Lansing, MI weather in December
In December, Lansing sees highs around 36°F and lows around 23°F: cold and snowy. Expect about 14 wet days. Snowfall averages about 11.3 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 1.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.3 in
- snow on the ground 13 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 43% | 45% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:48 am / 5:05 pm | 8:08 am / 5:13 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 23°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 23°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lansing Capital City Airport (4 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more13 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.9 in; a dry December brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 2.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 11.3 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 25°F
- Wettest December2019: 3.9 in
- Driest December1993: 0.7 in
- Highest reading69°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-18°F (December 3, 2002)
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 | 32°F | 23°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 14 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.1 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Dayton, OH206 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI80 mi · high 37°F · 11 wet days
How Lansing ranks in December
- Normal high330th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days329th driest of 378
- Comfortable days279th most of 340
What to pack for Lansing in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 13 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1100 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 Lansing in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -18°F (most recently on December 3, 2002).
Does it rain a lot in Lansing in December?
About 14 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (3.9 in); the driest was in 1993 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Lansing in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 11.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 13 days.
Is December a good time to visit Lansing?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lansing (27 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 3.5 mi NNW of the city center, 841 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Capital City Airport (725390-14836), 3.8 mi NW of the city center, 857 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.