Seward, AK weather in December
Seward is cold and snowy in December: highs average 33°F and nights drop to about 23°F. Expect about 16 wet days. Snowfall averages about 27.2 in. This is the depth of winter in Seward. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 33°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 8.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 27.2 in
- snow on the ground 29 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 49% | 47% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 9:33 am / 3:59 pm | 10:01 am / 4:00 pm |
| Daylight | 6.4 h | 6.0 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 (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow16 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in11 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more29 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 8.2 in; a dry December brings about 5.7 in and a wet one about 11.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 5 days bring half an inch or more, and about 3 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 27.2 in, with about 8 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202000: average high 39°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 26°F
- Wettest December2000: 15.6 in
- Driest December2013: 0.9 in
- Highest reading52°F (December 28, 2013)
- Lowest reading-1°F (December 17, 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 | 36°F | 33°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 23°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 16 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 7.5 h | 6.0 h | 6.8 h |
Highs change by -3°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Anchorage, AK79 mi · high 25°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Anchorage, AK79 mi · high 25°F · 11 wet days
How Seward ranks in December
- Normal high350th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days353rd driest of 378
What to pack for Seward in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 33°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 29 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1141 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Seward in December?
The normal high is 33°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -1°F (most recently on December 17, 2001).
Does it rain a lot in Seward in December?
About 16 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 8.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (15.6 in); the driest was in 2013 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Seward in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 27.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 29 days.
Is December a good time to visit Seward?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Seward (20 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Seward Airport (USW00026438), 1.9 mi NNE of the city center, 22 ft (67 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Seward 19N (USC00508377), 18 mi N of the city center, 518 ft (429 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).