Indianapolis, IN weather in December
Indianapolis is cold in December, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 26°F. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 6.4 in. This is the depth of winter in Indianapolis.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 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 | 45°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:46 am / 5:20 pm | 8:05 am / 5:29 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 (9 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 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 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.4 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 49°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 28°F
- Wettest December2015: 5.6 in
- Driest December1998: 1.0 in
- Highest reading73°F (December 6, 1998)
- Lowest reading-5°F (December 24, 2004)
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 | 52°F | 40°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 26°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Louisville, KY114 mi · high 47°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Rockford, IL231 mi · high 34°F · 10 wet days
How Indianapolis ranks in December
- Normal high282nd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days294th driest of 378
- Comfortable days225th most of 340
What to pack for Indianapolis in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 40°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 983 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Indianapolis in December?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -5°F (most recently on December 24, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Indianapolis in December?
About 12 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 2015 (5.6 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Indianapolis (31 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 8.6 mi SW of the city center, 790 ft (72 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 8.1 mi WSW of the city center, 792 ft (74 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).