Cleveland weather in December
December in Cleveland: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Cleveland · #1143 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 51/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 6°C
- Nights
- 0°C
- Wet days
- 8
- Sun
- 4.4 h
- Humidity
- 76%
- Daylight
- 9 h

Traveller notes on Cleveland in December
Other months in Cleveland
Regulars are direct that this month is genuinely unpredictable end to end, early October capable of being very nice while the tail end of the month can turn freezing and even see snow. Our row backs the cooling, still-wet read, 18.4C over 10.7C nights feeling 8C, with 89.3mm of rain across 10.8 days and a trace of that early snow, 0.1cm. Regulars note big weekends here, like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, draw real crowds on top of the usual visitors, so checking the calendar before booking is worth it beyond just weather. Staying in the suburbs is the standard advice for easier parking and availability during a busy weekend. The record: humidity 73 percent, 7.7 hours of sun, a 22.1 kph wind and AQI 35.
Regulars planning a day at Cedar Point or similar outdoor attractions build in a buffer for the afternoon specifically, since a thunderstorm rolling through between roughly 2 and 6pm is common enough to plan around rather than treat as bad luck. Our row backs the warm, humid read, 27.1C reading as a real 29C at 76.9 percent humidity, over 20.1C nights, with 84.5mm of rain across 8.5 days. Regulars describe these storms as usually brief and intense rather than an all-day washout, so a delayed start or a covered break tends to be enough to ride one out. The record: 11.6 hours of sun, a 16.8 kph wind and AQI 55.
Regulars place May on the good side of the local rain calendar: the torrential months here are February through April, and May and June are not the worst, though an afternoon thunderstorm should not surprise anyone. Late May runs in the sixties and low seventies - our row reads 20.3C over 12.2C - and they call it somewhat humid, which our 75 percent supports. The advice is layers and, more than anything else, waterproof shoes or a raincoat as the single most useful item. Our 89.2mm falls across 9.8 days. The lake-effect snow this city is known for belongs to winter, not to now. The record: 10.6 hours of sun, a 20 kph wind and AQI 56.
Early June in Cleveland is pleasant and humid, with highs regulars put in the high 60s to mid 70s Fahrenheit - our row's 25.3C reads as 27C once the 74 percent humidity is counted - and their standing caution is to have a plan for a wet and dreary day, because the month produces them. Our row gives 7.5 precipitation days carrying 64.6mm. The lake is what June is for here, and the names they hand over are Edgewater and Huntington Beach for the city end, Headlands further east, with Lakewood Park and Bradstreet's Landing for the view rather than the swim. The lake is still cold in June whatever the air does. The record: 17.9C nights, 12.1 hours of sun, a 18.9 kph wind and AQI 70.
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Cleveland climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Cleveland in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsChristmas and New Year, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Cleveland's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherCleveland's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
December coincides with Lake-effect snow season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Cleveland in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Lake-effect snow season
15 Nov – 15 MarExtreme coldClosuresCold air crossing an unfrozen Lake Erie dumps bands of snow on the eastern suburbs while downtown stays dry, and the split can be thirty centimetres over fifteen miles. It eases once the lake ices over in midwinter. Source ↗
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosuresCrowdedChristmas Day and New Year's Day are federal holidays: on 25 December most shops, museums and many restaurants close, and airports stay busy through the week between as families travel. New Year's Eve fills bars and restaurants, many at set-menu prices. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Cleveland — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Cleveland?
Cleveland in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Cleveland?
- December in Cleveland: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Cleveland on SeasonMap's comfort score (51/100).
- What is the weather like in Cleveland in December?
- In December, Cleveland averages a daily high of 5.9°C and a low of 0°C, with about 48.3 mm of rain over roughly 8.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Cleveland in December?
- Cleveland has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in December.
- Does it snow in Cleveland in December?
- Cleveland sees roughly 23.6 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Pittsburgh's The Rink at PPG Place around 14 Nov – 1 Mar, and Niagara Falls' Winter Festival of Lights around 14 Nov – 12 Jan.