Big Bear Lake, CA weather in December
December in Big Bear Lake: chilly and snowy. Highs 46°F, lows 24°F, about 5 days with rain or snow and about 11.0 in of snow. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.0 in
- normal snowfall
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 24°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:35 am / 4:37 pm | 6:53 am / 4:47 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 (Pacific Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 11.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 54°F
- Coolest December1992: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2010: 16.3 in
- Driest December1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading70°F (December 12, 2010)
- Lowest reading2°F (December 18, 2006)
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 | 54°F | 46°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 24°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.2 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: San Bernardino, CA24 mi · high 67°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Palm Springs, CA35 mi · high 69°F · 2 wet days
How Big Bear Lake ranks in December
- Normal high218th warmest of 378 cities; 57th of 60 in California
- Wet days54th driest of 378
What to pack for Big Bear Lake in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 46°F
- Waterproof boots – about 11.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 935 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 Big Bear Lake in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 2°F (December 18, 2006).
Does it rain a lot in Big Bear Lake in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (16.3 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Big Bear Lake in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 11.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Big Bear Lake?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Bear Lake (40 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day (judged by temperature only). The best month is September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Big Bear Lake (USC00040741), 0.3 mi W of the city center, 6,753 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snow depth, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).