Highlands Ranch, CO weather in December
In December, Highlands Ranch sees highs around 42°F and lows around 14°F: chilly and snowy. Expect about 4 wet days. Snowfall averages about 11.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Highlands Ranch. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 14°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.7 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 | 45°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 13°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:01 am / 4:36 pm | 7:20 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 (7 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 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 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 0.7 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 0.9 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, 1991-20202003: average high 48°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 35°F
- Wettest December2006: 3.0 in
- Driest December1991: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading69°F (December 2, 1994)
- Lowest reading-30°F (December 24, 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 | 51°F | 42°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 14°F | 14°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Pueblo, CO92 mi · high 48°F · 3 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO57 mi · high 29°F · 11 wet days
How Highlands Ranch ranks in December
- Normal high268th warmest of 378 cities; 11th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days36th driest of 378
- Comfortable days220th most of 340
What to pack for Highlands Ranch in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 14°F, highs near 42°F
- Layers – afternoons near 42°F but nights near 14°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1151 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 Highlands Ranch in December?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 14°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -30°F (December 24, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Highlands Ranch in December?
About 4 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 (3.0 in); the driest was in 1991, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Highlands Ranch (37 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Strontia Springs Dam (USC00058022), 12 mi SW of the city center, 5,840 ft (145 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Kassler (USC00054452), 8.0 mi WSW of the city center, 5,587 ft (108 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Denver Centennial Airport (USW00093067), 6.5 mi E of the city center, 5,883 ft (188 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (USW00023036), 16 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Buckley Air Force Base (724695-23036), 16 mi NE of the city center, 5,663 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.