Fresno, CA weather in December
Fresno is cool in December, with some rain: highs average 55°F and nights drop to about 40°F. Rain falls on about 7 days. It is one of the coolest months in Fresno.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 40°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.8 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 59°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 40°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 20% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 4:43 pm | 7:11 am / 4:52 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.7 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 38°F
- 9 am45°Fdew point 40°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 41°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm51°Fdew point 41°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Fresno Yosemite Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 4 mph; clear or few clouds in 31% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 56%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 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 1.8 in; a dry December brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 61°F
- Coolest December2008: average high 52°F
- Wettest December2010: 5.9 in
- Driest December2011: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading77°F (December 8, 2006)
- Lowest reading21°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 | 65°F | 55°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 40°F | 41°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 3 | 4 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.7 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Salinas, CA104 mi · high 62°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA162 mi · high 66°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Yosemite Valley, CA70 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
How Fresno ranks in December
- Normal high161st warmest of 378 cities; 56th of 60 in California
- Wet days124th driest of 378
- Comfortable days157th most of 340
What to pack for Fresno in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 40°F, highs near 55°F
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 14; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 29. All frost dates for Fresno.
Heating and cooling
December has 541 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Fresno in December?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 40°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 21°F (December 23, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Fresno in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (5.9 in); the driest was in 2011, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Fresno in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Fresno?
December ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Fresno (47 out of 100). It has about 3 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: Fresno Yosemite Intl Airport (USW00093193), 3.7 mi NE of the city center, 333 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Fresno Yosemite International Airport (723890-93193), 3.7 mi NE of the city center, 334 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.