Modesto, CA weather in December
December in Modesto: cool, with some rain. Highs 56°F, lows 39°F, about 9 days with rain. It is one of the coolest months in Modesto.
- Normal high
- 56°F
- Normal low
- 39°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.2 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 | 40°F | 38°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 26% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:00 am / 4:45 pm | 7:18 am / 4:55 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).
A typical December day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 40°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 42°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 42°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Stockton Metro Airport (21 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 57% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 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 snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 2.2 in; a dry December brings about 1.2 in and a wet one about 3.3 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 December1994: average high 51°F
- Wettest December2014: 5.7 in
- Driest December1999: 0.02 in
- Highest reading75°F (December 5, 1995)
- 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 | 66°F | 56°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 39°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 2 | 3 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Salinas, CA76 mi · high 62°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Bakersfield, CA191 mi · high 59°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Yosemite Valley, CA78 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
How Modesto ranks in December
- Normal high154th warmest of 378 cities; 52nd of 60 in California
- Wet days165th driest of 378
- Comfortable days180th most of 340
What to pack for Modesto in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 39°F, highs near 56°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 9 days
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 5; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 20. All frost dates for Modesto.
Heating and cooling
December has 546 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 Modesto in December?
The normal high is 56°F and the normal low is 39°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 21°F (December 23, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Modesto in December?
About 9 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (5.7 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.02 in).
Does it snow in Modesto in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Modesto?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Modesto (44 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Modesto City Co Airport (USW00023258), 2.7 mi ESE of the city center, 73 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Turlock #2 (USC00049073), 13 mi SE of the city center, 103 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Stockton Metro Airport (USW00023237), 21 mi NW of the city center, 26 ft (62 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mdsto Cty-Co H Sham Fd Apt (724926-23258), 2.5 mi ESE of the city center, 87 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.