Fayetteville, AR weather in December
In December, Fayetteville sees highs around 50°F and lows around 28°F: chilly, with some rain. Expect about 8 wet days. Snowfall averages about 1.1 in. It is one of the coldest months in Fayetteville.
- Normal high
- 50°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 3.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.1 in
- normal snowfall
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:08 am / 5:02 pm | 7:27 am / 5:12 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am34°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm47°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Fayetteville Drake Fld (4 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 59% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.1 in; a dry December brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.1 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 57°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 36°F
- Wettest December2015: 10.9 in
- Driest December2005: 0.4 in
- Highest reading76°F (December 8, 1991)
- Lowest reading2°F (December 9, 2005)
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 | 59°F | 50°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 28°F | 25°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: McKinney, TX242 mi · high 57°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO197 mi · high 42°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Lee's Summit, MO197 mi · high 42°F · 5 wet days
How Fayetteville ranks in December
- Normal high192nd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in Arkansas
- Wet days143rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days155th most of 340
What to pack for Fayetteville in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 50°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 812 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Fayetteville in December?
The normal high is 50°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 2°F (December 9, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Fayetteville in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (11.0 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Fayetteville in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.1 in.
Is December a good time to visit Fayetteville?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Fayetteville (43 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Fayetteville Drake Fld (USW00093993), 3.7 mi S of the city center, 1,251 ft (156 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Odell 2 N (USC00035354), 24 mi SW of the city center, 1,500 ft (93 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Drake Field Airport (723445-93993), 3.7 mi S of the city center, 1,237 ft (170 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.