Asheville, NC weather in December
In December, Asheville sees highs around 51°F and lows around 32°F: chilly, with frequent rain. There are about 10 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 2.7 in. It is one of the coldest months in Asheville.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.7 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:21 am / 5:17 pm | 7:39 am / 5:26 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am35°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm44°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Asheville Rgnl Airport (12 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 59% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry December brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 62°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 37°F
- Wettest December2015: 8.9 in
- Driest December1995: 0.7 in
- Highest reading75°F (December 26, 2015)
- Lowest reading5°F (December 20, 2004)
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 | 59°F | 51°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 32°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Concord, NC112 mi · high 56°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV187 mi · high 45°F · 14 wet days
How Asheville ranks in December
- Normal high188th warmest of 378 cities; 10th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days230th driest of 378
- Comfortable days167th most of 340
What to pack for Asheville in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 741 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 Asheville in December?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 5°F (December 20, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Asheville in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (8.9 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Asheville in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 2.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is December a good time to visit Asheville?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Asheville (41 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Asheville (USW00013872), 0.4 mi SSW of the city center, 2,238 ft (111 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Asheville Rgnl Airport (USW00003812), 12 mi S of the city center, 2,117 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Asheville Regional Airport (723150-03812), 12 mi S of the city center, 2,118 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.