Destin, FL weather in December
In December, Destin sees highs around 66°F and lows around 48°F: mild, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 11 days. It is one of the coolest months in Destin.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 48°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 46°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:25 am / 4:44 pm | 6:42 am / 4:55 pm |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 10.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am49°Fdew point 44°F
- 9 am54°Fdew point 45°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 46°F
- 3 pm62°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm56°Fdew point 48°F
- 9 pm52°Fdew point 46°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Valparaiso Eglin AFB (6 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 38% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 52%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F11 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more3 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 4.7 in; a dry December brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 5.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 72°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 58°F
- Wettest December2018: 12.1 in
- Driest December2010: 1.2 in
- Highest reading85°F (December 27, 2008)
- Lowest reading22°F (December 20, 2000)
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 | 72°F | 66°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 53°F | 48°F | 45°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 18 | 11 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 10.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by -6°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Tuscaloosa, AL205 mi · high 58°F · 11 wet days
How Destin ranks in December
- Normal high70th warmest of 378 cities; 23rd of 23 in Florida
- Wet days252nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days58th most of 340
What to pack for Destin in December
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 28; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Dec 1. All frost dates for Destin.
Heating and cooling
December has 283 heating degree days and 21 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Destin in December?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 48°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 22°F (December 20, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Destin in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2018 (12.1 in); the driest was in 2010 (1.2 in).
Is December a good time to visit Destin?
December ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Destin (57 out of 100). It has about 11 comfortable days. The best months are March, April and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Destin Ft Walton Airport (USW00053853), 1.5 mi ENE of the city center, 22 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Niceville (USC00086240), 9.6 mi N of the city center, 60 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Valparaiso Eglin AFB (USW00013858), 6.3 mi NNW of the city center, 59 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Hurlburt Field Airport (747770-03852), 11 mi W of the city center, 38 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.