Las Cruces, NM weather in December
Expect cool, mostly dry weather in Las Cruces in December, with highs near 58°F and lows near 30°F. Rain falls on about 3 days. It is one of the coolest months in Las Cruces.
- Normal high
- 58°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 3
- 0.6 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 62°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 10% | 11% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:50 am / 5:01 pm | 7:08 am / 5:12 pm |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 10.1 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 am37°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from El Paso Intl Airport (42 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 50% 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°F7 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 snow3 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.6 in; a dry December brings about 0.1 in and a wet one about 1.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 0.4 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202010: average high 64°F
- Coolest December2011: average high 50°F
- Wettest December1991: 2.9 in
- Driest December1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading76°F (December 16, 2016)
- Lowest reading10°F (December 6, 2011)
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 | 68°F | 58°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 30°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Comfortable days | 19 | 7 | 8 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 10.1 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Tucson, AZ242 mi · high 66°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Albuquerque, NM192 mi · high 47°F · 4 wet days
How Las Cruces ranks in December
- Normal high130th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days8th driest of 378
- Comfortable days109th most of 340
What to pack for Las Cruces in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 58°F
- Layers – afternoons near 58°F but nights near 30°F
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 654 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Las Cruces in December?
The normal high is 58°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 10°F (December 6, 2011).
Does it rain a lot in Las Cruces in December?
About 3 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (2.9 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Las Cruces in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.4 in.
Is December a good time to visit Las Cruces?
December ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Las Cruces (55 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best month is March.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: State Univ (USC00298535), 2.4 mi SSE of the city center, 3,886 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: El Paso Intl Airport (USW00023044), 42 mi SE of the city center, 3,918 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: El Paso International Airport (722700-23044), 42 mi SE of the city center, 3,944 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.