Little Rock, AR weather in December
In December, Little Rock sees highs around 53°F and lows around 33°F: chilly, with some rain. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Little Rock.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 5.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.6 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 31°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 31% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:58 am / 4:58 pm | 7:16 am / 5:07 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.9 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 am39°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 35°F
- Noon49°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm52°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Little Rock Airport Adams Fld (3 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 33% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 53%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 5.1 in; a dry December brings about 3.4 in and a wet one about 6.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.6 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 62°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 40°F
- Wettest December2009: 12.3 in
- Driest December2005: 0.6 in
- Highest reading81°F (December 26, 2015)
- Lowest reading10°F (December 25, 2004)
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 | 62°F | 53°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 33°F | 31°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Shreveport, LA175 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Springfield, MO180 mi · high 47°F · 8 wet days
How Little Rock ranks in December
- Normal high178th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in Arkansas
- Wet days186th driest of 378
- Comfortable days132nd most of 340
What to pack for Little Rock in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
December has 684 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Little Rock in December?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 10°F (December 25, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Little Rock in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (12.3 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Little Rock in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Little Rock?
December ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Little Rock (45 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Little Rock Airport Adams Fld (USW00013963), 3.2 mi ESE of the city center, 258 ft (79 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Little Rock (USW00003952), 6.4 mi NNE of the city center, 568 ft (231 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Adams Field Airport (723403-13963), 3.3 mi ESE of the city center, 251 ft (86 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.