Denali Park, AK weather in December
Denali Park is very cold and snowy in December: highs average 14°F and nights drop to about -2°F. There are about 10 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 12.4 in. This is the depth of winter in Denali Park. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 14°F
- Normal low
- -2°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 0.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.4 in
- snow on the ground 31 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 15°F | 11°F |
| Normal low | 0°F | -6°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 10:08 am / 3:20 pm | 10:42 am / 3:15 pm |
| Daylight | 5.2 h | 4.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more31 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.8 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 12.4 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 29°F
- Coolest December2010: average high -3°F
- Wettest December1999: 3.1 in
- Driest December2000: 0.1 in
- Highest reading48°F (December 30, 2000)
- Lowest reading-36°F (December 19, 2001)
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 | 18°F | 14°F | 10°F |
| Normal low | 2°F | -2°F | -6°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | – |
| Daylight | 6.6 h | 4.6 h | 5.7 h |
Highs change by -4°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Anchorage, AK177 mi · high 25°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Fairbanks, AK84 mi · high 4°F · 9 wet days
How Denali Park ranks in December
- Normal high377th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days201st driest of 378
- Comfortable days291st most of 340
What to pack for Denali Park in December
- A warm jacket – lows near -2°F, highs near 14°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 31 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1840 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 Denali Park in December?
The normal high is 14°F and the normal low is -2°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -36°F (most recently on December 19, 2001).
Does it rain a lot in Denali Park in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (3.1 in); the driest was in 2000 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Denali Park in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 12.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 31 days.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Mckinley Park (USC00505778), 2.0 mi WSW of the city center, 2,070 ft (340 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Nenana Municipal Airport (702600-26435), 57 mi N of the city center, 361 ft (1,369 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).