Estes Park, CO weather in December
In December, Estes Park sees highs around 40°F and lows around 20°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 7 days. Snowfall averages about 16.9 in. It is one of the coldest months in Estes Park. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 0.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 16.9 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 4:36 pm | 7:24 am / 4:45 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.3 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.7 in; a dry December brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 16.9 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201994: average high 47°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 33°F
- Wettest December2006: 2.6 in
- Driest December2002: 0.02 in
- Highest reading66°F (December 1, 1999)
- Lowest reading-18°F (December 31, 2014)
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 | 47°F | 40°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 20°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Boulder, CO28 mi · high 46°F · 5 wet days
- Drier: Greeley, CO43 mi · high 43°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO68 mi · high 29°F · 11 wet days
How Estes Park ranks in December
- Normal high285th warmest of 378 cities; 12th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days105th driest of 378
What to pack for Estes Park in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 40°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1079 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Estes Park in December?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -18°F (December 31, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Estes Park in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (2.6 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.02 in).
Does it snow in Estes Park in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 16.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Estes Park?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Estes Park (35 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall and snow depth: Buckhorn Mtn 1 E (USC00051060), 20 mi NE of the city center, 7,400 ft (129 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain and frost dates: Estes Park 3 Sse (USC00052761), 2.0 mi S of the city center, 7,812 ft (283 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).