Hilton Head Island, SC weather in December
Expect cool weather with some rain in Hilton Head Island in December, with highs near 63°F and lows near 43°F. Rain falls on about 10 days. It is one of the coolest months in Hilton Head Island.
- Normal high
- 63°F
- Normal low
- 43°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 61°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 41°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 5:17 pm | 7:23 am / 5:28 pm |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 10.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am47°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 am50°Fdew point 43°F
- Noon58°Fdew point 44°F
- 3 pm61°Fdew point 44°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 pm51°Fdew point 44°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Beaufort MCAS (19 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 45% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 43%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 3.2 in; a dry December brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202007: average high 68°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 55°F
- Wettest December2009: 10.1 in
- Driest December2020: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading82°F (December 10, 2019)
- Lowest reading21°F (December 14, 2010)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 63°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 43°F | 40°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 10.1 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -6°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: St. Augustine, FL164 mi · high 69°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Athens, GA193 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
How Hilton Head Island ranks in December
- Normal high94th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in South Carolina
- Wet days198th driest of 378
- Comfortable days57th most of 340
What to pack for Hilton Head Island in December
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 3; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 14. All frost dates for Hilton Head Island.
Heating and cooling
December has 388 heating degree days and 10 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Hilton Head Island in December?
The normal high is 63°F and the normal low is 43°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 21°F (December 14, 2010).
Does it rain a lot in Hilton Head Island in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (10.1 in); the driest was in 2020, with no measurable precipitation.
Is December a good time to visit Hilton Head Island?
December ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Hilton Head Island (58 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Beaufort MCAS (USW00093831), 19 mi N of the city center, 37 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Beaufort MCAS (722085-93831), 19 mi N of the city center, 37 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall and snow depth (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).