Monterey, CA weather in December
Monterey is cool in December, with frequent rain: highs average 59°F and nights drop to about 44°F. Rain falls on about 11 days. It is one of the coolest months in Monterey.
- Normal high
- 59°F
- Normal low
- 44°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 60°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 45°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:01 am / 4:51 pm | 7:19 am / 5:01 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).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 below0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.6 in; a dry December brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 5.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 63°F
- Coolest December2007: average high 55°F
- Wettest December2014: 9.7 in
- Driest December1999: 0.2 in
- Highest reading80°F (December 8, 2020)
- Lowest reading28°F (December 9, 2013)
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 | 64°F | 59°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 44°F | 45°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 4 | 7 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.7 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -5°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Santa Maria, CA140 mi · high 64°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Fresno, CA118 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Yosemite Valley, CA150 mi · high 46°F · 9 wet days
How Monterey ranks in December
- Normal high122nd warmest of 378 cities; 35th of 60 in California
- Wet days261st driest of 378
- Comfortable days134th most of 340
What to pack for Monterey in December
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
December has 420 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Monterey in December?
The normal high is 59°F and the normal low is 44°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 28°F (most recently on December 9, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Monterey in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (9.7 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Monterey in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.1 in.
Is December a good time to visit Monterey?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Monterey (47 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Monterey (USC00045795), 0.9 mi SW of the city center, 260 ft (241 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: N Y. Mineta Sn Jo Intl Apt (724945-23293), 53 mi N of the city center, 49 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).