Saratoga Springs, NY weather in December
Saratoga Springs is cold and snowy in December: highs average 37°F and nights drop to about 22°F. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 15.1 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 15.1 in
- snow on the ground 17 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 17°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 4:21 pm | 7:26 am / 4:29 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 am28°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 22°F
- Noon33°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 22°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albany Airport (24 mi away); average wind 8 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more17 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.9 in; a dry December brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 4.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 15.1 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 48°F
- Coolest December1995: average high 30°F
- Wettest December1996: 5.9 in
- Driest December1998: 1.8 in
- Highest reading69°F (December 24, 2015)
- Lowest reading-10°F (December 28, 2017)
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 | 37°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 22°F | 14°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.1 h | 9.4 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Bridgeport, CT136 mi · high 44°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY83 mi · high 29°F · 19 wet days
How Saratoga Springs ranks in December
- Normal high317th warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 10 in New York
- Wet days310th driest of 378
- Comfortable days282nd most of 340
What to pack for Saratoga Springs in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 37°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 17 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1107 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 Saratoga Springs in December?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (most recently on December 28, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Saratoga Springs in December?
About 12 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (5.9 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.8 in).
Does it snow in Saratoga Springs in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 15.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 17 days.
Is December a good time to visit Saratoga Springs?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Saratoga Springs (25 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: Saratoga Springs 4 Sw (USC00307484), 3.4 mi SSW of the city center, 326 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Albany Airport (USW00014735), 24 mi S of the city center, 312 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albany International Airport (725180-14735), 23 mi S of the city center, 280 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).