SeasonMapNantucket weather in December
United States
December in Nantucket: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#11 of 12 months in Nantucket · #1270 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 39/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nantucket in December
Other months in Nantucket
Nantucket's forum rates July for warm, sunny days, with one recurring caveat worth knowing before booking a beach-heavy trip: the ocean itself stays genuinely chilly until August catches up, so swimming is more bracing than the air temperature would suggest. Regulars who want both warm water and warm air tend to point toward September instead.
Add your own note from Nantucket's card on the map.
Nantucket climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 8°C / 46°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 1°C / 33°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Sea temperature | 8°C / 47°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 85 mm / 3.3 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 7 days | |
| Humidity | 72% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | 0°C / 33°F | |
| Sunshine | 5.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | |
| Wind | 42 km/h / 26 mph | |
| Snowfall | 5.8 cm / 2.3 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 38 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nantucket in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsChristmas Stroll, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nantucket's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherNantucket's weather peaks June–August.
December coincides with Nor'easter season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nantucket in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Christmas Stroll
27 Nov – 8 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe first weekend of December, when the cobbled centre lights up, Santa arrives by boat and the whole island opens for three days before shutting again for the winter. Source ↗
- Hazard
Nor'easter season
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyWind seasonClosuresWinter storms track up the coast and put the ferries and the flights on hold a day or two at a time, and take another few feet off the south-shore bluff while they are about it. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nantucket — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nantucket?
Nantucket in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Nantucket?
- December in Nantucket: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Nantucket on SeasonMap's comfort score (39/100).
- What is the weather like in Nantucket in December?
- In December, Nantucket averages a daily high of 7.6°C and a low of 0.6°C, with about 84.7 mm of rain over roughly 7.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nantucket in December?
- Nantucket has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in December.
- Does it snow in Nantucket in December?
- Nantucket sees roughly 5.8 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Nantucket
Compare Nantucket in December
Warmer or cooler than Nantucket in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: Boston's First Night on 31 Dec – 1 Jan, and Newport's Christmas at the mansions on 20 Nov – 2 Jan.