Richmond, VA weather in December
Richmond is chilly in December, with frequent rain: highs average 52°F and nights drop to about 32°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 1.8 in. This is the depth of winter in Richmond.
- Normal high
- 52°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.8 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 55°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 4:51 pm | 7:24 am / 5:01 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.6 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 31°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 32°F
- Noon48°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm50°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Richmond Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 7 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 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 3.5 in; a dry December brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 61°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2009: 8.2 in
- Driest December1994: 0.9 in
- Highest reading81°F (December 7, 1998)
- Lowest reading8°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 | 60°F | 52°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 39°F | 32°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Fayetteville, NC190 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Nags Head, NC150 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Frederick, MD129 mi · high 44°F · 10 wet days
How Richmond ranks in December
- Normal high184th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 5 in Virginia
- Wet days221st driest of 378
- Comfortable days151st most of 340
What to pack for Richmond in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 52°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 720 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Richmond in December?
The normal high is 52°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 8°F (December 31, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Richmond in December?
About 10 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (8.2 in); the driest was in 1994 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Richmond in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Richmond?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Richmond (43 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Richmond Intl Airport (USW00013740), 8.4 mi ESE of the city center, 164 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Richmond International Airport (724010-13740), 8.1 mi ESE of the city center, 166 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).