Friday Harbor, WA weather in December
In December, Friday Harbor sees highs around 46°F and lows around 37°F: chilly, with rain on most days. Expect about 16 wet days. Snowfall averages about 2.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Friday Harbor. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 2.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.8 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 52% | 53% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:42 am / 4:19 pm | 8:04 am / 4:25 pm |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | 8.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am38°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 33°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm43°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 33°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Bellingham Intl Airport (28 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow16 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below9 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.5 in; a dry December brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202018: average high 48°F
- Coolest December2008: average high 41°F
- Wettest December2020: 5.4 in
- Driest December2013: 0.4 in
- Highest reading58°F (December 14, 2018)
- Lowest reading8°F (December 20, 2008)
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 | 51°F | 46°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 37°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 16 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 8.4 h | 8.8 h |
Highs change by -5°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Leavenworth, WA127 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
How Friday Harbor ranks in December
- Normal high217th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 9 in Washington
- Wet days354th driest of 378
- Comfortable days328th most of 340
What to pack for Friday Harbor in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 46°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
Heating and cooling
December has 727 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 Friday Harbor in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 8°F (December 20, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Friday Harbor in December?
About 16 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2020 (5.4 in); the driest was in 2013 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Friday Harbor in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 2.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is December a good time to visit Friday Harbor?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Friday Harbor (37 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Friday Harbor Airport (USW00094276), 0.9 mi SSW of the city center, 109 ft (51 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Olga 2 Se (USC00456096), 11 mi ENE of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Bellingham Intl Airport (USW00024217), 28 mi NE of the city center, 149 ft (91 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Bellingham Intl Airport (727976-24217), 28 mi NE of the city center, 151 ft (93 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).