Nantucket, MA weather in December
December in Nantucket: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 45°F, lows 32°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 3.4 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.4 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:46 am / 4:12 pm | 7:06 am / 4:20 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.2 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 am32°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm40°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Plymouth Muni Airport (54 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.9 in; a dry December brings about 2.7 in and a wet one about 4.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 55°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 40°F
- Wettest December2014: 6.5 in
- Driest December1998: 1.1 in
- Highest reading66°F (December 25, 2015)
- Lowest reading6°F (December 29, 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 | 53°F | 45°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 32°F | 27°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Worcester, MA111 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
How Nantucket ranks in December
- Normal high233rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days314th driest of 378
What to pack for Nantucket in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 817 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Nantucket in December?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 6°F (December 29, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Nantucket in December?
About 12 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (6.5 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Nantucket in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is December a good time to visit Nantucket?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Nantucket (34 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Nantucket Mem Airport (USW00014756), 2.9 mi SE of the city center, 45 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Edgartown (USC00192501), 23 mi WNW of the city center, 30 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 54 mi NW of the city center, 149 ft (128 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).