Waynesboro weather in December

In December, Waynesboro sees average daytime highs of 46°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 3.3 in of precipitation across 8.1 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 49°F in the first days to 44°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Waynesboro's 4th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Waynesboro's year-round climate.

Daytime high
46°
11th warmest
Overnight low
29°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.3 in
8.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:31 AM – 4:53 PM
Cloud cover
56%
4th clearest
Wind
6 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.2
out of 10

Waynesboro is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
546/km²
people per km²
Founded
1798

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 49°F in the first days to 44°F by the end.

A typical December day in Waynesboro reaches about 46°F in the afternoon and slips back to 29°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 33°F and 59°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14932
24932
34932
44831
54831
64731
74731
84731
94630
104630
114630
124630
134629
144529
154529
164529
174529
184529
194529
204429
214428
224428
234428
244428
254428
264428
274428
284428
294428
304428
314428

How December really feels in Waynesboro

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
wind chill below the day's low

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

Waynesboro weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan42° / 26°3.18.22.99.70.4
Feb46° / 28°2.88310.51.2
Mar54° / 35°3.810.32.111.73.4
Apr65° / 44°3.510.30.2135.7
May72° / 53°4.012.60146.3
Jun80° / 61°3.611.9014.66.1
Jul84° / 65°3.912.5014.45.3
Aug82° / 64°3.210.6013.56.1
Sep76° / 57°4.49.2012.37.0
Oct65° / 45°3.27.40.1116.4
Nov54° / 35°2.97.60.49.93.7
Dec46° / 29°3.38.129.41.2

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 50%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
25149
35149
45149
55149
65050
75050
85050
95050
104951
114951
125050
135050
145050
155050
165050
175050
185050
195149
205149
215149
225149
235149
245050
255050
265149
275050
284951
294951
305050
315050

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Waynesboro gets around 3.3 in of rain and snow over 8.1 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 26% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1285
2285
3286
4286
5286
6287
7287
8287
9287
10287
11287
12287
13287
14277
15276
16276
17276
18266
19266
20266
21256
22256
23246
24246
25246
26246
27246
28246
29246
30246
31246

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 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1982
2982
3982
4982
5982
6982
7982
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in December

Winds average 6 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 7:19 AM to 7:37 AM, and sunset from 4:52 PM to 5:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:194:52
29.57:204:52
39.57:214:52
49.57:224:51
59.57:224:51
69.57:234:51
79.57:244:51
89.47:254:51
99.47:264:51
109.47:264:52
119.47:274:52
129.47:284:52
139.47:294:52
149.47:294:52
159.47:304:53
169.47:314:53
179.47:314:53
189.47:324:53
199.47:324:54
209.47:334:54
219.47:334:55
229.47:344:55
239.47:344:56
249.47:354:56
259.47:354:57
269.47:364:57
279.47:364:58
289.47:364:58
299.47:374:59
309.47:375:00
319.47:375:00

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.13 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.13 kWh/m² to a high of 6.16 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.13 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
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
262.1Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.1Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Waynesboro?

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

1.2
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 Waynesboro.

What to pack for Waynesboro in December

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

In December, Waynesboro sees daytime highs around 46°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: a heavy coat and rain gear. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro peaks around June 22 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 22UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1216 µg/m³Nov 187 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr14Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Waynesboro?

Waynesboro sits at 38.1°N, 78.9°W, 1,286 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Staunton, 11 mi away.

Topography around Waynesboro

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waynesboro has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 620 ft around an average of 1,388 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,058 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,400 ft.

The land around Waynesboro is covered by trees (62%) and grassland (20%) within 2 miles, trees (64%) and grassland (27%) within 10 miles, and trees (78%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
620 ft
10 miles
3,058 ft
50 miles
4,400 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
December weather nearby: Staunton 11 mi · Charlottesville 22 mi · Harrisonburg 26 mi · Lynchburg 47 mi · West Lynchburg 48 mi · Culpeper 56 mi · Front Royal 70 mi · Short Pump 75 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 Waynesboro (38.0685°, -78.8895°, elevation 1,286 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).