Manchester, NH weather in December
In December, Manchester sees highs around 38°F and lows around 21°F: cold and snowy. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 14.3 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 14.3 in
- snow on the ground 17 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:57 am / 4:12 pm | 7:17 am / 4:20 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 21°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon35°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm37°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 22°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Manchester Airport (4 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 49% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 46%.
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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more17 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.7 in; a dry December brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 4.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 14.3 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201994: average high 48°F
- Coolest December2017: average high 31°F
- Wettest December1996: 5.8 in
- Driest December1998: 0.9 in
- Highest reading78°F (December 24, 1994)
- Lowest reading-10°F (December 31, 1998)
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 | 38°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 21°F | 13°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.1 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -6°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Quincy, MA56 mi · high 43°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Stowe, VT119 mi · high 32°F · 15 wet days
How Manchester ranks in December
- Normal high308th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in New Hampshire
- Wet days303rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days261st most of 340
What to pack for Manchester in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 38°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 17 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1111 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 Manchester in December?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (December 31, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Manchester in December?
About 12 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (5.8 in); the driest was in 1998 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Manchester in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 14.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 17 days.
Is December a good time to visit Manchester?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Manchester (28 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Massabesic Lake (USC00275211), 3.1 mi E of the city center, 253 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth and cloud cover: Concord Muni Airport (USW00014745), 14 mi N of the city center, 346 ft (92 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Manchester Airport (USW00014710), 4.4 mi S of the city center, 225 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Manchester Airport (743945-14710), 4.6 mi SSE of the city center, 229 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.