Port Angeles, WA weather in December
Port Angeles is chilly in December, with rain on most days: highs average 45°F and nights drop to about 33°F. Expect about 17 wet days. This is the depth of winter in Port Angeles. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 45°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 5.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 33°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 55% | 57% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:42 am / 4:22 pm | 8:04 am / 4:29 pm |
| Daylight | 8.7 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 am39°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 37°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 40°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Quillayute State Airport (53 mi away); average wind 6 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 snow17 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 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 5.2 in; a dry December brings about 3.5 in and a wet one about 6.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202014: average high 48°F
- Coolest December2008: average high 40°F
- Wettest December2015: 11.4 in
- Driest December2011: 0.9 in
- Highest reading60°F (December 24, 2005)
- Lowest reading13°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 | 49°F | 45°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 33°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 8.4 h | 8.9 h |
Highs change by -4°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Cooler: Leavenworth, WA133 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
How Port Angeles ranks in December
- Normal high236th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 9 in Washington
- Wet days357th driest of 378
- Comfortable days331st most of 340
What to pack for Port Angeles in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 45°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 17 days
Heating and cooling
December has 803 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Port Angeles in December?
The normal high is 45°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 13°F (December 20, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Port Angeles in December?
About 17 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (11.4 in); the driest was in 2011 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Port Angeles in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 0.1 in.
Is December a good time to visit Port Angeles?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Port Angeles (34 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: Port Angeles Intl Airport (USW00094266), 3.1 mi W of the city center, 288 ft (222 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Elwha RS (USC00452548), 10 mi SW of the city center, 360 ft (294 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Sequim 2 E (USC00457544), 17 mi E of the city center, 50 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Quillayute State Airport (USW00094240), 53 mi WSW of the city center, 185 ft (119 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Quillayute Airport (727970-94240), 54 mi WSW of the city center, 185 ft (119 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).