New Bedford, MA weather in December
December in New Bedford: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 44°F, lows 26°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 6.3 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.3 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:51 am / 4:14 pm | 7:10 am / 4:22 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 (22 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 28% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 58%.
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 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 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 3.0 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 6.3 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 54°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 37°F
- Wettest December2019: 6.4 in
- Driest December1998: 1.1 in
- Highest reading70°F (December 7, 1998)
- Lowest reading3°F (December 31, 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 | 54°F | 44°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 26°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Worcester, MA62 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
How New Bedford ranks in December
- Normal high246th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days315th driest of 378
What to pack for New Bedford in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 44°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 928 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 New Bedford in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 3°F (most recently on December 31, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in New Bedford 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 2019 (6.4 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in New Bedford in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 6.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit New Bedford?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Bedford (33 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: New Bedford Muni Airport (USW00094726), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: E Wareham (USC00192451), 16 mi ENE of the city center, 30 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 22 mi NNE of the city center, 149 ft (50 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 50 mi N of the city center, 12 ft (87 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).