Gulf Shores, AL weather in December
In December, Gulf Shores sees highs around 64°F and lows around 39°F: cool, with frequent rain. Expect about 11 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Gulf Shores.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:29 am / 4:50 pm | 6:46 am / 5:00 pm |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 10.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am50°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 am56°Fdew point 47°F
- Noon61°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm62°Fdew point 48°F
- 6 pm56°Fdew point 48°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pensacola Forest Sherman NAS (24 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 57% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F9 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 more3 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 5.2 in; a dry December brings about 3.2 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 72°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 58°F
- Wettest December2009: 13.5 in
- Driest December1994: 2.0 in
- Highest reading82°F (December 11, 2007)
- Lowest reading19°F (December 20, 2000)
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 | 71°F | 64°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 44°F | 39°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 14 | 9 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 10.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Tuscaloosa, AL205 mi · high 58°F · 11 wet days
How Gulf Shores ranks in December
- Normal high81st warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Alabama
- Wet days243rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days84th most of 340
What to pack for Gulf Shores in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 64°F
- Layers – afternoons near 64°F but nights near 39°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
December has 422 heating degree days and 10 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Gulf Shores in December?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 19°F (December 20, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Gulf Shores in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (13.5 in); the driest was in 1994 (2.1 in).
Does it snow in Gulf Shores in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Gulf Shores?
December ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Gulf Shores (55 out of 100). It has about 9 comfortable days. The best months are March, April and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Fairhope 2 Ne (USC00012813), 23 mi NNW of the city center, 23 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Dauphin Is #2 (USC00012172), 23 mi W of the city center, 8 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Pensacola Forest Sherman NAS (USW00003855), 24 mi ENE of the city center, 28 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Pensacola Rgnl Airport (USW00013899), 35 mi ENE of the city center, 112 ft (105 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pensacola NAS (722225-03855), 24 mi ENE of the city center, 28 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.