El Cajon, CA weather in December
El Cajon is mild in December, with some rain: highs average 69°F and nights drop to about 42°F. Expect about 6 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in El Cajon. A good month for most outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 42°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 2.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 71°F | 68°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 42°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 22% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:32 am / 4:41 pm | 6:50 am / 4:51 pm |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 10.0 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 am51°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 am57°Fdew point 41°F
- Noon64°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm64°Fdew point 45°F
- 6 pm60°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm57°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from San Diego Lindbergh Fld (14 mi away); average wind 5 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F19 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 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry December brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 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 77°F
- Coolest December1992: average high 64°F
- Wettest December2010: 8.5 in
- Driest December2000: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading91°F (December 13, 2010)
- Lowest reading29°F (December 9, 1994)
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 | 75°F | 69°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 42°F | 43°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 10.0 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -6°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Palm Springs, CA75 mi · high 69°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Oceanside, CA37 mi · high 63°F · 5 wet days
How El Cajon ranks in December
- Normal high34th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 60 in California
- Wet days90th driest of 378
- Comfortable days8th most of 340
What to pack for El Cajon in December
- Layers – afternoons near 69°F but nights near 42°F
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 21; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Dec 1. All frost dates for El Cajon.
Heating and cooling
December has 307 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is El Cajon in December?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 42°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 29°F (most recently on December 9, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in El Cajon in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (8.5 in); the driest was in 2000, with no measurable precipitation.
Is December a good time to visit El Cajon?
December ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for El Cajon (69 out of 100). It has about 19 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: El Cajon (USC00042706), 2.0 mi ENE of the city center, 495 ft (60 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Lakeside 2 E (USC00044710), 5.7 mi NE of the city center, 690 ft (255 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: San Diego Lindbergh Fld (USW00023188), 14 mi WSW of the city center, 15 ft (420 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: San Diego International Airport (722900-23188), 14 mi WSW of the city center, 15 ft (420 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).