Waterbury, CT weather in December
In December, Waterbury sees highs around 41°F and lows around 24°F: cold and snowy. There are about 11 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 12.0 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 41°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.0 in
- snow on the ground 15 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:59 am / 4:23 pm | 7:18 am / 4:31 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am29°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm35°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm33°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Hartford Bradley Intl Airport (32 mi away); average wind 8 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more15 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 4.8 in; a dry December brings about 3.7 in and a wet one about 5.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 51°F
- Coolest December1995: average high 35°F
- Wettest December1995: 8.9 in
- Driest December1998: 1.1 in
- Highest reading75°F (December 8, 1998)
- Lowest reading-9°F (December 29, 2017)
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 | 41°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 24°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Cape May, NJ206 mi · high 48°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Rutland, VT142 mi · high 35°F · 14 wet days
How Waterbury ranks in December
- Normal high275th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 5 in Connecticut
- Wet days262nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days235th most of 340
What to pack for Waterbury in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 41°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 15 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1001 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Waterbury in December?
The normal high is 41°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -9°F (December 29, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Waterbury in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (8.9 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Waterbury in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 12.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 15 days.
Is December a good time to visit Waterbury?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Waterbury (30 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Burlington (USC00060973), 17 mi NNE of the city center, 505 ft (234 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Bakersville (USC00060227), 20 mi N of the city center, 686 ft (415 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Meriden Markham Muni Airport (USW00054788), 12 mi ESE of the city center, 103 ft (168 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Hartford Bradley Intl Airport (USW00014740), 32 mi NE of the city center, 190 ft (81 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Bradley International Airport (725080-14740), 32 mi NE of the city center, 169 ft (102 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).