Anchorage, AK weather in December
Anchorage is very cold and snowy in December: highs average 25°F and nights drop to about 14°F. There are about 11 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 18.2 in. This is the depth of winter in Anchorage. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 25°F
- Normal low
- 14°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 1.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 18.2 in
- snow on the ground 28 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 26°F | 23°F |
| Normal low | 16°F | 11°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 9:45 am / 3:51 pm | 10:14 am / 3:50 pm |
| Daylight | 6.1 h | 5.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am18°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 am18°Fdew point 13°F
- Noon19°Fdew point 14°F
- 3 pm21°Fdew point 15°F
- 6 pm19°Fdew point 14°F
- 9 pm19°Fdew point 14°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Anchorage Merrill Fld (2 mi away); average wind 3 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more28 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry December brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 18.2 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202014: average high 32°F
- Coolest December2001: average high 18°F
- Wettest December2011: 2.7 in
- Driest December1995: 0.09 in
- Highest reading51°F (December 9, 2019)
- Lowest reading-15°F (December 31, 2008)
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 | 29°F | 25°F | 23°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 14°F | 11°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 7.3 h | 5.6 h | 6.5 h |
Highs change by -4°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Seward, AK79 mi · high 33°F · 16 wet days
- Cooler: Denali Park, AK177 mi · high 14°F · 10 wet days
How Anchorage ranks in December
- Normal high373rd warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days260th driest of 378
- Comfortable days290th most of 340
What to pack for Anchorage in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 14°F, highs near 25°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 28 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1414 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Anchorage in December?
The normal high is 25°F and the normal low is 14°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -15°F (most recently on December 31, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Anchorage in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2011 (2.7 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.09 in).
Does it snow in Anchorage in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 18.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 28 days.
Is December a good time to visit Anchorage?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Anchorage (23 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is July.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Anchorage Intl Airport (USW00026451), 5.4 mi SW of the city center, 120 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Anchorage Merrill Fld (USW00026409), 1.5 mi E of the city center, 138 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Merrill Field Airport (702735-26409), 1.4 mi E of the city center, 126 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).