December could be a good time to visit New York, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +45°F, and there are typically 7 sunny days in December. However, expect about 11 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 82 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+45°F
Avg. max. temperature
+1°F
Min.
+72°F
Max.
82 mm
Total precipitation
64%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
11 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New York has OK weather in December.
Average temperature in New York in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New York for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in December is +50°F with a maximum of +61°F and a minimum of +27°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 11% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +48°F to +45°F.
Is New York warm or cold in December?
New York is typically chill in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +54°F to +45°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +43°F to +34°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
December is one of the coolest months in New York, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in New York in December
Water in New York in December is Cold. It varies from +42°F to +52°F, with an average of +47°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +45°F.
In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in New York are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +39°F.
Can you swim in New York in December?
We would not recommend swimming in New York in December, the water is very cold (+47°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in New York in December
New York weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+54°F
+45°F
+39°F
Min. temperature
+16°F
+1°F
-9°F
Max. temperature
+79°F
+72°F
+70°F
Rainfall
82 mm
82 mm
61 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
5 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+54°F
+47°F
+41°F
Humidity
64%
64%
63%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
1017 HPa
Sunny days
8
7
7
Cloudy days
10
10
10
Rainy days
11
11
7
Snowy days
0
4
7
December typically has worse weather conditions compared to November.It’s getting colder in December. From +54°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +45°F.The rainfall amount in December stays the same as in the previous month with a 82 mm of total precipitation.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 64%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 4 m/s.The days becoming less sunny, going from 8 sunny days in November to 7 in December.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in New York in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in New York is gradually increasing during December, going from 4 m/s to 5 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in New York based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in December is about 186 mm, with a 39% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 59 mm, which is considered heavy rain.December is a pretty wet month with over 12 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
New York wettest month is August, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 113 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 24% chance of precipitation and 48 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during December in New York based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in December is about 0 mm, with a 0% chance of snow on a typical day.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last December in New York?
This is the weather in New York in December 2023:
1 December
☀️
+48°F
2 December
🌫️
+57°F
3 December
🌫️
+53°F
4 December
☀️
+51°F
5 December
☀️
+47°F
6 December
☁️
+42°F
7 December
☁️
+39°F
8 December
☀️
+50°F
9 December
☀️
+58°F
10 December
☁️
+58°F
11 December
☁️
+60°F
12 December
☀️
+44°F
13 December
☀️
+47°F
14 December
☀️
+41°F
15 December
☀️
+57°F
16 December
☀️
+54°F
17 December
☁️
+54°F
18 December
🌫️
+61°F
19 December
☀️
+48°F
20 December
☀️
+46°F
21 December
☀️
+42°F
22 December
☀️
+37°F
23 December
☁️
+43°F
24 December
☁️
+47°F
25 December
☁️
+48°F
26 December
🌫️
+47°F
27 December
🌫️
+47°F
28 December
🌧️
+53°F
29 December
🌫️
+54°F
30 December
☁️
+48°F
31 December
☁️
+44°F
In December 2023 New York had 14 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 1 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +50°F, with an absolute maximum of +61°F and a minimum of +37°F. The average humidity was 77%, with a maximum of 97% and a minimum of 44%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 15 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how New York climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in New York in December has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1996 (+59°F) and the highest in 2016 (+65°F). The driest year was 1982 with only 711 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1785 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New York in December:
Is December a good time to visit New York?
It’s always a good time to visit New York, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in New York in December?
Not really, December is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in New York in December?
Swimming in New York in December is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is New York rainy in December?
New York is often rainy in December. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in New York in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in New York in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in New York, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.