Mammoth Lakes, CA weather in December
In December, Mammoth Lakes sees highs around 41°F and lows around 17°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 11.6 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 41°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.6 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 17°F |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:52 am / 4:37 pm | 7:10 am / 4:46 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.6 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)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 4.1 in. About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 11.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 51°F
- Coolest December1997: average high 36°F
- Highest reading64°F (December 2, 2008)
- Lowest reading-12°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 | 49°F | 41°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 17°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Fresno, CA76 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA142 mi · high 66°F · 2 wet days
How Mammoth Lakes ranks in December
- Normal high274th warmest of 378 cities; 60th of 60 in California
- Wet days151st driest of 378
What to pack for Mammoth Lakes in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 41°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1108 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 Mammoth Lakes in December?
The normal high is 41°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -12°F (December 21, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Mammoth Lakes in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in.
Does it snow in Mammoth Lakes in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 11.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Mammoth Lakes?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Mammoth Lakes (33 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, August and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Mammoth Lakes RS (USC00045280), 0.6 mi E of the city center, 7,804 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Lee Vining (USC00044881), 23 mi NNW of the city center, 6,797 ft (1,076 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).