Juneau weather in December
December in Juneau: freezing, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 19 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Juneau · #1396 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 23/100 (tier F)
- Days
- 1°C
- Nights
- -4°C
- Wet days
- 19
- Sun
- 1.3 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 7 h

Traveller notes on Juneau in December
Other months in Juneau
Regulars are specific that early in this month can bring a genuine winter relapse, fresh snow falling all the way down to sea level and putting tours like Glacier Bay or helicopter flightseeing on hold, a real contrast to how settled May becomes just weeks later. Our row backs that cold, still-wintry read, 9.6C over 0.4C nights feeling -2C, with a heavy 163.4mm of rain across 17.6 days and a real 17.8cm of snow. Regulars are consistent that layered clothing plus proper rain gear, boots, gloves and a hat cover most of what this month can throw at a visitor, since conditions can swing from a mild, clear day to a genuine snow event within the same week. The record: humidity 80 percent, 7.7 hours of sun, a 9.8 kph wind and AQI 40.
Regulars are consistent on one rule regardless of the forecast: always bring proper rain gear to this part of Alaska, since even a visitor who caught a genuinely beautiful stretch one year is quick to add that the same week the year before was a washout. Our row backs the wet reality, 175.7mm of rain across a striking 15.4 days, alongside cool temperatures, 14.5C over 5.1C nights feeling 2C, and a trace of late snow, 2.6cm. Regulars pushing toward late May specifically say it can bring some of the season's best weather, so the back half of the month is worth favouring if the dates are flexible. Layering is the standard advice on top of the rain gear, since the temperature swings enough within a day to matter. The record: humidity 82 percent, 8.9 hours of sun and AQI 37.
Regulars answer the question about August rain by reframing it: this is temperate rainforest, measurable rain falls on 222 days of the year, and the right expectation is cloud and drizzle with a sunny day as a bonus. They put the month near 59F with roughly a three-in-four chance of rain on any day, and our row agrees emphatically at 265.1mm across 17.8 days under 19.2C. What the weather does not spoil is the reason to come: the whale trips from May to mid-September find humpbacks essentially every time, with about a one-in-five chance of orcas. The cruise season runs to mid-September. Evenings darken by half past nine. The record: humidity 85 percent, 8 hours of sun and AQI 28.
Juneau measures rain on 222 days of an average year, and the forum's most useful correction is about the kind: this is drizzly English rain rather than a Florida downpour, so it can rain any day without ever being an all-day soaking. Our row gives 164.2mm across 16.7 precipitation days in June. Early June can be genuinely cold and windy, with port temperatures ranging from the high 60s Fahrenheit down to the 40s or 50s, which our row averages at 18.5C over 9.6C. Excursions rarely cancel for rain - the outfitters hand out gear - and the packing list is layers, rain gear, and a hat and gloves for any glacier day. The record: humidity 81 percent, 9.6 hours of sun and 18.1 hours of daylight.
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Juneau climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Juneau 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 Juneau'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 weatherJuneau's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Juneau in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Eaglecrest ski season
5 Dec – 5 Apr · usuallyThe city runs its own ski hill on Douglas Island, open when the freezing level drops and usually weekends first. Maritime snow, rain at the base, no queues and nobody off a ship. 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 ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 53 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Where is Juneau?
Juneau in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Juneau?
- December in Juneau: freezing, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 19 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Juneau on SeasonMap's comfort score (23/100).
- What is the weather like in Juneau in December?
- In December, Juneau averages a daily high of 0.7°C and a low of -4.5°C, with about 254 mm of rain over roughly 19.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Juneau in December?
- Juneau has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in December.
- Does it snow in Juneau in December?
- Juneau sees roughly 52.6 cm of snowfall in December.