Flagstaff weather in December
December in Flagstaff: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#10 of 12 months in Flagstaff · #958 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 61/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 8°C
- Nights
- -5°C
- Wet days
- 5
- Sun
- 8.1 h
- Humidity
- 56%
- Daylight
- 10 h
Traveller notes on Flagstaff in December
Other months in Flagstaff
Forum posters cite an average March daytime high around 43F with nighttime lows in the teens, describing March as still genuinely winter in Flagstaff - posters are direct that snow at some point during the month is close to guaranteed, unless an unusually warm stretch arrives early. Posters describe a typical late-winter snowfall here as brief, usually gone within a day or two, with roads cleared quickly except during a major storm, which can shut down travel for several days at a time. Posters consistently recommend monitoring forecasts roughly a week ahead and building real flexibility into a March itinerary. Posters generally rate March as a high-precipitation, snow-capable month, workable for a visit but requiring genuine weather-contingency planning.
Late September into early October is the window regulars name for this part of Arizona: temperatures cooling, patterns fairly stable and mostly sunny, crowds thinning. Flagstaff sits at about 7,000 feet, which is the whole point — days near 25°C while the desert below is still hot, and nights dropping to about 13, cold enough that a jacket or fleece is wanted early and late, with freezing possible in the second half of the month. The third week of September is when aspen, oak and birch begin turning on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Layers you can shed is the standing advice.
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Flagstaff climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Flagstaff 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 crowdsArizona Snowbowl season, Christmas and New Year, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Flagstaff'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 weatherFlagstaff's best weather comes in June, August and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Flagstaff in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Opening
Arizona Snowbowl season
15 Nov – 10 Apr · usuallySki seasonCrowdedSkiing above 9,000 feet an hour and a half from Phoenix, opening when the snowmaking allows rather than on a fixed date. The access road queues on a powder Saturday, and the resort runs the gondola for sightseeing at weekends in autumn. 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 Flagstaff — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Flagstaff?
Flagstaff in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Flagstaff?
- December in Flagstaff: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Flagstaff on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
- What is the weather like in Flagstaff in December?
- In December, Flagstaff averages a daily high of 7.9°C and a low of -5.2°C, with about 39.6 mm of rain over roughly 4.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Flagstaff in December?
- Flagstaff has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 39 in December.
- Does it snow in Flagstaff in December?
- Flagstaff sees roughly 14.8 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Sedona's Tlaquepaque Festival of Lights around 8–16 Dec, and Zion National Park's California condors over the canyon on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.