Suffolk weather in December

In December, Suffolk sees average daytime highs of 54°F and overnight lows near 37°F, with 3.5 in of precipitation across 9.5 wet days and about 9.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 57°F in the first days to 52°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Suffolk's 5th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Suffolk's year-round climate.

Daytime high
54°
10th warmest
Overnight low
37°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.5 in
9.5 wet days
Daylight
9 h 30 min
7:18 AM – 4:47 PM
Cloud cover
56%
5th clearest
Wind
8 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.17 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.3
out of 10

Suffolk is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
79/km²
people per km²
Founded
1742

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 57°F in the first days to 52°F by the end.

A typical December day in Suffolk reaches about 54°F in the afternoon and slips back to 37°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 41°F and 68°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15740
25740
35740
45639
55639
65639
75639
85538
95538
105538
115538
125438
135438
145437
155437
165337
175337
185337
195337
205336
215336
225336
235236
245236
255236
265236
275236
285236
295236
305235
315235

How December really feels in Suffolk

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 20 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
20
wind chill below the day's low

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

Suffolk 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
Jan50° / 33°3.49.31.39.82.4
Feb53° / 35°3.18.81.210.63.0
Mar60° / 41°3.910.60.511.74.8
Apr69° / 50°3.49.5012.96.5
May77° / 59°3.810.8013.96.7
Jun84° / 67°4.111.7014.55.3
Jul88° / 72°5.014.9014.34.0
Aug86° / 70°4.713.1013.44.7
Sep80° / 65°4.810.9012.26.3
Oct71° / 54°3.77.7011.17.1
Nov61° / 43°3.48.40.1105.5
Dec54° / 37°3.59.50.69.53.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% 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 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15248
25248
35149
45050
55050
64951
74852
84852
94852
104753
114753
124753
134852
144852
154852
164753
174852
184852
194852
204951
215050
224951
234951
244951
254951
264852
274951
284852
294951
304852
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Suffolk gets around 3.5 in of rain and snow over 9.5 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 31% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1301
2301
3301
4301
5311
6311
7312
8312
9322
10322
11322
12321
13321
14321
15321
16321
17312
18312
19312
20312
21312
22312
23302
24302
25302
26302
27313
28313
29313
30313
31313

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 93% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
189641
289641
390640
490640
592530
692530
792530
892530
993520
1093520
1193520
1293520
1393520
1493520
1594420
1694420
1794420
1894420
1993421
2093421
2193421
2293421
2393421
2493421
2593421
2693421
2793421
2893421
2993421
3094420
3194420

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.

0246810151015202531
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 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 30 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 7:06 AM to 7:24 AM, and sunset from 4:46 PM to 4:55 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.77:064:46
29.77:074:46
39.67:084:46
49.67:094:46
59.67:094:46
69.67:104:46
79.67:114:46
89.67:124:46
99.67:134:46
109.57:134:46
119.57:144:46
129.57:154:46
139.57:164:47
149.57:164:47
159.57:174:47
169.57:184:47
179.57:184:48
189.57:194:48
199.57:194:49
209.57:204:49
219.57:204:49
229.57:214:50
239.57:214:50
249.57:224:51
259.57:224:51
269.57:224:52
279.57:234:52
289.57:234:53
299.57:234:54
309.57:244:54
319.57:244:55

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.17 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.17 kWh/m² to a high of 6.28 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.17 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.3Moderate
42.3Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.3Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.1Moderate
222.1Moderate
232.1Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.2Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Suffolk

In seasonPeak

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

Suffolk 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 Suffolk?

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

3.3
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 Suffolk.

What to pack for Suffolk in December

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

In December, Suffolk sees daytime highs around 54°F and nights near 37°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Suffolk 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 37 mi away) is warmest in August at about 79°F and coldest in February near 41°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 3 to Oct 14 — about 4.4 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan44Bracing
Feb41Bracing
Mar45Bracing
Apr54Bracing
May63Cool
Jun72Refreshing
Jul78Warm
Aug79Warm
Sep76Warm
Oct68Cool
Nov57Bracing
Dec49Bracing

UV index in Suffolk 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 Suffolk peaks around July 12 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 12UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Suffolk 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 Suffolk is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1216 µg/m³Nov 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Suffolk?

Suffolk sits at 36.7°N, 76.6°W, 49 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is South Suffolk, 0.6 mi away.

Topography around Suffolk

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Suffolk has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 121 ft around an average of 43 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 167 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 341 ft.

The land around Suffolk is covered by trees (55%) within 2 miles, trees (70%) within 10 miles, and trees (53%) and water (24%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
121 ft
10 miles
167 ft
50 miles
341 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: South Suffolk 0.6 mi · Portsmouth Heights 14 mi · Portsmouth 17 mi · Chesapeake 18 mi · Norfolk 19 mi · Newport News 19 mi · Hampton 25 mi · East Hampton 25 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 Suffolk (36.7284°, -76.585°, elevation 49 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).