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Typical December weather

Portland, Maine

Maine · December

Snow returns in force; the dark arrives absurdly early.

38° days
22° nights

about 6 snowy days · 9 hours of daylight · ocean 42°

What to pack

What December feels like

Sunset comes just after four here in December, which is a genuine adjustment for anyone from further south. Snow gets serious again, and the coastal storms that bring it can swing to rain instead — the city keeps a snow-emergency parking ban ready either way.

Winter is doing its thing: 14.6 in of snow in a typical December, with fresh snow on about 6 days. Nearly every night dips below freezing.

Can you swim?

The ocean runs about 42° — frigid — locals in wetsuits only.

The numbers

Typical high38°
Typical low22°
Days with snow6
Rain and melted snow4.5 in
Snowfall14.6 in
Humiditydry air
Water temperature42°
Sunrise / sunset (mid-month)7:07 am / 4:04 pm

How December compares

See the whole year in Portland, Maine ›