Chico, CA weather in December
In December, Chico sees highs around 57°F and lows around 37°F: cool, with frequent rain. Expect about 11 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Chico.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 59°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:09 am / 4:43 pm | 7:28 am / 4:52 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 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 am41°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 37°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 37°F
- 6 pm49°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Red Bluff Muni Airport (37 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 59% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 38%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 3.8 in; a dry December brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 5.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 63°F
- Coolest December1994: average high 50°F
- Wettest December2014: 10.5 in
- Driest December2017: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading76°F (December 16, 1998)
- Lowest reading18°F (December 21, 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 | 65°F | 57°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 37°F | 38°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 4 | 5 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Salinas, CA211 mi · high 62°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Reno, NV109 mi · high 47°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV105 mi · high 40°F · 11 wet days
How Chico ranks in December
- Normal high151st warmest of 378 cities; 49th of 60 in California
- Wet days245th driest of 378
- Comfortable days142nd most of 340
What to pack for Chico in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
December has 561 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Chico in December?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 18°F (December 21, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Chico in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (10.5 in); the driest was in 2017, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Chico in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Chico?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chico (45 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Orland (USC00046506), 19 mi W of the city center, 254 ft (56 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Chico Univ Farm (USC00041715), 2.7 mi SSE of the city center, 185 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Red Bluff Muni Airport (USW00024216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 353 ft (155 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Red Bluff Municipal Arpt (725910-24216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 355 ft (157 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.