.

The land around Shirley is covered by trees (67%) within 2 miles, trees (47%) and water (34%) within 10 miles, and water (58%) and trees (32%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
118 ft
10 miles
335 ft
50 miles
1,010 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Mastic 1.2 mi · Medford 6.8 mi · East Patchogue 6.8 mi · Coram 8.7 mi · Farmingville 8.7 mi · Holtsville 9.3 mi · Selden 9.9 mi · Holbrook 11 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 Shirley (40.8015°, -72.8676°, elevation 52 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).