Aspen, CO weather in December
Expect cold, snowy weather in Aspen in December, with highs near 32°F and lows near 10°F. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 27.5 in. It is one of the coldest months in Aspen. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 10°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 27.5 in
- snow on the ground 31 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 35°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 9°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 4:44 pm | 7:26 am / 4:53 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more31 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 27.5 in, with about 8 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 39°F
- Coolest December2013: average high 29°F
- Wettest December2007: 5.3 in
- Driest December1991: 0.6 in
- Highest reading62°F (December 4, 2017)
- Lowest reading-23°F (December 18, 1996)
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 | 42°F | 32°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 10°F | 10°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Lakewood, CO99 mi · high 45°F · 5 wet days
- Drier: Lakewood, CO99 mi · high 45°F · 5 wet days
How Aspen ranks in December
- Normal high352nd warmest of 378 cities; 14th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days306th driest of 378
- Comfortable days298th most of 340
What to pack for Aspen in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 10°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 31 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1361 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 Aspen in December?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 10°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -23°F (December 18, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Aspen in December?
About 12 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (5.3 in); the driest was in 1991 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Aspen in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 27.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 31 days.
Is December a good time to visit Aspen?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Aspen (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Aspen 1SW (USC00050372), 1.2 mi WSW of the city center, 8,175 ft (285 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Aspen Pitkin Co Airport (USW00093073), 3.5 mi NW of the city center, 7,720 ft (170 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eagle Co Regional Airport (724675-23063), 32 mi N of the city center, 6,497 ft (1,393 ft lower than the city). 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).