Carmel, IN weather in December
Expect cold weather with frequent rain and some snow in Carmel in December, with highs near 38°F and lows near 25°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 6.4 in. It is one of the coldest months in Carmel.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.4 in
- snow on the ground 6 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:47 am / 5:19 pm | 8:06 am / 5:28 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 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 am31°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon36°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm35°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Indianapolis (21 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more6 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry December brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.4 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 27°F
- Wettest December2008: 6.4 in
- Driest December2017: 0.3 in
- Highest reading71°F (December 6, 1998)
- Lowest reading-14°F (December 31, 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 | 50°F | 38°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 25°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Cincinnati, OH105 mi · high 45°F · 11 wet days
How Carmel ranks in December
- Normal high301st warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days216th driest of 378
- Comfortable days237th most of 340
What to pack for Carmel in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 38°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1042 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 Carmel in December?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -14°F (December 31, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Carmel in December?
About 10 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 2008 (6.4 in); the driest was in 2017 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Carmel in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 6.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.
Is December a good time to visit Carmel?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Carmel (31 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and snow depth: Whitestown (USC00129557), 13 mi W of the city center, 941 ft (88 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 21 mi SSW of the city center, 790 ft (63 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Carmel 3 E (USC00121303), 3.4 mi ESE of the city center, 752 ft (101 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 20 mi SSW of the city center, 792 ft (61 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).