Weather in December in Illinois
Thinking about venturing to Illinois this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:
What is the weather like in Illinois in December?
Illinois is a region in the United States of America. December in Illinois generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. December falls during the winter season.
Temperatures
During the day the temperature is very cold in Galena at 1°C and cold in Metropolis at 9°C. As night falls, temperatures generally drop to -1°C in Metropolis and -8°C in Galena. In many areas in the United States of America, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.
Precipitation
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Quincy with an average of 59 mm to high snow/rainfall in Metropolis with 143 mm.Average sunshine
Most areas experience a moderate amount of sunshine, with approximately 107 hours of sunlight expected in Chicago. This makes it neither too gloomy nor overly bright.For specific regional insights in Illinois for December, refer to the map provided below. For an in-depth overview of the yearly weather conditions, do visit our Illinois climate page.
Where to go in Illinois in December
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in Illinois?
Chicago
In December Chicago generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Schaumburg
In December Schaumburg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Rosemont
In December Rosemont generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Joliet
In December Joliet generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Naperville
In December Naperville generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Illinois, in the United States of America.
Is December the best time to visit Illinois?
Given the typically poor weather conditions in Chicago, December may not be the ideal time to visit Illinois.
On average, the best time to visit Illinois is in September with generally perfect weather in Chicago. The weather in January, February, March, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Illinois.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.