Grand Rapids, MI weather in December
Expect cold, snowy weather in Grand Rapids in December, with highs near 36°F and lows near 25°F. Rain or snow falls on about 16 days. Snowfall averages about 20.8 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 2.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 20.8 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 48% | 53% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:54 am / 5:09 pm | 8:13 am / 5:17 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 am28°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Rapids (8 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 17% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 76%.
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 snow16 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 more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.5 in; a dry December brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 20.8 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 45°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 26°F
- Wettest December2008: 6.3 in
- Driest December1997: 1.0 in
- Highest reading69°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-12°F (December 27, 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 | 47°F | 36°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 25°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 16 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.1 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Columbus, OH249 mi · high 42°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Milwaukee, WI113 mi · high 36°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI159 mi · high 31°F · 11 wet days
How Grand Rapids ranks in December
- Normal high326th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days351st driest of 378
- Comfortable days278th most of 340
What to pack for Grand Rapids in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1073 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Grand Rapids in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -12°F (December 27, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Grand Rapids in December?
About 16 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (6.3 in); the driest was in 1997 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Grand Rapids in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 20.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Grand Rapids?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Grand Rapids (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Grand Rapids (USW00094860), 7.9 mi SE of the city center, 778 ft (138 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 57 mi ESE of the city center, 841 ft (201 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Gerald R Ford International Airport (726350-94860), 9.2 mi SE of the city center, 788 ft (148 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.