Waterville weather in December

In December, Waterville sees average daytime highs of 33°F and overnight lows near 20°F, with 4.0 in of precipitation across 10.7 wet days and about 8.7 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 37°F in the first days to 30°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 8 h 54 min at the start of December to 8 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Waterville's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Waterville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
33°
10th warmest
Overnight low
20°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
4.0 in
10.7 wet days
Daylight
8 h 42 min
7:15 AM – 3:54 PM
Cloud cover
61%
7th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
1.45 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Waterville is city in Maine, United States.

Density
447/km²
people per km²
Founded
1802

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 37°F in the first days to 30°F by the end.

A typical December day in Waterville reaches about 33°F in the afternoon and slips back to 20°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°F and 45°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

20°40°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13826
23825
33725
43724
53624
63623
73623
83522
93522
103521
113421
123420
133420
143320
153320
163319
173319
183319
193219
203218
213218
223218
233218
243117
253117
263117
273117
283016
293016
303016
313015

How December really feels in Waterville

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
24 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Waterville weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 12°3.18.96.890.0
Feb30° / 14°2.98.37.210.10.0
Mar38° / 23°3.610.26.111.60.1
Apr51° / 36°3.810.62.613.22.3
May62° / 46°3.2110.214.65.1
Jun71° / 56°3.811015.36.4
Jul77° / 62°3.19.90156.7
Aug76° / 61°2.99.3013.97.1
Sep68° / 53°3.38.2012.36.6
Oct56° / 42°4.410.10.410.73.9
Nov44° / 31°3.59.52.39.40.8
Dec33° / 20°4.010.76.98.70.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 55%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14654
24654
34753
44753
54753
64654
74654
84654
94555
104654
114555
124456
134456
144357
154357
164258
174258
184258
194258
204357
214357
224357
234555
244555
254654
264654
274852
284852
294852
304951
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Waterville gets around 4.0 in of rain and snow over 10.7 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 34% and peaks near 36% on the wettest days, and about 7 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13417
23418
33418
43319
53319
63320
73320
83321
93321
103422
113422
123423
133423
143523
153523
163523
173522
183522
193522
203623
213623
223523
233523
243523
253523
263423
273423
283323
293323
303223
313223

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 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 8 h 54 min at the start of December to 8 h 42 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 7:02 AM to 7:21 AM, and sunset from 3:55 PM to 4:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.97:023:55
28.97:033:55
38.87:043:54
48.87:053:54
58.87:063:54
68.87:073:54
78.87:083:54
88.77:093:54
98.77:103:53
108.77:103:53
118.77:113:54
128.77:123:54
138.77:133:54
148.77:143:54
158.77:143:54
168.77:153:54
178.67:163:55
188.67:163:55
198.67:173:55
208.67:183:56
218.67:183:56
228.67:193:56
238.67:193:57
248.67:193:57
258.67:203:58
268.67:203:59
278.67:203:59
288.77:214:00
298.77:214:01
308.77:214:01
318.77:214:02

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.45 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.45 kWh/m² to a high of 5.8 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.45 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.5Dim
61.5Dim
71.5Dim
81.5Dim
91.5Dim
101.4Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.5Dim
231.5Dim
241.5Dim
251.5Dim
261.5Dim
271.5Dim
281.5Dim
291.5Dim
301.5Dim
311.6Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Waterville

In seasonPeak

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

Waterville 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 Waterville?

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 Waterville.

What to pack for Waterville in December

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

In December, Waterville sees daytime highs around 33°F and nights near 20°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Waterville in December

The nearest coast averages about 44°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 39 mi away) is warmest in August at about 58°F and coldest in February near 35°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

30°40°50°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan39Bracing
Feb35Bracing
Mar35Bracing
Apr40Bracing
May46Bracing
Jun52Bracing
Jul57Bracing
Aug58Bracing
Sep57Bracing
Oct54Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec44Bracing

UV index in Waterville 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 Waterville peaks around July 13 at about 7 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 7 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighModerateModerateLowJul 13UV 7Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar4Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May7High
Jun6High
Jul8Very high
Aug4Moderate
Sep5High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low
Location & terrain

Where is Waterville?

Waterville sits at 44.6°N, 69.6°W, 108 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Augusta, 18 mi away.

Topography around Waterville

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waterville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 394 ft around an average of 157 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 696 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,298 ft.

The land around Waterville is covered by trees (60%) within 2 miles, trees (72%) within 10 miles, and trees (83%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
394 ft
10 miles
696 ft
50 miles
4,298 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Augusta 18 mi · Lewiston 42 mi · Auburn 43 mi · Bangor 45 mi · Brunswick 47 mi · Portland 69 mi · South Portland 70 mi · Westbrook 71 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 Waterville (44.552°, -69.6317°, elevation 108 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. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).