Louisville, KY weather in December
In December, Louisville sees highs around 47°F and lows around 32°F: chilly, with frequent rain. There are about 12 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 2.2 in. It is one of the coldest months in Louisville.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.2 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:40 am / 5:22 pm | 7:58 am / 5:32 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 am36°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am36°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Louisville Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 55%.
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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 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 4.1 in; a dry December brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.2 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 58°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 34°F
- Wettest December2007: 7.5 in
- Driest December1992: 1.6 in
- Highest reading76°F (December 26, 2016)
- Lowest reading2°F (December 25, 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 | 58°F | 47°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 32°F | 28°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Nashville, TN151 mi · high 52°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Indianapolis, IN114 mi · high 40°F · 12 wet days
How Louisville ranks in December
- Normal high206th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Kentucky
- Wet days295th driest of 378
- Comfortable days178th most of 340
What to pack for Louisville in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 786 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Louisville in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 2°F (December 25, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Louisville in December?
About 12 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (7.5 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Louisville in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 2.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is December a good time to visit Louisville?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Louisville (37 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 and humidity and wind by hour: Louisville Intl Airport (USW00093821), 5.0 mi WNW of the city center, 488 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Louisville Bowman Fld (USW00013810), 4.3 mi N of the city center, 540 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Louisville Intl-Standiford Field Airport (724230-93821), 4.5 mi W of the city center, 480 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.