Knoxville, TN weather in December
In December, Knoxville sees highs around 51°F and lows around 30°F: chilly, with frequent rain. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 0.5 in. It is one of the coldest months in Knoxville.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- normal snowfall
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 55°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:27 am / 5:21 pm | 7:45 am / 5:31 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 (11 mi away); average wind 6 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 below20 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 5.9 in; a dry December brings about 3.7 in and a wet one about 7.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.5 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 62°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 40°F
- Wettest December2016: 12.6 in
- Driest December2006: 1.8 in
- Highest reading77°F (December 29, 2019)
- Lowest reading6°F (December 21, 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 | 61°F | 51°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 30°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.0 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Athens, GA142 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Lexington, KY147 mi · high 46°F · 13 wet days
How Knoxville ranks in December
- Normal high186th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 7 in Tennessee
- Wet days283rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days154th most of 340
What to pack for Knoxville in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 763 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Knoxville in December?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 6°F (most recently on December 21, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Knoxville in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (12.6 in); the driest was in 2006 (1.8 in).
Does it snow in Knoxville in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.5 in.
Is December a good time to visit Knoxville?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Knoxville (41 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Knoxville Exp Stn (USC00404946), 4.8 mi SSW of the city center, 830 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport (USW00013891), 11 mi SSW of the city center, 962 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mc Ghee Tyson Airport (723260-13891), 11 mi SSW of the city center, 970 ft (71 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).