Newport, RI weather in December
December in Newport: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 45°F, lows 26°F, rain or snow on about 11 days and about 6.6 in of snow.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.6 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:52 am / 4:16 pm | 7:11 am / 4:24 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 am32°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm37°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Providence T F Green Airport (17 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 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 5.3 in; a dry December brings about 3.8 in and a wet one about 7.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 56°F
- Coolest December1995: average high 39°F
- Wettest December2020: 10.4 in
- Driest December1998: 1.6 in
- Highest reading73°F (December 7, 1998)
- Lowest reading-7°F (December 31, 1993)
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 | 40°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 26°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.2 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Worcester, MA59 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
How Newport ranks in December
- Normal high232nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 2 in Rhode Island
- Wet days276th driest of 378
- Comfortable days229th most of 340
What to pack for Newport in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 907 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 Newport in December?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -7°F (December 31, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Newport in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (10.4 in); the driest was in 1998 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Newport in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 6.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Newport?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Newport (33 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Kingston (USC00374266), 12 mi W of the city center, 117 ft (89 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Newport State Airport (USW00014787), 3.4 mi NNE of the city center, 172 ft (144 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Providence T F Green Airport (USW00014765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 60 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Theodore F Green State Airport (725070-14765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 51 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).