Bakersfield, CA weather in December
Expect cool weather with some rain in Bakersfield in December, with highs near 59°F and lows near 40°F. Rain falls on about 6 days. It is one of the coolest months in Bakersfield.
- Normal high
- 59°F
- Normal low
- 40°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.1 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:46 am / 4:43 pm | 7:04 am / 4:53 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 (Pacific Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am43°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 38°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm51°Fdew point 40°F
- 9 pm48°Fdew point 39°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Bakersfield Airport (5 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 63% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 33%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 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 snow6 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 1.1 in; a dry December brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 63°F
- Coolest December2008: average high 53°F
- Wettest December2010: 5.8 in
- Driest December2000: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading81°F (December 8, 2006)
- Lowest reading19°F (December 23, 1998)
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 | 67°F | 59°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 40°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 17 | 6 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Santa Clarita, CA73 mi · high 69°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA142 mi · high 66°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Big Bear Lake, CA143 mi · high 46°F · 5 wet days
How Bakersfield ranks in December
- Normal high120th warmest of 378 cities; 34th of 60 in California
- Wet days80th driest of 378
- Comfortable days116th most of 340
What to pack for Bakersfield in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 40°F, highs near 59°F
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 15; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 30. All frost dates for Bakersfield.
Heating and cooling
December has 490 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Bakersfield in December?
The normal high is 59°F and the normal low is 40°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 19°F (December 23, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Bakersfield in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2000, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Bakersfield in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Bakersfield?
December ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Bakersfield (52 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Bakersfield Airport (USW00023155), 4.7 mi NNW of the city center, 489 ft (85 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Meadows Field Airport (723840-23155), 4.7 mi NNW of the city center, 490 ft (86 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.