Sidney weather in December

In December, Sidney sees average daytime highs of 39°F and overnight lows near 26°F, with 3.1 in of precipitation across 10 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 43°F in the first days to 37°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% 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 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Sidney's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sidney's year-round climate.

Daytime high
39°
10th warmest
Overnight low
26°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.1 in
10 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:58 AM – 5:07 PM
Cloud cover
74%
11th clearest
Wind
9 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
1.63 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.1
out of 10

Sidney is seat of Shelby County, Ohio, United States.

Density
668/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 43°F in the first days to 37°F by the end.

A typical December day in Sidney reaches about 39°F in the afternoon and slips back to 26°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°F and 55°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14431
24430
34330
44329
54229
64229
74128
84128
94128
104028
114027
124027
134027
143926
153926
163926
173926
183826
193826
203825
213825
223825
233825
243825
253825
263725
273724
283724
293724
303724
313724

How December really feels in Sidney

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
1 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Sidney weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan35° / 21°3.110.35.49.50.0
Feb38° / 24°2.58.94.810.40.0
Mar49° / 32°3.6112.911.71.9
Apr62° / 42°4.512.60.8134.8
May71° / 53°4.313.6014.26.0
Jun80° / 62°4.012014.86.2
Jul83° / 65°3.411.4014.65.9
Aug81° / 64°3.310013.66.5
Sep76° / 56°2.87.8012.37.2
Oct63° / 45°2.98.70.210.95.7
Nov50° / 35°3.391.29.82.3
Dec39° / 26°3.1103.79.20.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% 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 73%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12971
22971
32971
42773
52773
62773
72773
82773
92674
102674
112575
122575
132575
142674
152674
162773
172773
182773
192773
202773
212773
222773
232773
242773
252773
262773
272773
282773
292773
302773
312674

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Sidney gets around 3.1 in of rain and snow over 10 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 33% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1348
2349
3349
43310
53310
63311
73311
83312
93312
103312
113312
123213
133313
143313
153313
163313
173312
183312
193312
203212
213212
223212
233212
243212
253212
263312
273312
283312
293313
303413
313414

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
7991
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light 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
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 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 7:46 AM to 8:05 AM, and sunset from 5:07 PM to 5:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:465:07
29.37:475:06
39.37:485:06
49.37:495:06
59.37:505:06
69.37:515:06
79.27:525:06
89.27:535:06
99.27:535:06
109.27:545:06
119.27:555:06
129.27:565:06
139.27:565:06
149.27:575:07
159.17:585:07
169.17:585:07
179.17:595:07
189.18:005:08
199.18:005:08
209.18:015:08
219.18:015:09
229.18:025:09
239.18:025:10
249.18:035:10
259.18:035:11
269.18:035:11
279.18:045:12
289.18:045:13
299.18:045:13
309.28:055:14
319.28:055:15

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.63 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.63 kWh/m² to a high of 6.25 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.63 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.6Dim
131.6Dim
141.6Dim
151.6Dim
161.6Dim
171.6Dim
181.6Dim
191.6Dim
201.6Dim
211.6Dim
221.6Dim
231.6Dim
241.6Dim
251.6Dim
261.6Dim
271.6Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Sidney?

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

0.1
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 Sidney.

What to pack for Sidney in December

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

In December, Sidney sees daytime highs around 39°F and nights near 26°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Sidney 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 Sidney peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Sidney 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 Sidney is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1217 µg/m³Oct 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Sidney?

Sidney sits at 40.3°N, 84.2°W, 951 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Piqua, 11 mi away.

Topography around Sidney

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Sidney has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 207 ft around an average of 1,020 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 427 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 879 ft.

The land around Sidney is covered by trees (31%), grassland (23%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 2 miles, cropland (70%) within 10 miles, and cropland (73%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
207 ft
10 miles
427 ft
50 miles
879 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Piqua 11 mi · Troy 17 mi · Vandalia 27 mi · Huber Heights 30 mi · Springfield 31 mi · Lima 32 mi · Fairborn 33 mi · Trotwood 35 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 Sidney (40.2842°, -84.1555°, elevation 951 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. 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).