Albuquerque, NM weather in December
Expect chilly, mostly dry weather in Albuquerque in December, with highs near 47°F and lows near 27°F. Rain or snow falls on about 4 days. Snowfall averages about 2.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Albuquerque.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.8 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 13% | 13% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:56 am / 4:54 pm | 7:14 am / 5:04 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am30°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am33°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm41°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm37°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albuquerque Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 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 0.5 in; a dry December brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 2.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 53°F
- Coolest December1997: average high 42°F
- Wettest December2006: 1.5 in
- Driest December1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading68°F (December 13, 1995)
- Lowest reading8°F (December 30, 2018)
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 | 34°F | 27°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Las Cruces, NM192 mi · high 58°F · 3 wet days
- Cooler: Taos, NM110 mi · high 38°F · 5 wet days
How Albuquerque ranks in December
- Normal high204th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days28th driest of 378
- Comfortable days246th most of 340
What to pack for Albuquerque in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 47°F
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 870 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 Albuquerque in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 8°F (most recently on December 30, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Albuquerque in December?
About 4 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (1.5 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Albuquerque in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 2.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Albuquerque?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Albuquerque (43 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Albuquerque Intl Airport (USW00023050), 3.6 mi SE of the city center, 5,310 ft (355 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albuquerque Intl Sunport Airport (723650-23050), 3.6 mi SE of the city center, 5,310 ft (355 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.