Joliet, IL weather in December
In December, Joliet sees highs around 36°F and lows around 22°F: cold, with frequent rain and some snow. There are about 11 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 3.2 in.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 1.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.2 in
- snow on the ground 7 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 19°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 34% |
| 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 (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am29°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 23°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Chicago Midway Airport (25 mi away); average wind 10 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 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more7 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.9 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.2 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 45°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 25°F
- Wettest December2015: 5.8 in
- Driest December1995: 0.3 in
- Highest reading70°F (December 4, 2012)
- Lowest reading-10°F (December 20, 2016)
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 | 49°F | 36°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 22°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -13°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: St. Louis, MO229 mi · high 45°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI207 mi · high 31°F · 11 wet days
How Joliet ranks in December
- Normal high322nd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days253rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days270th most of 340
What to pack for Joliet in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.2 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1104 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 Joliet in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (most recently on December 20, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Joliet in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (5.8 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Joliet in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 7 days.
Is December a good time to visit Joliet?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Joliet (29 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Joliet Brandon Rd Dam (USC00114530), 1.9 mi SW of the city center, 543 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Chicago Midway Airport (USW00014819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 612 ft (71 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Chicago Midway Intl Arpt (725340-14819), 25 mi NE of the city center, 610 ft (69 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).