Steamboat Springs, CO weather in December
In December, Steamboat Springs sees highs around 30°F and lows around 6°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Snowfall averages about 35.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Steamboat Springs. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 30°F
- Normal low
- 6°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 35.8 in
- snow on the ground 30 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 35°F | 28°F |
| Normal low | 10°F | 4°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 45% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:11 am / 4:41 pm | 7:30 am / 4:50 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).
A typical December day
- 6 am12°Fdew point 7°F
- 9 am15°Fdew point 10°F
- Noon25°Fdew point 15°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 16°F
- 6 pm21°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 pm16°Fdew point 10°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Craig Moffat Co Airport (36 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
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 snow14 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 more30 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 1.6 in and a wet one about 2.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 35.8 in, with about 11 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 38°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 25°F
- Wettest December1996: 4.4 in
- Driest December2011: 0.3 in
- Highest reading58°F (December 4, 2017)
- Lowest reading-34°F (December 8, 2005)
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 | 43°F | 30°F | 29°F |
| Normal low | 16°F | 6°F | 5°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 14 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -13°F from November and -1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Estes Park, CO69 mi · high 40°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Estes Park, CO69 mi · high 40°F · 7 wet days
How Steamboat Springs ranks in December
- Normal high361st warmest of 378 cities; 15th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days331st driest of 378
- Comfortable days299th most of 340
What to pack for Steamboat Springs in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 6°F, highs near 30°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 30 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1446 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 Steamboat Springs in December?
The normal high is 30°F and the normal low is 6°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -34°F (December 8, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Steamboat Springs in December?
About 14 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 1996 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2011 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Steamboat Springs in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 35.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 30 days.
Is December a good time to visit Steamboat Springs?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Steamboat Springs (23 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Steamboat Springs (USC00057936), 0.5 mi ENE of the city center, 6,866 ft (135 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Craig Moffat Co Airport (USW00024046), 36 mi W of the city center, 6,186 ft (545 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eagle Co Regional Airport (724675-23063), 58 mi S of the city center, 6,497 ft (234 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).