Month by month
Las Vegas weather in December
The year’s coolest days and longest nights, and the best odds of a snowflake.
At a glance
December has the lowest normal highs of the year and the most freezing nights in an average year. It is the only month with a measurable normal snowfall at the airport, though it is tiny: the NWS says measurable snow at the airport typically happens once every four or five years, and higher areas on the west side, like Summerlin, see it about every three years. Mount Charleston, in the Spring Mountains to the west, gets real winter weather.
By NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Harry Reid International Airport, December days peak around 57°F and nights bottom out near 40°F. December doesn’t normally reach 90°F. Expect about 4.6 nights at or below freezing at the airport, and 18.9 nights under 40°F. Normal rainfall is 0.45 inches, with 3.0 days getting at least a hundredth of an inch and 1.1 days getting a tenth of an inch or more. The median December total is 0.18 inches, so in a typical year it is drier than the average suggests: a few wet years pull the average up.
Through the day
Plan outdoor time for the middle of the day. Even the warmest hour, around 3 p.m., averages only 56°F, while 6 a.m. averages 41°F and a cold morning (one in ten) dips to 33°F or lower at that hour.
| Time (PST) | Normal | Cool day | Hot day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 41°F | 33°F | 49°F |
| 9 a.m. | 47°F | 40°F | 53°F |
| Noon | 54°F | 46°F | 61°F |
| 3 p.m. | 56°F | 48°F | 64°F |
| 6 p.m. | 51°F | 44°F | 59°F |
| 9 p.m. | 47°F | 40°F | 54°F |
| Midnight | 44°F | 37°F | 51°F |
"Cool day" and "hot day" are NOAA’s 10th and 90th percentiles for that hour: one December day in ten is cooler or hotter than shown. NOAA publishes hourly normals in standard time; we shifted them to clock time. Hourly averages run a little below the normal daily high because the hottest moment doesn’t land on the same hour every day.
The air is dry: the average dew point across the day is about 23°F, dry enough to chap lips and skin. Wind averages 6.4 mph over the day and is usually strongest around 7 p.m. (7.0 mph on average).
Over the month
December isn’t one temperature. The normal high falls from 59.9°F on December 1 to 56.4°F on December 31, and the normal low goes from 41.7°F to 39.3°F. That’s a small change, so the whole month feels much the same.
For a specific date, the live National Weather Service forecast on our home page is more useful than any average once you are within a week of your trip.
What to pack
- A warm coat for nights, which often drop into the 30s
- A hat and gloves if you will be out late or heading to Mount Charleston
- Layers for mild, sunny afternoons
- Lip balm and lotion for the dry air
Staying safe
Cold nights. It doesn’t take snow to be dangerous. Desert nights cool fast, and outlying areas of the valley run colder than the airport. Bring a warm layer for any evening outdoors, and check road conditions before driving up to Mount Charleston.
For current watches and warnings, follow the NWS Las Vegas office. Our resources page lists the other agencies worth knowing. In an emergency, call 911.
December records
| Record | Temperature | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hottest | 78°F | Dec 2, 1940 |
| Coldest | 11°F | Dec 23, 1990 |
| Warmest night | 57°F | Dec 24, 1955 |
| Coolest day | 32°F | Dec 10, 1972 |
NWS Las Vegas records since January 1, 1937. Where a record has been tied, we show the most recent date. See every month on our records page.