Santa Fe, NM weather in December
December in Santa Fe: chilly and mostly dry, with some snow. Highs 43°F, lows 18°F, about 4 wet days and about 6.8 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Santa Fe.
- Normal high
- 43°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.8 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 17°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 13% | 13% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:55 am / 4:50 pm | 7:13 am / 5:00 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 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).
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 below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.8 in; a dry December brings about 0.3 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 6.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 50°F
- Coolest December1992: average high 36°F
- Wettest December2008: 2.3 in
- Driest December1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading64°F (December 1, 1995)
- Lowest reading-10°F (December 29, 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 | 53°F | 43°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 18°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Amarillo, TX233 mi · high 52°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Telluride, CO187 mi · high 36°F · 9 wet days
How Santa Fe ranks in December
- Normal high263rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days33rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days314th most of 340
What to pack for Santa Fe in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 43°F
- Layers – afternoons near 43°F but nights near 18°F
- Waterproof boots – about 6.8 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1082 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 17% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Santa Fe in December?
The normal high is 43°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (most recently on December 29, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Santa Fe in December?
About 4 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (2.3 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Santa Fe in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 6.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is December a good time to visit Santa Fe?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Santa Fe (37 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Santa Fe 2 (USC00298085), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center, 6,756 ft (241 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Santa Fe Municipal Airport (723656-23049), 10 mi WSW of the city center, 6,287 ft (710 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).