Virginia Beach weather in December

In December, Virginia Beach sees average daytime highs of 52°F and overnight lows near 42°F, with 3.8 in of precipitation across 9.6 wet days and about 9.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 55°F in the first days to 50°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% 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 Virginia Beach's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Virginia Beach's year-round climate.

Daytime high
52°
10th warmest
Overnight low
42°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.8 in
9.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 30 min
7:15 AM – 4:45 PM
Cloud cover
58%
11th clearest
Wind
10 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.17 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.8
out of 10

Virginia Beach is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
353/km²
people per km²
Founded
1906

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 55°F in the first days to 50°F by the end.

A typical December day in Virginia Beach reaches about 52°F in the afternoon and slips back to 42°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 41°F and 63°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 7°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°70°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15545
25545
35545
45444
55444
65444
75344
85344
95343
105343
115343
125243
135242
145242
155242
165142
175142
185141
195141
205141
215141
225041
235040
245040
255040
265040
275040
285040
294940
304940
314939

How December really feels in Virginia Beach

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.

Virginia Beach weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan47° / 37°3.89.71.39.81.7
Feb49° / 38°3.39.7110.61.9
Mar54° / 44°4.010.60.511.73.4
Apr63° / 53°3.39.3012.95.7
May71° / 62°3.510.2013.96.6
Jun79° / 70°3.510.4014.56.6
Jul83° / 75°4.613.5014.35.5
Aug82° / 74°4.312.4013.46.1
Sep77° / 69°4.510.8012.36.8
Oct68° / 60°3.880116.7
Nov59° / 49°3.78.50104.7
Dec52° / 42°3.89.60.49.52.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% 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 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25149
35050
45050
54951
64852
74852
84753
94753
104654
114654
124654
134753
144753
154753
164654
174654
184654
194654
204753
214753
224753
234654
244654
254753
264753
274654
284654
294555
304555
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Virginia Beach gets around 3.8 in of rain and snow over 9.6 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 32% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1290
2290
3290
4301
5301
6311
7311
8321
9321
10331
11331
12331
13331
14331
15331
16331
17321
18321
19321
20322
21312
22312
23312
24312
25312
26312
27312
28322
29322
30322
31322

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 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19082
29082
39082
49172
59172
69172
79262
89361
99361
109361
119361
129451
139451
149451
159451
169541
179541
189541
199631
209631
219631
229631
239631
249631
259631
269631
279631
289631
299631
309631
319631

Wind in December

Winds average 10 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
610light breeze
710light breeze
810light breeze
911light breeze
1011light breeze
1111light breeze
1211light breeze
1311light breeze
1411light breeze
1511light breeze
1611light breeze
1711light breeze
1811light breeze
1911light breeze
2011light breeze
2111light breeze
2211light breeze
2311light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3011light breeze
3111light 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 7:04 AM to 7:22 AM, and sunset from 4:43 PM to 4:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.77:044:43
29.67:054:43
39.67:064:43
49.67:074:43
59.67:074:43
69.67:084:43
79.67:094:43
89.67:104:43
99.57:114:43
109.57:114:43
119.57:124:44
129.57:134:44
139.57:144:44
149.57:144:44
159.57:154:44
169.57:154:45
179.57:164:45
189.57:174:45
199.57:174:46
209.57:184:46
219.57:184:47
229.57:194:47
239.57:194:48
249.57:204:48
259.57:204:49
269.57:204:49
279.57:214:50
289.57:214:50
299.57:214:51
309.57:224:52
319.57:224:52

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 6.56 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
122.2Moderate
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
262.1Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.2Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Virginia Beach

In seasonPeak

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

Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach?

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

2.8
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 Virginia Beach.

What to pack for Virginia Beach in December

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

In December, Virginia Beach sees daytime highs around 52°F and nights near 42°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Virginia Beach in December

The nearest coast averages about 52°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 78°F and coldest in February near 43°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 3 to Oct 16 — about 4.5 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan46Bracing
Feb43Bracing
Mar46Bracing
Apr53Bracing
May63Cool
Jun72Refreshing
Jul77Warm
Aug78Warm
Sep75Warm
Oct68Refreshing
Nov59Cool
Dec52Bracing

UV index in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (November, 5 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1015 µg/m³Nov 205 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun15Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug12Moderate
Sep9Good
Oct6Good
Nov5Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach sits at 36.9°N, 76.0°W, 10 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chesapeake, 17 mi away.

Topography around Virginia Beach

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Virginia Beach has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 102 ft around an average of 10 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 144 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft.

The land around Virginia Beach is covered by water (51%) and trees (23%) within 2 miles, water (61%) and trees (22%) within 10 miles, and water (52%) and trees (30%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
102 ft
10 miles
144 ft
50 miles
210 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Chesapeake 17 mi · Norfolk 17 mi · Portsmouth 18 mi · Portsmouth Heights 22 mi · East Hampton 24 mi · Hampton 24 mi · Newport News 27 mi · Suffolk 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 Virginia Beach (36.8529°, -75.978°, elevation 10 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).