Zion weather in December

In December, Zion sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 2.8 in of precipitation across 9.8 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Zion's 11th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Zion's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
29°
4th coldest
Precipitation
2.8 in
9.8 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
7:20 AM – 4:15 PM
Cloud cover
75%
11th clearest
Wind
15 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.44 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Zion is city in Lake County, Illinois, United States.

Density
949/km²
people per km²
Founded
1901

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 39°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Zion reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 29°F overnight — a 7°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°F and 45°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 6°F warmer than January.

10°20°30°40°50°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14033
24033
33933
43932
53932
63831
73831
83831
93730
103730
113730
123729
133629
143629
153629
163629
173528
183528
193528
203528
213528
223527
233427
243427
253427
263426
273426
283326
293326
303326
313325

How December really feels in Zion

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
5 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Zion 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
Jan30° / 22°2.79.679.20.0
Feb30° / 21°2.27.55.410.30.0
Mar36° / 28°2.79.63.611.60.0
Apr44° / 38°4.511.81.513.10.8
May55° / 49°3.811.2014.43.5
Jun69° / 62°3.210.10156.3
Jul77° / 70°2.89.9014.87.0
Aug76° / 70°3.710.6013.77.0
Sep70° / 64°3.19.7012.36.7
Oct58° / 51°3.810.80.110.84.3
Nov46° / 39°3.29.71.39.61.1
Dec36° / 29°2.89.84.98.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 74%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12872
22872
32872
42872
52872
62872
72872
82773
92773
102872
112872
122872
132872
142872
152773
162773
172872
182773
192773
202674
212674
222674
232575
242674
252575
262575
272476
282476
292476
302377
312377

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Zion gets around 2.8 in of rain and snow over 9.8 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 36% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13613
23614
33614
43515
53515
63515
73415
83416
93315
103315
113215
123215
133115
143115
153115
163114
173114
183014
193014
203014
213015
223015
233015
243016
253016
263117
273117
283118
293118
303219
313219

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 15 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 15 mph on the calmest days to 16 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
116breezy
216breezy
316breezy
416breezy
516breezy
616breezy
716breezy
815breezy
915breezy
1015breezy
1115breezy
1215breezy
1315breezy
1415breezy
1515breezy
1615breezy
1715breezy
1815breezy
1915breezy
2015breezy
2116breezy
2216breezy
2316breezy
2416breezy
2516breezy
2616breezy
2716breezy
2816breezy
2916breezy
3016breezy
3116breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 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 7:07 AM to 7:27 AM, and sunset from 4:15 PM to 4:22 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:074:15
29.17:094:14
39.17:104:14
49.17:104:14
59.07:114:14
69.07:124:14
79.07:134:14
89.07:144:14
99.07:154:14
109.07:164:14
119.07:174:14
128.97:174:14
138.97:184:14
148.97:194:14
158.97:204:14
168.97:204:15
178.97:214:15
188.97:224:15
198.97:224:16
208.97:234:16
218.97:234:16
228.97:244:17
238.97:244:17
248.97:254:18
258.97:254:18
268.97:254:19
278.97:264:20
288.97:264:20
298.97:264:21
308.97:264:22
318.97:274:22

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.44 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.44 kWh/m² to a high of 6.49 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.44 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.6Dim
21.6Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.5Dim
61.5Dim
71.5Dim
81.5Dim
91.5Dim
101.5Dim
111.4Dim
121.4Dim
131.4Dim
141.4Dim
151.4Dim
161.4Dim
171.4Dim
181.4Dim
191.4Dim
201.4Dim
211.4Dim
221.4Dim
231.4Dim
241.4Dim
251.4Dim
261.4Dim
271.4Dim
281.4Dim
291.4Dim
301.4Dim
311.4Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Zion?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Zion.

What to pack for Zion in December

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

In December, Zion sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Zion in December

The nearest coast averages about 42°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 71°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 18 to Sep 8 — about 1.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr38Bracing
May43Bracing
Jun55Bracing
Jul68Refreshing
Aug71Refreshing
Sep67Cool
Oct57Bracing
Nov47Bracing
Dec42Bracing

UV index in Zion 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 Zion peaks around June 22 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 22UV 9Jan 1UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Zion 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 Zion is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1017 µg/m³Oct 249 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr15Moderate
May16Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Zion?

Zion sits at 42.4°N, 87.8°W, 650 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Waukegan, 5.6 mi away.

Topography around Zion

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Zion has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 233 ft around an average of 650 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 295 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 804 ft.

The land around Zion is covered by trees (47%), grassland (24%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 2 miles, water (44%) and trees (20%) within 10 miles, and water (47%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
233 ft
10 miles
295 ft
50 miles
804 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Waukegan 5.6 mi · Gurnee 6.2 mi · North Chicago 8.1 mi · Pleasant Prairie 8.7 mi · Kenosha 9.3 mi · Grayslake 13 mi · Libertyville 13 mi · Lake Forest 13 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 Zion (42.4461°, -87.8328°, elevation 650 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. 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).