Williamsburg weather in December

In December, Williamsburg sees average daytime highs of 51°F and overnight lows near 38°F, with 3.4 in of precipitation across 9 wet days and about 9.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 54°F in the first days to 49°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Williamsburg's 6th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Williamsburg's year-round climate.

Daytime high
51°
10th warmest
Overnight low
38°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.4 in
9 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:20 AM – 4:46 PM
Cloud cover
56%
6th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.11 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.5
out of 10

Williamsburg is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
640/km²
people per km²
Founded
1638

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 54°F in the first days to 49°F by the end.

A typical December day in Williamsburg reaches about 51°F in the afternoon and slips back to 38°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 39°F and 64°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°30°40°50°60°70°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15441
25441
35440
45340
55340
65340
75240
85239
95239
105139
115138
125138
135138
145138
155038
165038
175037
185037
195037
205037
214937
224937
234937
244937
254937
264936
274936
284936
294936
304936
314936

How December really feels in Williamsburg

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 16 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
16
wind chill below the day's low

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

Williamsburg weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan47° / 34°3.49.31.89.71.6
Feb50° / 35°3.18.41.610.62.2
Mar57° / 42°4.19.70.811.74.1
Apr67° / 52°3.29.50.112.96.2
May74° / 61°3.510.40146.7
Jun82° / 69°3.610.5014.56.1
Jul85° / 74°4.112.9014.34.8
Aug83° / 72°4.310.9013.45.6
Sep78° / 66°4.59.9012.36.8
Oct69° / 55°3.87.50116.8
Nov58° / 45°3.37.80.1104.7
Dec51° / 38°3.490.89.52.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15347
25248
35248
45149
55050
64951
75050
84951
94852
104852
114753
124753
134753
144753
154753
164753
174753
184753
194852
204951
214951
224951
234951
244951
254951
264951
275050
284951
294951
304951
314951

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Williamsburg gets around 3.4 in of rain and snow over 9 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 29% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1281
2281
3292
4292
5292
6292
7302
8302
9302
10302
11312
12312
13312
14312
15302
16302
17302
18292
19293
20293
21283
22283
23283
24283
25283
26283
27283
28283
29283
30283
31283

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 95% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19163
29253
39253
49352
59352
69352
79352
89442
99541
109541
119541
129631
139631
149631
159631
169631
179721
189721
199721
209721
219721
229721
239631
249631
259631
269631
279631
289631
299541
309541
319541

Wind in December

Winds average 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 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
187light breeze
197light breeze
207light breeze
217light breeze
227light breeze
237light breeze
247light breeze
257light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 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 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:08 AM to 7:26 AM, and sunset from 4:45 PM to 4:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:084:45
29.67:094:45
39.67:104:45
49.67:114:45
59.67:114:45
69.57:124:45
79.57:134:45
89.57:144:45
99.57:154:45
109.57:154:45
119.57:164:45
129.57:174:45
139.57:184:46
149.57:184:46
159.57:194:46
169.47:204:46
179.47:204:47
189.47:214:47
199.47:214:47
209.47:224:48
219.47:224:48
229.47:234:49
239.47:234:49
249.47:244:50
259.47:244:50
269.47:254:51
279.47:254:51
289.47:254:52
299.57:254:53
309.57:264:53
319.57:264:54

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.11 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.11 kWh/m² to a high of 6.11 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.11 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.3Moderate
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
312.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Williamsburg

In seasonPeak

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

Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg?

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

2.5
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 Williamsburg.

What to pack for Williamsburg in December

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

In December, Williamsburg sees daytime highs around 51°F and nights near 38°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Williamsburg 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 33 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 4 to Oct 13 — about 4.3 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan43Bracing
Feb41Bracing
Mar45Bracing
Apr53Bracing
May62Cool
Jun72Refreshing
Jul78Warm
Aug79Warm
Sep76Warm
Oct67Cool
Nov57Bracing
Dec49Bracing

UV index in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg peaks around July 10 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 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 10UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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 1416 µg/m³Nov 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr11Good
May13Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Williamsburg?

Williamsburg sits at 37.3°N, 76.7°W, 82 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Newport News, 25 mi away.

Topography around Williamsburg

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Williamsburg has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 187 ft around an average of 85 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 636 ft.

The land around Williamsburg is covered by trees (73%) within 2 miles, trees (55%) and water (29%) within 10 miles, and trees (57%) and water (25%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
187 ft
10 miles
210 ft
50 miles
636 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Newport News 25 mi · Hampton 26 mi · East Hampton 26 mi · Hopewell 32 mi · Portsmouth Heights 36 mi · Norfolk 37 mi · Portsmouth 38 mi · Suffolk 38 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 Williamsburg (37.2707°, -76.7075°, elevation 82 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).