Lincoln, NE weather in December
In December, Lincoln sees highs around 39°F and lows around 18°F: cold and mostly dry, with some snow. Expect about 6 wet days. Snowfall averages about 5.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Lincoln.
- Normal high
- 39°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.3 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 18% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:31 am / 4:59 pm | 7:50 am / 5:08 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am25°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon33°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm37°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm27°Fdew point 20°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lincoln Muni Airport (6 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 63% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 34%.
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 snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.3 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202006: average high 45°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 25°F
- Wettest December2015: 4.4 in
- Driest December2002: 0.01 in
- Highest reading70°F (December 1, 1998)
- Lowest reading-17°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 | 52°F | 39°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 18°F | 14°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -13°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Wichita, KS218 mi · high 46°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Sioux Falls, SD190 mi · high 32°F · 7 wet days
How Lincoln ranks in December
- Normal high289th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 2 in Nebraska
- Wet days77th driest of 378
- Comfortable days244th most of 340
What to pack for Lincoln in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 39°F
- Waterproof boots – about 5.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1122 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 Lincoln in December?
The normal high is 39°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -17°F (December 27, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Lincoln in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.01 in).
Does it snow in Lincoln in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 5.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is December a good time to visit Lincoln?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lincoln (33 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lincoln Muni Airport (USW00014939), 5.5 mi NW of the city center, 1,190 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Lincoln Municipal Airport (725510-14939), 6.1 mi WNW of the city center, 1,170 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.