Centennial, CO weather in December
Expect chilly, snowy weather in Centennial in December, with highs near 44°F and lows near 19°F. Rain or snow falls on about 4 days. Snowfall averages about 11.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Centennial. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.6 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 47°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 18°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:01 am / 4:36 pm | 7:19 am / 4:45 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).
A typical December day
- 6 am25°Fdew point 12°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 14°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 14°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 14°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 pm28°Fdew point 14°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Denver Centennial Airport (2 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 37% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 46%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 in1 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more11 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.3 in; a dry December brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 0.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 11.6 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 50°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 37°F
- Wettest December2006: 2.1 in
- Driest December2002: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading71°F (December 1, 1998)
- Lowest reading-14°F (December 23, 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 | 52°F | 44°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 19°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO62 mi · high 29°F · 11 wet days
How Centennial ranks in December
- Normal high247th warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days32nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days199th most of 340
What to pack for Centennial in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 44°F
- Layers – afternoons near 44°F but nights near 19°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1041 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 Centennial in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -14°F (December 23, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Centennial in December?
About 4 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.4 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (2.1 in); the driest was in 2002, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Centennial in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 11.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is December a good time to visit Centennial?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Centennial (39 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Denver Centennial Airport (USW00093067), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 5,883 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Kassler (USC00054452), 13 mi WSW of the city center, 5,587 ft (254 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (USW00023036), 12 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft (178 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Buckley Air Force Base (724695-23036), 12 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft (178 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.