Tacoma, WA weather in December
Tacoma is chilly in December, with rain on most days: highs average 47°F and nights drop to about 37°F. Rain or snow falls on about 20 days. Snowfall averages about 1.5 in. This is the depth of winter in Tacoma. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 20
- 6.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 66% | 65% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:35 am / 4:21 pm | 7:56 am / 4:28 pm |
| Daylight | 8.8 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 am37°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 35°F
- Noon43°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 36°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tacoma Mcchord AFB (7 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 snow20 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in14 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below7 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 6.0 in; a dry December brings about 4.0 in and a wet one about 7.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202004: average high 52°F
- Coolest December2016: average high 44°F
- Wettest December2015: 12.2 in
- Driest December2013: 1.7 in
- Highest reading68°F (December 10, 1993)
- Lowest reading13°F (December 22, 1998)
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 | 52°F | 47°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 37°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 19 | 20 | 20 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 8.6 h | 9.0 h |
Highs change by -5°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Port Angeles, WA75 mi · high 45°F · 17 wet days
- Cooler: Leavenworth, WA87 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
How Tacoma ranks in December
- Normal high205th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 9 in Washington
- Wet days371st driest of 378
- Comfortable days267th most of 340
What to pack for Tacoma in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 20 days
Heating and cooling
December has 710 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 Tacoma in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 13°F (December 22, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Tacoma in December?
About 20 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (12.2 in); the driest was in 2013 (1.7 in).
Does it snow in Tacoma in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is December a good time to visit Tacoma?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tacoma (32 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Tacoma #1 (USC00458278), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 25 ft (225 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Mcmillin Rsvr (USC00455224), 12 mi SE of the city center, 579 ft (329 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Tacoma Mcchord AFB (USW00024207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 289 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcchord AFB Airport (742060-24207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 322 ft (72 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).