Skagway, AK weather in December
Expect cold, snowy weather in Skagway in December, with highs near 34°F and lows near 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Snowfall averages about 10.5 in. It is one of the coldest months in Skagway. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 34°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.5 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 36°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 43% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:32 am / 3:08 pm | 8:59 am / 3:09 pm |
| Daylight | 6.6 h | 6.2 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry December brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.5 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201997: average high 41°F
- Coolest December2012: average high 23°F
- Wettest December2020: 10.1 in
- Driest December2010: 0.3 in
- Highest reading54°F (December 23, 1999)
- Lowest reading-4°F (December 31, 1996)
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 | 38°F | 34°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 26°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 7.7 h | 6.2 h | 7.0 h |
Highs change by -4°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Sitka, AK166 mi · high 42°F · 22 wet days
How Skagway ranks in December
- Normal high346th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days332nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days296th most of 340
What to pack for Skagway in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 34°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1093 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 Skagway in December?
The normal high is 34°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -4°F (December 31, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Skagway in December?
About 14 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (10.1 in); the driest was in 2010 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Skagway in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 10.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Skagway?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Skagway (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June and July.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Skagway Airport (USW00025335), 0.4 mi WSW of the city center, 20 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Skagway (USC00508525), 0.2 mi S of the city center, 35 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Skagway Airport (703620-25335), 0.6 mi WSW of the city center, 24 ft . 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).