Charlotte

North Carolina Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to North Carolina, 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 North Carolina in December

North Carolina, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. North Carolina, the United States of America offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In December, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to mild, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is cold in Beech Mountain at 7°C (45°F) to mild in Wilmington at 16°C (61°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Wilmington and -2°C (28°F) in Beech Mountain.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Shallotte with an average of 91 mm (3.6 in) to heavy rainfall in Highlands with 234 mm (9.2 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Charlotte as an example - it receives around 170 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore North Carolina by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in North Carolina — and find the best time to visit. (based on Charlotte)

Best Places to Visit in North Carolina in December

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

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 North Carolina

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

Temperature range in North Carolina (December)

Precipitation variation in North Carolina (December)

Charlotte

In December Charlotte generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
180 hours
170 hours
175 hours
Monthly rainfall
96 mm (3.8 in)
115 mm (4.5 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
12 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Kill Devil Hills

In December Kill Devil Hills generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly rainfall
111 mm (4.4 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Nags Head

In December Nags Head generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
16°C (61°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly rainfall
114 mm (4.5 in)
108 mm (4.3 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Elizabeth City

In December Elizabeth City generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
14°C (57°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
177 hours
163 hours
173 hours
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Morehead City

In December Morehead City generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
16°C (61°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly rainfall
135 mm (5.3 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
11 days
11 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in North Carolina in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Charlotte 14°C (57°F) 2°C (36°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Kill Devil Hills 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Nags Head 14°C (57°F) 7°C (45°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Elizabeth City 14°C (57°F) 3°C (37°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Morehead City 16°C (61°F) 6°C (43°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Washington 15°C (59°F) 4°C (39°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)

North Carolina weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Carolina, the United States of America in December?

In December, North Carolina, the United States of America generally has unpleasant weather conditions. Charlotte sees daytime temperatures near 14°C (57°F), with nights cooling to roughly 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in North Carolina, the United States of America in December?

Average temperatures in North Carolina, the United States of America during December range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 14°C (57°F) in Charlotte.

Does North Carolina, the United States of America get a lot of rain in December?

North Carolina, the United States of America sees substantial rainfall in December. Charlotte typically averages about 115 mm (4.5 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit North Carolina, the United States of America?

Given the typically unpleasant weather conditions in Charlotte, December may not be the ideal time to visit North Carolina, the United States of America.

On average, the best time to visit North Carolina, the United States of America is in April, May and October with generally perfect weather in Charlotte. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, June, July, August and December tend to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in North Carolina.

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.