Raleigh, NC weather in December
Raleigh is cool in December, with some rain: highs average 55°F and nights drop to about 35°F. There are about 8 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 0.8 in. It is one of the coolest months in Raleigh.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 3.7 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 | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 24% | 27% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:06 am / 5:01 pm | 7:24 am / 5:10 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 (12 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°F4 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 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 3.7 in; a dry December brings about 2.5 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 0.8 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 64°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 44°F
- Wettest December2009: 7.3 in
- Driest December2000: 1.0 in
- Highest reading80°F (December 12, 2007)
- Lowest reading15°F (December 15, 2010)
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 | 62°F | 55°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 35°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Wilmington, NC114 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV208 mi · high 45°F · 14 wet days
How Raleigh ranks in December
- Normal high167th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days149th driest of 378
- Comfortable days137th most of 340
What to pack for Raleigh in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
Heating and cooling
December has 628 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Raleigh in December?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 15°F (December 15, 2010).
Does it rain a lot in Raleigh in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2000 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Raleigh in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.8 in.
Is December a good time to visit Raleigh?
December ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Raleigh (46 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Raleigh State Univ (USC00317079), 3.6 mi WNW of the city center, 400 ft (85 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (USW00013722), 12 mi NW of the city center, 416 ft (101 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Pope AFB (USW00013714), 46 mi SSW of the city center, 218 ft (97 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (723060-13722), 12 mi NW of the city center, 395 ft (80 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.