Durham, NC weather in December
In December, Durham sees highs around 55°F and lows around 34°F: cool, with some rain. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.8 in. It is one of the coolest months in Durham.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.8 in
- normal snowfall
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 58°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 29% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:07 am / 5:01 pm | 7:25 am / 5:11 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 am38°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm53°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (10 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 52% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.4 in; a dry December brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.8 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 65°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 44°F
- Wettest December2018: 6.2 in
- Driest December1994: 1.3 in
- Highest reading81°F (December 10, 2007)
- Lowest reading12°F (December 26, 2000)
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 | 63°F | 55°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 34°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 5 | 4 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Wilmington, NC134 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Nags Head, NC183 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV187 mi · high 45°F · 14 wet days
How Durham ranks in December
- Normal high166th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days205th driest of 378
- Comfortable days122nd most of 340
What to pack for Durham in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 15 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 636 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Durham in December?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 12°F (December 26, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Durham in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.4 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2018 (6.2 in); the driest was in 1994 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Durham in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.8 in.
Is December a good time to visit Durham?
December ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Durham (47 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (USW00013722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 416 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Pope AFB (USW00013714), 57 mi S of the city center, 218 ft (177 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (723060-13722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 395 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.