Williamsburg, VA weather in December
Williamsburg is chilly in December, with frequent rain: highs average 53°F and nights drop to about 34°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 1.6 in.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.6 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:02 am / 4:49 pm | 7:20 am / 4:58 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 am40°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 35°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm51°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm46°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Newport News Intl Airport (15 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 61% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 35%.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below16 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 3.8 in; a dry December brings about 2.6 in and a wet one about 4.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.6 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 64°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 42°F
- Wettest December2009: 7.0 in
- Driest December1994: 1.3 in
- Highest reading82°F (December 6, 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 | 61°F | 53°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 34°F | 31°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| 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: Wilmington, NC222 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Nags Head, NC109 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Baltimore, MD140 mi · high 48°F · 10 wet days
How Williamsburg ranks in December
- Normal high179th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 5 in Virginia
- Wet days254th driest of 378
- Comfortable days144th most of 340
What to pack for Williamsburg in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 53°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 16 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 672 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Williamsburg in December?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 8°F (December 31, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Williamsburg in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (7.0 in); the driest was in 1994 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Williamsburg in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Williamsburg?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Williamsburg (44 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Williamsburg 2 N (USC00449151), 2.1 mi N of the city center, 70 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: W Pt 2 Nw (USC00449025), 21 mi NNW of the city center, 20 ft (65 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Newport News Intl Airport (USW00093741), 15 mi SE of the city center, 42 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Nwpt News/Wimburg Intl Apt (723086-93741), 15 mi SE of the city center, 36 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.