New York City weather in December
In December, New York City has an average high of 7 °C44 °F and an average low of 2 °C36 °F, with about 133 mm5.2 in of precipitation. It is the 9th warmest month of the year and the wettest.
How December compares with other months
Compared with November, December is 4.8 °C8.6 °F cooler on average and wetter by 31 mm1.2 in. Compared with January, December is 3.4 °C6.2 °F warmer on average and wetter by 33 mm1.3 in. Daylight lasts about 9.3 hours around the middle of the month. Average relative humidity is 82% and the average cloud amount 63%.
Is December a good time to visit New York City?
December is not among the most comfortable months by our comfort score: it is cool (average high 7 °C44 °F), nights are cold (average low 2 °C36 °F) and it is fairly wet (133 mm5.2 in). The most comfortable months in New York City are June and September.
What to wear in December
For New York City in December, pack a warm coat, layers and closed shoes and an umbrella or light rain jacket.
December in nearby places
| Place | High °C°F | Low °C°F | Precip. mmin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 744 | 236 | 1335.2 |
| Manhattan | 541 | −228 | 1164.6 |
| Brooklyn | 744 | 236 | 1335.2 |
| Staten Island | 643 | −129 | 1154.5 |
| Paterson | 541 | −327 | 1114.4 |
| Stamford | 542 | −228 | 1164.6 |
| Bridgeport | 643 | 134 | 1184.6 |
| New Haven | 540 | −326 | 1114.4 |
| Waterbury | 440 | −326 | 1114.4 |
Nearby places that are more than 1 °C1.8 °F cooler: Manhattan, Staten Island, Paterson and Stamford.
Other months in New York City
- January4 °C38 °F / −1 °C29 °F
- February4 °C39 °F / −1 °C30 °F
- March7 °C44 °F / 1 °C35 °F
- April12 °C54 °F / 6 °C43 °F
- May17 °C63 °F / 12 °C53 °F
- June22 °C72 °F / 17 °C63 °F
- July26 °C79 °F / 21 °C70 °F
- August26 °C79 °F / 21 °C70 °F
- September23 °C74 °F / 18 °C64 °F
- October18 °C64 °F / 12 °C54 °F
- November12 °C53 °F / 7 °C44 °F
- December7 °C44 °F / 2 °C36 °F
Frequently asked questions
How warm is New York City in December?
In December the average high in New York City is 7 °C (44 °F) and the average low is 2 °C (36 °F).
Does it rain a lot in New York City in December?
On average about 133 mm (5.2 in) of precipitation falls in December; it ranks 1st of the 12 months.
Is December the warmest month in New York City?
No. The warmest month in New York City is July, with an average high of 26 °C (79 °F). The coldest month is January, with an average low of -1 °C (29 °F).
How long is the day in New York City in December?
In the middle of December the day in New York City lasts about 9.3 hours from sunrise to sunset. The value is calculated from the position of the city and the sun.
How humid is New York City in December?
The average relative humidity in December is about 82%. This is a long-term average for the whole day.
How cloudy is New York City in December?
On average about 63% of the sky is covered by cloud in December. This is the mean cloud amount from satellite data, not the number of sunny days.
About this data
All figures are 25-year averages (January 2001 – December 2025) from the NASA POWER project. Temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation come from the MERRA-2 reanalysis (precipitation is the bias-corrected MERRA-2 product), cloud and solar values from CERES satellite data. They describe a grid cell of roughly 50–70 km, not a single weather station, so they can differ from airport records — most of all on coasts, in mountains and for rainfall. Average highs and lows are the monthly mean temperature plus/minus half of the average daily temperature range. Counts of rainy days are not part of this dataset.