New York City

New York State Weather in December

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

Planning a journey to New York State, the United States of America this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in New York State in December

New York State, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. December in New York State generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is very cold in Malone at 0°C (32°F) and cold in Garden City at 8°C (46°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 1°C (34°F) in Garden City and -8°C (18°F) in Malone.

To explore the conditions in New York State, the United States of America in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Bath with an average of 65 mm (2.6 in) to high snow/rainfall in Pulaski with 148 mm (5.8 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. New York City gets approximately 141 hours of sunlight in December, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore New York State by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in New York State — and find the best time to visit. (based on New York City)

Best Places to Visit in New York State in December

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

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 York State

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

Temperature range in New York State (December)

Precipitation variation in New York State (December)

New York City

In December New York City generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
2°C (36°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
141 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
127 mm (5 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Brooklyn

In December Brooklyn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
141 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
74 mm (2.9 in)
130 mm (5.1 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Queens

In December Queens generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
8°C (46°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
2°C (36°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
141 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
127 mm (5 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Buffalo

In December Buffalo generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
82 hours
68 hours
93 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
75 mm (3 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
18 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Staten Island

In December Staten Island generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Monthly sun hours
153 hours
141 hours
161 hours
Monthly rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
126 mm (5 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
New York City 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Brooklyn 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)
Queens 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 127 mm (5 in)
Buffalo 4°C (39°F) -3°C (27°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Staten Island 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 126 mm (5 in)
Bronx 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)

New York State weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

December in New York State, the United States of America brings poor weather. In New York City, daytime temperatures are typically around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime lows hover near 2°C (36°F).

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

In New York City, the average daytime high in December is 8°C (46°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 2°C (36°F).

Does New York State, the United States of America get a lot of rain in December?

New York City typically receives notable rainfall in December, about 127 mm (5 in) on average across New York State, the United States of America.

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

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit New York State, the United States of America due to the typically poor weather in New York City.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in September offering mostly perfect weather in New York City. In contrast, January, February, March and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in New York State.

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.