Vancouver, WA weather in December
Vancouver is chilly in December, with rain on most days: highs average 47°F and nights drop to about 36°F. Expect about 19 wet days. Snowfall averages about 1.2 in. This is the depth of winter in Vancouver. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 19
- 5.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.2 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 62% | 63% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:30 am / 4:28 pm | 7:51 am / 4:36 pm |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 8.8 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 35°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon43°Fdew point 37°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 37°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 36°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 9 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 snow19 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in13 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below8 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 5.8 in; a dry December brings about 3.8 in and a wet one about 7.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.2 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202020: average high 50°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 42°F
- Wettest December2015: 15.2 in
- Driest December2013: 1.6 in
- Highest reading65°F (December 10, 1993)
- Lowest reading11°F (December 23, 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 | 54°F | 47°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 36°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 18 | 19 | 19 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 8.8 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -7°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Drier: Bend, OR128 mi · high 41°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Bend, OR128 mi · high 41°F · 9 wet days
How Vancouver ranks in December
- Normal high209th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 9 in Washington
- Wet days368th driest of 378
- Comfortable days334th most of 340
What to pack for Vancouver in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 19 days
Heating and cooling
December has 727 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 Vancouver in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 11°F (December 23, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Vancouver in December?
About 19 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (15.2 in); the driest was in 2013 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Vancouver in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 1.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is December a good time to visit Vancouver?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Vancouver (32 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Airport (USW00024229), 4.4 mi SE of the city center, 19 ft (172 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Airport (726980-24229), 3.9 mi SE of the city center, 22 ft (169 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).