Gainesville, FL weather in December
In December, Gainesville sees highs around 69°F and lows around 45°F: mild, with some rain. There are about 7 days with rain. It is one of the coolest months in Gainesville. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 69°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 2.9 in total
- Muggy days
- 3
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 48°F | 43°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 5:29 pm | 7:24 am / 5:40 pm |
| Daylight | 10.4 h | 10.3 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 am49°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 am54°Fdew point 48°F
- Noon64°Fdew point 50°F
- 3 pm67°Fdew point 49°F
- 6 pm60°Fdew point 51°F
- 9 pm54°Fdew point 49°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cross City Airport (47 mi away); average wind 5 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F16 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry December brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 3.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 77°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 63°F
- Wettest December1997: 9.6 in
- Driest December2003: 0.5 in
- Highest reading86°F (December 18, 2016)
- Lowest reading19°F (December 31, 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 | 75°F | 69°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 51°F | 45°F | 43°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | 10.3 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -6°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Lakeland, FL114 mi · high 77°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: St. Simons Island, GA117 mi · high 64°F · 8 wet days
How Gainesville ranks in December
- Normal high28th warmest of 378 cities; 17th of 23 in Florida
- Wet days112th driest of 378
- Comfortable days29th most of 340
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 2; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 12. All frost dates for Gainesville.
Heating and cooling
December has 268 heating degree days and 28 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Gainesville in December?
The normal high is 69°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 19°F (December 31, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Gainesville in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1997 (9.6 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.5 in).
Is December a good time to visit Gainesville?
December ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Gainesville (65 out of 100). It has about 16 comfortable days. The best months are February, March and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Gainesville Rgnl Airport (USW00012816), 4.1 mi NE of the city center, 123 ft (55 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: High Springs (USC00083956), 20 mi NW of the city center, 65 ft (113 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Cross City Airport (USW00012833), 47 mi W of the city center, 38 ft (140 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Cross City Airport (722120-12833), 47 mi W of the city center, 38 ft (140 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).