Memphis, TN weather in December
Memphis is chilly in December, with frequent rain: highs average 53°F and nights drop to about 36°F. Expect about 10 wet days. This is the depth of winter in Memphis.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 5.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:50 am / 4:48 pm | 7:08 am / 4:57 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 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 (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am40°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 35°F
- Noon49°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm51°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm44°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Memphis Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 60%.
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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 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 5.5 in; a dry December brings about 4.1 in and a wet one about 6.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.2 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 63°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2001: 10.2 in
- Driest December2005: 1.9 in
- Highest reading80°F (December 26, 2015)
- Lowest reading12°F (December 22, 2000)
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 | 63°F | 53°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 43°F | 36°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 4 | 4 |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 9.8 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Jackson, MS197 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Branson, MO205 mi · high 50°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Springfield, MO231 mi · high 47°F · 8 wet days
How Memphis ranks in December
- Normal high173rd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 7 in Tennessee
- Wet days231st driest of 378
- Comfortable days135th most of 340
What to pack for Memphis in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
December has 628 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Memphis in December?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 12°F (most recently on December 22, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Memphis in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (10.2 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.9 in).
Does it snow in Memphis in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.2 in.
Is December a good time to visit Memphis?
December ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Memphis (44 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Memphis Intl Airport (USW00013893), 7.3 mi SSE of the city center, 254 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: W Memphis (USC00037712), 7.6 mi WSW of the city center, 215 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Memphis International Airport (723340-13893), 7.4 mi SSE of the city center, 251 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.