Oceanside, CA weather in December
December in Oceanside: cool and mostly dry. Highs 63°F, lows 47°F, about 5 days with rain.
- Normal high
- 63°F
- Normal low
- 47°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 65°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 47°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 14% | 18% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:34 am / 4:42 pm | 6:52 am / 4:52 pm |
| Daylight | 10.1 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 am42°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon67°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm66°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm56°Fdew point 43°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 40°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Camp Pendleton MCAS (7 mi away); average wind 3 mph; clear or few clouds in 61% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 31%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry December brings about 0.5 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 68°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 61°F
- Wettest December2010: 7.2 in
- Driest December1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading86°F (December 18, 2000)
- Lowest reading34°F (December 24, 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 | 67°F | 63°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 47°F | 47°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 18 | 10 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 10.0 h | 10.2 h |
Highs change by -4°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: El Cajon, CA37 mi · high 69°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA227 mi · high 66°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Big Bear Lake, CA77 mi · high 46°F · 5 wet days
How Oceanside ranks in December
- Normal high93rd warmest of 378 cities; 29th of 60 in California
- Wet days42nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days71st most of 340
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 11; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 21. All frost dates for Oceanside.
Heating and cooling
December has 312 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Oceanside in December?
The normal high is 63°F and the normal low is 47°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 34°F (December 24, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Oceanside in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2010 (7.2 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Is December a good time to visit Oceanside?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Oceanside (58 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are June and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Oceanside Marina (USC00046377), 1.3 mi NW of the city center, 10 ft (60 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Oceanside Muni Airport (USW00053121), 2.4 mi NE of the city center, 28 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Camp Pendleton MCAS (USW00003154), 7.4 mi NNE of the city center, 75 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: March AFB (USW00023119), 49 mi N of the city center, 1,516 ft (1,446 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Marine Corps Air Station (722926-03154), 7.6 mi N of the city center, 70 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.