Cleveland, OH weather in December
Cleveland is cold and snowy in December: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 28°F. Expect about 16 wet days. Snowfall averages about 12.2 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.2 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 49% | 54% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:33 am / 4:57 pm | 7:53 am / 5:06 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.2 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 am34°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm37°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cleveland Burke Airport (1 mi away); average wind 14 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow16 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.0 in; a dry December brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.2 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 51°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 29°F
- Wettest December2011: 5.0 in
- Driest December2010: 1.3 in
- Highest reading71°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-6°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 | 51°F | 40°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 28°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 16 | 18 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Huntington, WV216 mi · high 47°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI96 mi · high 37°F · 11 wet days
How Cleveland ranks in December
- Normal high283rd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days352nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days249th most of 340
What to pack for Cleveland in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 40°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 952 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 Cleveland in December?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -6°F (December 25, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Cleveland in December?
About 16 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2011 (5.0 in); the driest was in 2010 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Cleveland in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 12.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is December a good time to visit Cleveland?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cleveland (28 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 snow depth: Cleveland (USW00014820), 10 mi SW of the city center, 763 ft (109 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Cleveland Burke Airport (USW00004853), 1.4 mi NNE of the city center, 584 ft (70 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (725240-14820), 10 mi SW of the city center, 777 ft (123 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).