Grand Forks, ND weather in December
In December, Grand Forks sees highs around 21°F and lows around 6°F: very cold and snowy. Expect about 8 wet days. Snowfall averages about 13.5 in. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 21°F
- Normal low
- 6°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 0.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.5 in
- snow on the ground 25 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 27°F | 16°F |
| Normal low | 12°F | 1°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:56 am / 4:37 pm | 8:17 am / 4:44 pm |
| Daylight | 8.7 h | 8.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am12°Fdew point 9°F
- 9 am13°Fdew point 9°F
- Noon18°Fdew point 12°F
- 3 pm19°Fdew point 13°F
- 6 pm15°Fdew point 11°F
- 9 pm14°Fdew point 10°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Forks Af (17 mi away); average wind 11 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more25 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.7 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 13.5 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201999: average high 33°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 8°F
- Wettest December1996: 2.0 in
- Driest December1994: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading50°F (December 18, 2011)
- Lowest reading-28°F (December 25, 1996)
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 | 35°F | 21°F | 15°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 6°F | -1°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 8.5 h | 8.9 h |
Highs change by -14°F from November and -6°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Aberdeen, SD183 mi · high 29°F · 7 wet days
How Grand Forks ranks in December
- Normal high376th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in North Dakota
- Wet days131st driest of 378
- Comfortable days320th most of 340
What to pack for Grand Forks in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 6°F, highs near 21°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 25 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1600 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Grand Forks in December?
The normal high is 21°F and the normal low is 6°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -28°F (December 25, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Grand Forks in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.7 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (2.1 in); the driest was in 1994, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Grand Forks in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 13.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 25 days.
Is December a good time to visit Grand Forks?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Grand Forks (24 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 and frost dates: Grand Forks Univ (NWS) (USC00323621), 3.0 mi W of the city center, 830 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Grand Forks Intl Airport (USW00014916), 7.1 mi W of the city center, 842 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Grand Forks Af (USW00094925), 17 mi W of the city center, 906 ft (76 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Grand Forks AFB Airport (727575-94925), 17 mi W of the city center, 913 ft (83 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).