Lexington, KY weather in December
In December, Lexington sees highs around 46°F and lows around 30°F: chilly, with frequent rain. There are about 13 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 1.9 in. It is one of the coldest months in Lexington.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 4.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.9 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:35 am / 5:18 pm | 7:53 am / 5:27 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.6 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 am34°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm43°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm37°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lexington Bluegrass Airport (8 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 54%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 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 snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below19 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 4.2 in; a dry December brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 5.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.9 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 57°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 33°F
- Wettest December1991: 7.2 in
- Driest December1992: 1.8 in
- Highest reading74°F (December 26, 2016)
- Lowest reading1°F (December 22, 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 | 56°F | 46°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 30°F | 25°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Knoxville, TN147 mi · high 51°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Dayton, OH119 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
How Lexington ranks in December
- Normal high224th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Kentucky
- Wet days318th driest of 378
- Comfortable days188th most of 340
What to pack for Lexington in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- A hat and gloves – about 19 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 845 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 Lexington in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 1°F (December 22, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Lexington in December?
About 13 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (7.2 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.8 in).
Does it snow in Lexington in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is December a good time to visit Lexington?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lexington (35 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lexington Bluegrass Airport (USW00093820), 8.0 mi W of the city center, 980 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Blue Grass Airport (724220-93820), 8.4 mi W of the city center, 962 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.