Peoria, IL weather in December
December in Peoria: cold, with some rain and some snow. Highs 39°F, lows 23°F, about 10 wet days and about 6.2 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Peoria.
- Normal high
- 39°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.2 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:03 am / 4:31 pm | 7:22 am / 4:40 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 (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am27°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm36°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport (5 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 47% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 50%.
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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.2 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.2 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 48°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 24°F
- Wettest December2015: 6.3 in
- Driest December1995: 0.3 in
- Highest reading70°F (December 3, 2012)
- Lowest reading-12°F (December 25, 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 | 51°F | 39°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 23°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: St. Louis, MO146 mi · high 45°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Madison, WI165 mi · high 32°F · 10 wet days
How Peoria ranks in December
- Normal high296th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days202nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days236th most of 340
What to pack for Peoria in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 39°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.2 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1059 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 Peoria in December?
The normal high is 39°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -12°F (December 25, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Peoria in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (6.3 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Peoria in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 6.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is December a good time to visit Peoria?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Peoria (30 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport (USW00014842), 5.3 mi WSW of the city center, 650 ft (148 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Peoria Regional Airport (725320-14842), 5.3 mi WSW of the city center, 655 ft (153 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.