Niagara Falls, NY weather in December
Expect cold, snowy weather in Niagara Falls in December, with highs near 37°F and lows near 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 16 days. Snowfall averages about 15.7 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 2.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 15.7 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 50% | 56% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:28 am / 4:42 pm | 7:47 am / 4:50 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 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 am30°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm34°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Niagara Falls Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 12 mph.
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 snow16 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 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 2.8 in; a dry December brings about 2.1 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 15.7 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 49°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 28°F
- Wettest December2008: 4.6 in
- Driest December1998: 1.3 in
- Highest reading71°F (December 14, 2015)
- Lowest reading-9°F (December 27, 1993)
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 | 37°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 26°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 16 | 18 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.1 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Morgantown, WV244 mi · high 44°F · 14 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI204 mi · high 37°F · 11 wet days
How Niagara Falls ranks in December
- Normal high312th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 10 in New York
- Wet days356th driest of 378
- Comfortable days263rd most of 340
What to pack for Niagara Falls in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 37°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1042 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 Niagara Falls in December?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -9°F (December 27, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Niagara Falls in December?
About 16 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (4.6 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Niagara Falls in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 15.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is December a good time to visit Niagara Falls?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Niagara Falls (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Buffalo (USW00014733), 19 mi ESE of the city center, 693 ft (78 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Niagara Falls (USC00305840), 4.3 mi E of the city center, 588 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Niagara Falls Intl Airport (USW00004724), 5.7 mi E of the city center, 585 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Niagara Falls Intl Airport (725287-04724), 6.1 mi E of the city center, 585 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).