Portland, OR weather in December
In December, Portland sees highs around 46°F and lows around 37°F: chilly, with rain on most days. Rain or snow falls on about 19 days. Snowfall averages about 1.2 in. It is one of the coldest months in Portland. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 19
- 5.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.2 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 62% | 63% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:30 am / 4:28 pm | 7:50 am / 4:36 pm |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 8.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon43°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 37°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 36°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 9 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 snow19 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in13 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 5.8 in; a dry December brings about 3.8 in and a wet one about 7.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.2 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202014: average high 49°F
- Coolest December2016: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2015: 15.2 in
- Driest December2013: 1.6 in
- Highest reading67°F (December 10, 1993)
- Lowest reading14°F (December 8, 2013)
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 | 46°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 42°F | 37°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 18 | 19 | 19 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 8.8 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -6°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Bend, OR121 mi · high 41°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Leavenworth, WA172 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
How Portland ranks in December
- Normal high225th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Oregon
- Wet days367th driest of 378
- Comfortable days324th most of 340
What to pack for Portland in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 19 days
Heating and cooling
December has 725 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 Portland in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 14°F (December 8, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Portland in December?
About 19 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (15.2 in); the driest was in 2013 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Portland in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Portland?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Portland (31 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Portland Kgw-Tv (USC00356749), 0.7 mi WSW of the city center, 159 ft (127 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Airport (USW00024229), 5.9 mi NE of the city center, 19 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Airport (726980-24229), 6.0 mi NNE of the city center, 22 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).