SeasonMapLake Placid weather in December
United States
December in Lake Placid: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.
#3 of 12 months in Lake Placid · #291 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 85/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Lake Placid in December
Other months in Lake Placid
Lake Placid's forum is blunt that February is deep Adirondack winter — cold, snowy, and genuinely capable of sudden whiteout squalls that can complicate driving. Regulars point to the upside: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding on Mirror Lake, ice skating on the Olympic Oval and bobsled rides all run in full swing, alongside Main Street's shops, restaurants and the Olympic Museum for a break from the cold.
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Lake Placid climate normals — December
| Daytime high | -1°C / 31°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -10°C / 14°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -6°C / 21°F | |
| Rainfall | 72 mm / 2.8 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 12 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -7°C / 19°F | |
| Sunshine | 4.4 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.9 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 49.5 cm / 19.5 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 30 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Lake Placid 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.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Lake Placid'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).
Best weatherLake Placid's weather peaks December–February.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Lake Placid in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Whiteface and sliding season
15 Nov – 12 Apr · usuallySki seasonWhiteface opens on snowmaking in mid-November and runs to mid-April; the summit chair is the biggest vertical in the East and the first thing shut when it blows. The bobsled track at Mount Van Hoevenberg runs public rides alongside it. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 50 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Lake Placid — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Lake Placid?
Lake Placid in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Lake Placid?
- December in Lake Placid: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Lake Placid on SeasonMap's comfort score (85/100).
- What is the weather like in Lake Placid in December?
- In December, Lake Placid averages a daily high of -0.7°C and a low of -10.1°C, with about 71.5 mm of rain over roughly 12 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Lake Placid in December?
- Lake Placid has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 30 in December.
- Does it snow in Lake Placid in December?
- Lake Placid sees roughly 49.5 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Lake Placid
Compare Lake Placid in December
Warmer or cooler than Lake Placid in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: Stowe's Ski season around 20 Nov – 15 Apr, and Killington's Ski season around 1 Nov – 25 May.