Breckenridge, CO weather in December
Expect very cold, snowy weather in Breckenridge in December, with highs near 29°F and lows near 5°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 23.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Breckenridge. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 29°F
- Normal low
- 5°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 1.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 23.8 in
- snow on the ground 30 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 29°F |
| Normal low | 7°F | 4°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 4:40 pm | 7:24 am / 4:49 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 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 (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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more30 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.5 in; a dry December brings about 0.7 in and a wet one about 2.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 23.8 in, with about 8 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201994: average high 37°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 23°F
- Wettest December2016: 3.9 in
- Driest December1991: 0.08 in
- Highest reading56°F (December 1, 2003)
- Lowest reading-23°F (December 9, 1994)
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 | 37°F | 29°F | 30°F |
| Normal low | 13°F | 5°F | 5°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Lakewood, CO53 mi · high 45°F · 5 wet days
- Drier: Lakewood, CO53 mi · high 45°F · 5 wet days
How Breckenridge ranks in December
- Normal high363rd warmest of 378 cities; 16th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days272nd driest of 378
What to pack for Breckenridge in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 5°F, highs near 29°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 30 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1485 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 Breckenridge in December?
The normal high is 29°F and the normal low is 5°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -23°F (December 9, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Breckenridge in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (3.9 in); the driest was in 1991 (0.08 in).
Does it snow in Breckenridge in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 23.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 30 days.
Is December a good time to visit Breckenridge?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Breckenridge (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is July.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Leadville Lake Co Airport (USW00093009), 23 mi SW of the city center, 9,932 ft (198 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Breckenridge (USC00050909), 0.4 mi NW of the city center, 9,598 ft (136 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Cabin Creek (USC00051186), 21 mi NE of the city center, 10,020 ft (286 ft higher 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).