Richmond weather in December
December in Richmond: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Richmond · #970 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 61/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 12°C
- Nights
- 0°C
- Wet days
- 8
- Sun
- 6 h
- Humidity
- 71%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Richmond in December
Other months in Richmond
Forum posters describe late November in Richmond as usually cool and crisp, not too cold as long as it isn't raining, with temperatures sometimes still reaching the 60s or 70sF earlier in the month. Posters are direct that fall weather here is genuinely finicky, and conditions can turn colder and more unpredictable as November wears on. Posters consistently note that real winter cold doesn't typically arrive until late December or early January, with Richmond winters generally mild by regional standards - an occasional light dusting of snow, annual totals usually under a foot, and daytime temperatures well above freezing even if nights get properly chilly. Posters generally rate November as a good time to visit, with pleasant conditions for exploring the city's historical sites outdoors.
Richmond forum regulars call early October “lovely with mild temps,” warm days and cool nights that regulars name alongside April and September as the city's best-weather months. The honest caveat: fall and spring in Virginia are very finicky seasons, with real variation possible from one day to the next even within a single week's visit — layers are the standard recommendation for exactly that reason, since a warm afternoon can follow a genuinely cool morning. The payoff for timing it right: many of the city's most popular outdoor events cluster into this stretch. Our record: 22°C days, 12.7°C nights, 7 rain days and 7.5 hours of sun — mild and comfortably dry, matching the “best of the year, but check the week's forecast” read.
Richmond-area forum regulars call April one of the better months to avoid summer's heat and humidity, but warn spring here is genuinely unsettled — “wet, snow, sleet, rain or unseasonably warm conditions” can all show up in the same week. Average highs sit in the mid-60s°F and lows in the mid-40s, but it's still early spring: posters note it's “barely out of winter,” so be prepared for anything from near-freezing to low-80s depending on the week. Historic Garden Week typically falls in April, with private homes and gardens across the state opened for tours — a reason to time a visit for the month beyond the weather itself. Our record: 21°C days, 9.5°C nights and 9.8 rain days — mild on average, with the real variability the forum describes sitting underneath that number.
April and early May are the forum's picks for Richmond — mild days, cool nights, and well clear of a summer regulars describe as steamy, over 32°C with high humidity. May averages near 25°C by day and 14 overnight. The honest caveat they add is that a Virginia spring is "a bit dodgy": it may be hot or cold, it may rain or not, and the month is genuinely unpredictable rather than reliably pleasant. October is the other month they name, and the one they rate as the more dependable of the two.
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Richmond climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Richmond 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 crowdsGardenFest of Lights, Christmas and New Year, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Richmond'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 weatherRichmond's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Richmond in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Opening
GardenFest of Lights
15 Nov – 5 Jan · usuallyLights & fireBook earlyCrowdedLewis Ginter Botanical Garden is strung with around a million lights from mid-November into the first days of January. Entry is by timed ticket bought in advance, and the popular evening slots near Christmas sell out. 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 Richmond — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Richmond?
Richmond in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Richmond?
- December in Richmond: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Richmond on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
- What is the weather like in Richmond in December?
- In December, Richmond averages a daily high of 11.5°C and a low of 0°C, with about 97 mm of rain over roughly 7.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Richmond in December?
- Richmond has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in December.
- Does it snow in Richmond in December?
- Richmond sees roughly 4.3 cm of snowfall in December.
Within 300 km: Virginia Beach's Winter whale season around 15 Dec – 15 Mar, and Outer Banks' First Flight anniversary on 17 Dec.