Charleston, WV weather in December
Expect chilly weather with frequent rain and some snow in Charleston in December, with highs near 48°F and lows near 30°F. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Snowfall averages about 5.0 in. It is one of the coldest months in Charleston.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 3.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.0 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 43% | 47% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:24 am / 5:06 pm | 7:43 am / 5:15 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am35°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Yeager Airport (3 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 39% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 57%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below20 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 3.6 in; a dry December brings about 2.5 in and a wet one about 4.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 59°F
- Coolest December2010: average high 35°F
- Wettest December2013: 6.2 in
- Driest December1997: 1.6 in
- Highest reading77°F (December 27, 2015)
- Lowest reading1°F (December 23, 2000)
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 | 57°F | 48°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 30°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 14 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: High Point, NC188 mi · high 54°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Dayton, OH168 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Columbus, OH133 mi · high 42°F · 13 wet days
How Charleston ranks in December
- Normal high202nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in West Virginia
- Wet days342nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days168th most of 340
What to pack for Charleston in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 816 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charleston in December?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was 1°F (December 23, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in December?
About 14 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (6.2 in); the driest was in 1997 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Charleston in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 5.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is December a good time to visit Charleston?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (37 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Charleston Yeager Airport (USW00013866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 910 ft (314 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Huntington Tri State Airport (USW00003860), 50 mi W of the city center, 824 ft (228 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yeager Airport (724140-13866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 912 ft (316 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.