Ann Arbor, MI weather in December
In December, Ann Arbor sees highs around 36°F and lows around 22°F: cold and snowy. There are about 17 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 12.7 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 2.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.7 in
- snow on the ground 12 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 19°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 52% | 57% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:44 am / 5:03 pm | 8:03 am / 5:12 pm |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 9.1 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 am29°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Detroit Willow Run Airport (10 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 36% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 61%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow17 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more12 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry December brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 3.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.7 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 46°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 26°F
- Wettest December2000: 4.8 in
- Driest December1993: 1.1 in
- Highest reading67°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-17°F (December 28, 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 | 48°F | 36°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 22°F | 16°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 17 | 18 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.2 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Columbus, OH164 mi · high 42°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Dearborn, MI28 mi · high 37°F · 13 wet days
How Ann Arbor ranks in December
- Normal high324th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days358th driest of 378
- Comfortable days302nd most of 340
What to pack for Ann Arbor in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 17 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1110 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Ann Arbor in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -17°F (December 28, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Ann Arbor in December?
About 17 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (4.9 in); the driest was in 1993 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Ann Arbor in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 12.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 12 days.
Is December a good time to visit Ann Arbor?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Ann Arbor (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Ann Arbor U Of Mich (USC00200230), 3.7 mi ENE of the city center, 813 ft (68 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Detroit Willow Run Airport (USW00014853), 10 mi ESE of the city center, 777 ft (104 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Toledo Express Airport (USW00094830), 47 mi S of the city center, 669 ft (212 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Willow Run Airport (725376-14853), 11 mi ESE of the city center, 708 ft (173 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.