Cincinnati, OH weather in December
December in Cincinnati: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 45°F, lows 28°F, rain or snow on about 11 days and about 4.1 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Cincinnati.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.1 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:38 am / 5:15 pm | 7:57 am / 5:24 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.5 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 am33°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm39°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 29°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cincinnati Lunken Airport (5 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 41% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 55%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 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 2.6 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 54°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 33°F
- Wettest December2015: 5.8 in
- Driest December1992: 1.2 in
- Highest reading74°F (December 6, 1998)
- Lowest reading-5°F (December 25, 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 | 55°F | 45°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 28°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Knoxville, TN220 mi · high 51°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Fishers, IN99 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
How Cincinnati ranks in December
- Normal high239th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days278th driest of 378
- Comfortable days205th most of 340
What to pack for Cincinnati in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 890 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 Cincinnati in December?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -5°F (December 25, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Cincinnati in December?
About 11 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 (5.8 in); the driest was in 1992 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Cincinnati in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is December a good time to visit Cincinnati?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cincinnati (35 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cincinnati Lunken Airport (USW00093812), 5.2 mi E of the city center, 490 ft (62 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport (USW00093814), 9.4 mi WSW of the city center, 869 ft (317 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Cina Muni Apt/Lukn Fd Apt (724297-93812), 5.3 mi E of the city center, 475 ft (77 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.