Taos, NM weather in December
December in Taos: cold and snowy. Highs 38°F, lows 9°F, about 5 days with rain or snow and about 13.9 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Taos. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 9°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 0.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.9 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 13°F | 7°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 15% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:55 am / 4:47 pm | 7:13 am / 4:56 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.7 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more11 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.9 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 13.9 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 48°F
- Coolest December1991: average high 25°F
- Wettest December2007: 4.4 in
- Driest December2005: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading63°F (December 1, 1995)
- Lowest reading-19°F (December 26, 1997)
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 | 51°F | 38°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 9°F | 8°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.7 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -13°F from November and -1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Albuquerque, NM110 mi · high 47°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Aspen, CO204 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
How Taos ranks in December
- Normal high300th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days37th driest of 378
- Comfortable days315th most of 340
What to pack for Taos in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 9°F, highs near 38°F
- Layers – afternoons near 38°F but nights near 9°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1288 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 Taos in December?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 9°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -19°F (December 26, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Taos in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2005, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Taos in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 13.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cerro (USC00291630), 23 mi N of the city center, 7,650 ft (681 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Taos (USC00298668), 1.4 mi SSW of the city center, 6,965 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Las Vegas Municipal Arpt (723677-23054), 57 mi SSE of the city center, 6,870 ft (99 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).