December is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton, with average highs near 1.3°C and lows around -6°C (mean -2.3°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm of rainfall and 89% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Scranton was 2015 — when the month averaged 4.7°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -9°C. Typical December days reach 1.3°C with nights near -6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Scranton, averaging 85 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 192 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 28 mm.
Relative humidity in Scranton during December averages 89%. The most humid December was 1996 at 93%, and the least humid was 1998 at 80%.
December receives about 1.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Scranton. The sunniest December was 1995 at 1.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2014 at 1.
Average wind speed in Scranton during December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2009, 2010 and 2025, among others at 0.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.5°C | -1.9°C | -2.8°C | -1.5°C | -1.7°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg High | 0.1°C | 1.9°C | 0.8°C | 1.9°C | 2.0°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Low | -7.2°C | -5.6°C | -6.5°C | -4.9°C | -5.4°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 66 mm | 82 mm | 92 mm | 86 mm | 104 mm | +38 mm |
December temperatures in Scranton have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -24°C (1983) to a record high of 18.7°C (2006).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm, with a wettest year of 192 mm.
A quieter season to visit Scranton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Scranton. That said, December — with days averaging 1.3°C and nights around -6°C (mean -2.3°C) and higher rainfall (85 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -1.2°C | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | 8.2°C | -15.4°C | 82 mm | 89% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 1.2°C | -2.5°C | -6.2°C | 11.7°C | -15.0°C | 97 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 4.3°C | 0.9°C | -2.4°C | 9.7°C | -12.3°C | 192 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | 1.5°C | -2.7°C | -6.8°C | 10.9°C | -19.3°C | 105 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2021 | 4.6°C | 1.1°C | -2.5°C | 13.8°C | -7.7°C | 46 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 1.7°C | -2.0°C | -5.6°C | 14.1°C | -17.3°C | 102 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | 0.9°C | -2.4°C | -5.6°C | 7.3°C | -13.3°C | 91 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2018 | 2.0°C | -1.4°C | -4.9°C | 13.1°C | -11.8°C | 115 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2017 | -0.6°C | -3.8°C | -6.9°C | 10.2°C | -17.0°C | 35 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | 0.9°C | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | 10.1°C | -12.2°C | 65 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 🔥 | 8.4°C | 4.7°C | 1.1°C | 17.6°C | -5.1°C | 99 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2014 | 1.4°C | -1.8°C | -4.9°C | 10.2°C | -10.8°C | 78 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | 16.7°C | -18.1°C | 87 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2012 | 3.1°C | -0.1°C | -3.3°C | 16.3°C | -10.1°C | 131 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 3.6°C | -0.2°C | -4.0°C | 12.6°C | -12.9°C | 92 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -1.6°C | -4.7°C | -7.8°C | 13.9°C | -12.3°C | 68 mm | 86% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | 0.0°C | -3.3°C | -6.5°C | 12.6°C | -13.2°C | 92 mm | 87% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2008 | 0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.7°C | 11.4°C | -18.4°C | 135 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2007 | -0.1°C | -3.4°C | -6.7°C | 10.1°C | -14.9°C | 124 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2006 | 5.1°C | 1.0°C | -3.1°C | 18.7°C | -12.5°C | 57 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | -1.6°C | -4.9°C | -8.3°C | 5.6°C | -17.9°C | 79 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2004 | 1.2°C | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | 11.5°C | -18.1°C | 101 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 0.9°C | -2.5°C | -5.9°C | 8.5°C | -11.5°C | 113 mm | 90% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | -0.7°C | -4.2°C | -7.6°C | 7.7°C | -16.6°C | 93 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2001 | 5.0°C | 1.1°C | -2.9°C | 18.5°C | -9.6°C | 46 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | -1.8°C | -5.8°C | -9.7°C | 13.6°C | -16.8°C | 83 mm | 84% | 0.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.2°C | 15.2°C | -12.8°C | 44 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1998 | 5.5°C | 1.0°C | -3.6°C | 18.3°C | -12.4°C | 30 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 1.0°C | -2.7°C | -6.3°C | 6.2°C | -16.7°C | 72 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | 1.8°C | -1.1°C | -3.9°C | 11.0°C | -12.5°C | 168 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | -2.9°C | -6.0°C | -9.0°C | 4.8°C | -15.0°C | 45 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | 3.7°C | -0.5°C | -4.7°C | 13.2°C | -14.2°C | 67 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1993 | 0.0°C | -3.9°C | -7.8°C | 6.7°C | -20.0°C | 88 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | 1.2°C | -2.3°C | -5.9°C | 11.3°C | -15.0°C | 78 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 2.3°C | -1.6°C | -5.5°C | 12.0°C | -13.5°C | 78 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1990 | 3.5°C | -0.5°C | -4.4°C | 13.8°C | -13.0°C | 149 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -5.1°C | -9.0°C | -13.0°C | 1.6°C | -18.9°C | 33 mm | 86% | 0.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | 0.5°C | -3.3°C | -7.2°C | 8.5°C | -17.4°C | 28 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | 1.5°C | -1.8°C | -5.1°C | 7.8°C | -15.9°C | 43 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1986 | 1.5°C | -2.2°C | -5.8°C | 5.1°C | -13.7°C | 75 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1985 | -1.3°C | -5.1°C | -8.9°C | 5.7°C | -16.6°C | 52 mm | 89% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1984 | 3.0°C | -0.5°C | -4.0°C | 15.2°C | -10.3°C | 73 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | -9.1°C | 6.5°C | -24.0°C | 175 mm | 89% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.4°C | 0.5°C | -3.5°C | 17.0°C | -12.1°C | 51 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -1.5°C | -4.8°C | -8.1°C | 3.5°C | -17.1°C | 67 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 1.3°C with lows near -6°C (mean -2.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 85 mm of rainfall in Scranton, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 192 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 18.7°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -24°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.5°C to 2.1°C and overnight lows from -6.7°C to -5.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 1.3°C daytime highs and -6°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Scranton, averaging -2.3°C.
For December in Scranton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1.3°C and lows of -6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 89% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.4 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 192 mm. On average, December sees 85 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Scranton behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
