Hampton Beach

New Hampshire Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in New Hampshire, the United States of America in December.

Thinking about venturing to New Hampshire, the United States of America this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in New Hampshire in December

New Hampshire, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. December in New Hampshire generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Waterville Valley at -1°C (30°F) to cold in Salem at 5°C (41°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -4°C (25°F) in Salem and -9°C (16°F) in Waterville Valley. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of New Hampshire, the United States of America, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in West Lebanon with an average of 95 mm (3.7 in) to high snow/rainfall in Waterville Valley with 153 mm (6 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Portsmouth gets around 134 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore New Hampshire by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New Hampshire - and find the best time to visit. (based on Portsmouth)

Best Places to Visit in New Hampshire in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across New Hampshire.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in New Hampshire

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in New Hampshire, the United States of America?

Temperature range in New Hampshire (December)

Precipitation variation in New Hampshire (December)

Portsmouth

In December Portsmouth generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
134 hours
162 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
128 mm (5 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Nashua

In December Nashua generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
134 hours
162 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Weirs Beach

In December Weirs Beach generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
134 hours
162 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
111 mm (4.4 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Dover

In December Dover generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
134 hours
162 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
91 mm (3.6 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
13 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Tilton

In December Tilton generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
134 hours
162 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in New Hampshire, in the United States of America.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in New Hampshire in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Portsmouth 5°C (41°F) -4°C (25°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Nashua 5°C (41°F) -5°C (23°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
Weirs Beach 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Dover 4°C (39°F) -5°C (23°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Tilton 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Gilford 2°C (36°F) -6°C (21°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)

New Hampshire weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in New Hampshire, the United States of America in December?

In December, New Hampshire, the United States of America generally has less favorable weather conditions. Portsmouth sees daytime temperatures near 5°C (41°F), with nights cooling to roughly -4°C (25°F).

What is the average temperature in New Hampshire, the United States of America in December?

Daytime temperatures in Portsmouth peak at roughly 5°C (41°F) in December, dropping to about -4°C (25°F) overnight.

Does New Hampshire, the United States of America get a lot of snow/rain in December?

New Hampshire, the United States of America sees substantial snow/rainfall in December. Portsmouth typically averages about 128 mm (5 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit New Hampshire, the United States of America?

Given the typically less favorable weather conditions in Portsmouth, December may not be the ideal time to visit New Hampshire, the United States of America.

On average, the best time to visit New Hampshire, the United States of America is in September with generally excellent weather in Portsmouth. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New Hampshire.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.