Gatlinburg, TN weather in December
Gatlinburg is chilly in December, with rain on most days: highs average 50°F and nights drop to about 29°F. Expect about 15 wet days. Snowfall averages about 1.4 in. This is the depth of winter in Gatlinburg. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 50°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 4.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.4 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 53°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 49% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 5:20 pm | 7:43 am / 5:30 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.8 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 am37°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 33°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport (28 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 59% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 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 4.9 in; a dry December brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 6.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 62°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 38°F
- Wettest December1991: 9.1 in
- Driest December2006: 1.4 in
- Highest reading76°F (December 28, 2015)
- Lowest reading4°F (December 16, 2010)
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 | 58°F | 50°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 29°F | 27°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 15 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Athens, GA122 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Knoxville, TN29 mi · high 51°F · 11 wet days
How Gatlinburg ranks in December
- Normal high194th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 7 in Tennessee
- Wet days348th driest of 378
- Comfortable days138th most of 340
What to pack for Gatlinburg in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 50°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 15 days
- A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 792 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 Gatlinburg in December?
The normal high is 50°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 4°F (December 16, 2010).
Does it rain a lot in Gatlinburg in December?
About 15 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1991 (9.1 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Gatlinburg in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Gatlinburg?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Gatlinburg (40 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are April and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Gatlinburg 2 Sw (USC00403420), 2.4 mi SW of the city center, 1,454 ft (164 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport (USW00013891), 28 mi WNW of the city center, 962 ft (328 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Asheville Rgnl Airport (USW00003812), 58 mi ESE of the city center, 2,117 ft (827 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mc Ghee Tyson Airport (723260-13891), 28 mi WNW of the city center, 970 ft (320 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.