Salem, OR weather in December
In December, Salem sees highs around 47°F and lows around 35°F: chilly, with rain on most days. There are about 19 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 0.7 in. It is one of the coldest months in Salem. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 19
- 7.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.7 in
- normal snowfall
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 61% | 61% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:29 am / 4:32 pm | 7:50 am / 4:40 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 36°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Salem Mcnary Fld (3 mi away); average wind 7 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 below12 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 7.0 in; a dry December brings about 4.9 in and a wet one about 8.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 5 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.7 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202014: average high 51°F
- Coolest December2013: average high 43°F
- Wettest December2015: 15.2 in
- Driest December2013: 1.3 in
- Highest reading68°F (December 10, 1993)
- Lowest reading8°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 | 54°F | 47°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 35°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 18 | 19 | 18 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 8.8 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Bend, OR104 mi · high 41°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Bend, OR104 mi · high 41°F · 9 wet days
How Salem ranks in December
- Normal high203rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Oregon
- Wet days366th driest of 378
- Comfortable days283rd most of 340
What to pack for Salem in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 19 days
Heating and cooling
December has 736 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 Salem in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 8°F (December 8, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Salem in December?
About 19 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 7.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (15.2 in); the driest was in 2013 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Salem in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.7 in.
Is December a good time to visit Salem?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Salem (32 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Salem Mcnary Fld (USW00024232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 205 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Corvallis State Univ (USC00351862), 23 mi SSW of the city center, 225 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Silverton (USC00357823), 14 mi ENE of the city center, 408 ft (251 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcnary Field Airport (726940-24232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 208 ft (51 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).