SeasonMapSacramento weather in December
United States
December in Sacramento: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.
#10 of 12 months in Sacramento · #770 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 68/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Sacramento in December
Notes from nearby San Francisco (121 km away)
Sacramento doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about San Francisco, close enough to share the season.
Someone asked what time of day the fog rolls in during late December and got corrected, repeatedly: "fog is more of a summer phenomenon. It is more about clouds and rain in winter." One poster explains the mechanism — "fog is a function of the cold air over the Pacific being drawn to hot inland temps; in winter inland temps aren't hot, and ergo no typical fog" — so if December fog appears at all, it "usually doesn't roll in until around or after dark." What replaces it is storms, and the honest answer to any timing question in December is "it depends entirely on the storms, not time of day." Regulars suggest a Golden Gate webcam over a forecast. The other thing to plan for: "dark is pretty early, around 5pm." Our record: 12 rain days, 126mm, 9.6 daylight hours.
Other months in Sacramento
California's forum treats April as good weather statewide, with inland Central Valley cities like Sacramento running warmer than the coast by this point in spring. Regulars' standard advice for April travel anywhere in the state: pack layers, since mornings and evenings still run noticeably cooler than the afternoon.
Add your own note from Sacramento's card on the map.
Sacramento climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 15°C / 58°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 5°C / 42°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 13°C / 55°F | |
| Rainfall | 90 mm / 3.5 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 8 days | |
| Humidity | 79% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 5°C / 41°F | |
| Sunshine | 6.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 47 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Sacramento 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 crowdsCalifornia International Marathon, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Sacramento'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 weatherSacramento's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
December coincides with Tule fog season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Sacramento in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Tule fog season
1 Dec – 20 Feb · usuallyGround fog forms in the valley after the first rains and can sit for days without lifting, closing visibility on the causeway and delaying flights. It has thinned over the decades but still owns some Januaries. Source ↗
- Festival
California International Marathon
5–8 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedClosuresThe first Sunday in December, downhill from Folsom to the Capitol steps, which is why it is the qualifying race half the field came for. The last miles close the grid downtown. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Sacramento — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Sacramento?
Sacramento in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Sacramento?
- December in Sacramento: cool, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Sacramento on SeasonMap's comfort score (68/100).
- What is the weather like in Sacramento in December?
- In December, Sacramento averages a daily high of 14.5°C and a low of 5.3°C, with about 90.1 mm of rain over roughly 8.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Sacramento in December?
- Sacramento has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 47 in December.
Other months in Sacramento
Compare Sacramento in December
Warmer or cooler than Sacramento in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: San Francisco's Gray whale migration around 15 Dec – 15 May, and Santa Cruz, California's Monarch butterflies around 15 Oct – 15 Feb.