Tucson, AZ weather in December
In December, Tucson sees highs around 66°F and lows around 41°F: mild and mostly dry. Rain falls on about 4 days. It is one of the coolest months in Tucson. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 1.0 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 65°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 12% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 5:18 pm | 7:24 am / 5:28 pm |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 10.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Arizona time (no daylight saving)).
A typical December day
- 6 am44°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am50°Fdew point 29°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 29°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm57°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm50°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Davis Monthan AFB (5 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 68% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 25%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F18 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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below5 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 1.0 in; a dry December brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 1.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202010: average high 71°F
- Coolest December1997: average high 60°F
- Wettest December1994: 3.7 in
- Driest December1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading84°F (December 15, 2016)
- Lowest reading19°F (December 29, 2003)
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 | 75°F | 66°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 41°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 10.1 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Sedona, AZ189 mi · high 58°F · 4 wet days
How Tucson ranks in December
- Normal high71st warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 13 in Arizona
- Wet days34th driest of 378
- Comfortable days19th most of 340
What to pack for Tucson in December
- Layers – afternoons near 66°F but nights near 41°F
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 9; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 21. All frost dates for Tucson.
Heating and cooling
December has 373 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Tucson in December?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 19°F (December 29, 2003).
Does it rain a lot in Tucson in December?
About 4 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1994 (3.7 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Is December a good time to visit Tucson?
December ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tucson (68 out of 100). It has about 18 comfortable days. The best months are January, February and March.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Tucson Intl Airport (USW00023160), 6.5 mi SSW of the city center, 2,549 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Davis Monthan AFB (USW00023109), 4.6 mi SSE of the city center, 2,654 ft (173 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Tucson International Airport (722740-23160), 6.4 mi SSW of the city center, 2,551 ft (70 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.