Yosemite Valley, CA weather in December
Yosemite Valley is chilly and snowy in December: highs average 46°F and nights drop to about 28°F. Expect about 9 wet days. Snowfall averages about 10.0 in. This is the depth of winter in Yosemite Valley. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 5.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.0 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 26% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:54 am / 4:39 pm | 7:13 am / 4:49 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).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 5.6 in; a dry December brings about 2.6 in and a wet one about 10.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 53°F
- Coolest December2001: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2002: 11.8 in
- Driest December2011: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading73°F (December 16, 1998)
- Lowest reading9°F (December 20, 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 | 56°F | 46°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 28°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and +2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA174 mi · high 66°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV106 mi · high 40°F · 11 wet days
How Yosemite Valley ranks in December
- Normal high221st warmest of 378 cities; 58th of 60 in California
- Wet days159th driest of 378
What to pack for Yosemite Valley in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
- Waterproof boots – about 10.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 872 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Yosemite Valley in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 9°F (December 20, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Yosemite Valley in December?
About 9 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2002 (11.9 in); the driest was in 2011, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Yosemite Valley in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 10.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is December a good time to visit Yosemite Valley?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Yosemite Valley (36 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Yosemite Park Hq (USC00049855), 0.8 mi NW of the city center, 4,018 ft (52 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Hetch Hetchy (USC00043939), 19 mi NW of the city center, 3,870 ft (96 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).