Reno, NV weather in December
December in Reno: chilly, with some rain and some snow. Highs 47°F, lows 26°F, rain or snow on about 7 days and about 7.4 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Reno.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.4 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 22% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:00 am / 4:35 pm | 7:19 am / 4:44 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am28°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 23°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 31% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 54%.
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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.1 in; a dry December brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.4 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 50°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 37°F
- Wettest December2005: 3.9 in
- Driest December2011: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading68°F (December 3, 2007)
- Lowest reading-6°F (December 9, 2009)
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 | 57°F | 47°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 26°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Chico, CA109 mi · high 57°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV21 mi · high 40°F · 11 wet days
How Reno ranks in December
- Normal high211th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Nevada
- Wet days98th driest of 378
- Comfortable days259th most of 340
What to pack for Reno in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 47°F
- Waterproof boots – about 7.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 892 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 Reno in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -6°F (December 9, 2009).
Does it rain a lot in Reno in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (3.9 in); the driest was in 2011, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Reno in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 7.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Reno?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Reno (39 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (USW00023185), 3.9 mi SE of the city center, 4,410 ft (95 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Reno WFO (USC00266791), 2.8 mi NNE of the city center, 4,987 ft (482 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Sparks (USC00267697), 4.7 mi ENE of the city center, 4,357 ft (148 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Reno/Tahoe International Airport (724880-23185), 2.9 mi ESE of the city center, 4,405 ft (100 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.