Spokane, WA weather in December
December in Spokane: cold and snowy. Highs 34°F, lows 24°F, rain or snow on about 14 days and about 13.8 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Spokane. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 34°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.8 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 47% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:17 am / 4:00 pm | 7:38 am / 4:07 pm |
| Daylight | 8.7 h | 8.5 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 am29°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Spokane Felts Fld (5 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry December brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 13.8 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202014: average high 38°F
- Coolest December2008: average high 28°F
- Wettest December2015: 4.5 in
- Driest December2013: 0.7 in
- Highest reading57°F (December 10, 2014)
- Lowest reading-18°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 | 42°F | 34°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 24°F | 25°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 8.5 h | 8.9 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Everett, WA223 mi · high 47°F · 19 wet days
How Spokane ranks in December
- Normal high347th warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 9 in Washington
- Wet days335th driest of 378
- Comfortable days333rd most of 340
What to pack for Spokane in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 34°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1114 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Spokane in December?
The normal high is 34°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -18°F (December 20, 2008).
Does it rain a lot in Spokane in December?
About 14 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (4.5 in); the driest was in 2013 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Spokane in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 13.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Spokane?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Spokane (23 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Spokane Intl Airport (USW00024157), 5.4 mi WSW of the city center, 2,353 ft (483 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Spokane Felts Fld (USW00094176), 5.2 mi ENE of the city center, 1,953 ft (83 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Spokane International Airport (727850-24157), 5.4 mi WSW of the city center, 2,355 ft (485 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).