Columbus, OH weather in December
December in Columbus: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 42°F, lows 27°F, rain or snow on about 13 days and about 5.1 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.1 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 24°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 44% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:34 am / 5:07 pm | 7:53 am / 5:16 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 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 am32°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm39°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm37°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 24% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 69%.
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 snow13 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 more5 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.1 in; a dry December brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.1 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 53°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 31°F
- Wettest December2012: 5.7 in
- Driest December2010: 1.3 in
- Highest reading73°F (December 6, 1998)
- Lowest reading-1°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 | 52°F | 42°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 27°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Huntington, WV111 mi · high 47°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Ann Arbor, MI164 mi · high 36°F · 17 wet days
How Columbus ranks in December
- Normal high273rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days323rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days222nd most of 340
What to pack for Columbus in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 947 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 Columbus in December?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -1°F (December 25, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Columbus in December?
About 13 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2012 (5.7 in); the driest was in 2010 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Columbus in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 5.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Columbus?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbus (32 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821), 6.6 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 56 mi W of the city center, 823 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Port Columbus International Airport (724280-14821), 6.8 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.