Lafayette, LA weather in December
In December, Lafayette sees highs around 64°F and lows around 45°F: cool, with some rain. Expect about 10 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Lafayette.
- Normal high
- 64°F
- Normal low
- 45°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 5.0 in total
- Muggy days
- 2
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 67°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 44°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:46 am / 5:07 pm | 7:04 am / 5:17 pm |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 10.2 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 am49°Fdew point 45°F
- 9 am53°Fdew point 46°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 47°F
- 3 pm62°Fdew point 46°F
- 6 pm57°Fdew point 47°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 47°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lafayette Rgnl Airport (2 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 53% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 42%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more2 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below3 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in December
Normal precipitation is 5.0 in; a dry December brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 6.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 71°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 57°F
- Wettest December2009: 10.8 in
- Driest December2011: 1.9 in
- Highest reading84°F (December 5, 2017)
- Lowest reading21°F (December 19, 1996)
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 | 72°F | 64°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 50°F | 45°F | 44°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| Daylight | 10.6 h | 10.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Tyler, TX243 mi · high 59°F · 9 wet days
How Lafayette ranks in December
- Normal high80th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Louisiana
- Wet days209th driest of 378
- Comfortable days66th most of 340
What to pack for Lafayette in December
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Frost in December
The first fall frost typically comes around Dec 4; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Nov 13. All frost dates for Lafayette.
Heating and cooling
December has 340 heating degree days and 25 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Lafayette in December?
The normal high is 64°F and the normal low is 45°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 21°F (December 19, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Lafayette in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (10.8 in); the driest was in 2011 (1.9 in).
Is December a good time to visit Lafayette?
December ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lafayette (56 out of 100). It has about 10 comfortable days. The best months are March, April and November.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lafayette Rgnl Airport (USW00013976), 2.3 mi SE of the city center, 38 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Lafayette (USC00165021), 2.7 mi W of the city center, 25 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Lafayette Regional Airport (722405-13976), 2.5 mi SE of the city center, 35 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.