Palmdale, CA weather in December
In December, Palmdale sees highs around 58°F and lows around 34°F: cool and mostly dry. There are about 4 days with rain. It is one of the coolest months in Palmdale.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 1.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 61°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 11% | 15% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:41 am / 4:41 pm | 6:59 am / 4:51 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.9 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 am33°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld (12 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 80% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 18%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 1.3 in; a dry December brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.9 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, 1991-20202000: average high 64°F
- Coolest December1992: average high 53°F
- Wettest December2004: 4.3 in
- Driest December1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading79°F (December 9, 2015)
- Lowest reading11°F (December 27, 2007)
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 | 68°F | 58°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 34°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 18 | 6 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and +2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Santa Clarita, CA28 mi · high 69°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Big Bear Lake, CA72 mi · high 46°F · 5 wet days
How Palmdale ranks in December
- Normal high129th warmest of 378 cities; 41st of 60 in California
- Wet days22nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days117th most of 340
What to pack for Palmdale in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 58°F
Heating and cooling
December has 584 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 Palmdale in December?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 11°F (December 27, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Palmdale in December?
About 4 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (4.3 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Palmdale in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Palmdale?
December ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Palmdale (53 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days. The best months are March, April and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Palmdale (USC00046624), 1.4 mi ENE of the city center, 2,612 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld (USW00003159), 12 mi NNW of the city center, 2,338 ft (320 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: General William J. Fox Airfield Airport (723816-03159), 12 mi NNW of the city center, 2,338 ft (320 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.