Solvang, CA weather in December
In December, Solvang sees highs around 67°F and lows around 33°F: mild, with some rain. Expect about 7 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Solvang. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 67°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 3.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 69°F | 66°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 20% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:49 am / 4:49 pm | 7:07 am / 4:59 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 am44°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am55°Fdew point 42°F
- Noon63°Fdew point 44°F
- 3 pm63°Fdew point 43°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 pm49°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Santa Barbara Muni Airport (21 mi away); average wind 4 mph; clear or few clouds in 61% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 28%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F17 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph2 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry December brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 75°F
- Coolest December2001: average high 63°F
- Wettest December2004: 13.3 in
- Driest December1999: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading87°F (December 5, 2007)
- Lowest reading17°F (December 6, 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 | 75°F | 67°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 33°F | 34°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 9.9 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Palmdale, CA115 mi · high 58°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Bakersfield, CA83 mi · high 59°F · 6 wet days
How Solvang ranks in December
- Normal high53rd warmest of 378 cities; 18th of 60 in California
- Wet days125th driest of 378
- Comfortable days21st most of 340
What to pack for Solvang in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 67°F
- Layers – afternoons near 67°F but nights near 33°F
Heating and cooling
December has 462 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Solvang in December?
The normal high is 67°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 17°F (December 6, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Solvang in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (13.3 in); the driest was in 1999, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Solvang in December?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for December rounds to 0.0 in.
Is December a good time to visit Solvang?
December ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Solvang (66 out of 100). It has about 17 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Cachuma Lake (USC00041253), 8.9 mi E of the city center, 789 ft (299 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Santa Barbara Muni Airport (USW00023190), 21 mi SE of the city center, 9 ft (481 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (723925-23190), 21 mi SE of the city center, 8 ft (482 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.