Rochester, NY weather in December
Rochester is cold and snowy in December: highs average 39°F and nights drop to about 25°F. Expect about 18 wet days. Snowfall averages about 22.3 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 39°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 2.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 22.3 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 56% | 62% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:22 am / 4:36 pm | 7:42 am / 4:44 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.0 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 24°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.7 in; a dry December brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 22.3 in, with about 6 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 29°F
- Wettest December2007: 4.3 in
- Driest December2005: 1.4 in
- Highest reading70°F (December 4, 2012)
- Lowest reading-4°F (December 17, 2013)
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 | 49°F | 39°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 25°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 18 | 20 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.1 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -6°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Paterson, NJ235 mi · high 45°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Saratoga Springs, NY193 mi · high 37°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY197 mi · high 29°F · 19 wet days
How Rochester ranks in December
- Normal high297th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 10 in New York
- Wet days361st driest of 378
- Comfortable days248th most of 340
What to pack for Rochester in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 39°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1025 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 Rochester in December?
The normal high is 39°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -4°F (December 17, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in December?
About 18 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (4.3 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 22.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Rochester?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (27 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (USW00014768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 533 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rochester International Airport (725290-14768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 540 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).