Stowe weather in December

December in Stowe: freezing, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Stowe🇺🇸 United States · Great Lakes & Midwest · Ski83
  1. 91Jan
  2. 87Feb
  3. 78Mar
  4. 51Apr
  5. 21May
  6. 16Jun
  7. 12Jul
  8. 18Aug
  9. 14Sep
  10. 27Oct
  11. 68Nov
  12. 83Dec

#3 of 12 months in Stowe · #385 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 83/100 (tier A)

Days
1°C
Nights
-8°C
Wet days
15
Sun
4.3 h
Humidity
80%
Daylight
9 h
Stowe, United States
Photo: Hner Zibari · Pexels

Traveller notes on Stowe in December

Notes from nearby Burlington (42 km away)

Stowe doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Burlington, close enough to share the season.

Forum posters describe December in Burlington as cold, gray and dreary with short days, typical daytime highs in the 30sF and lows in the teens to 20sF, and posters note a relatively low chance of snow specifically in early-to-mid December compared to deeper winter. Posters are consistent that the city stays lively despite the weather, describing downtown Church Street as festively lit for Christmas with restaurants, bars and live music keeping the atmosphere upbeat through the cold, quiet season. Posters flag that real winter sports - skiing, snowshoeing and similar activities - require transportation out of town rather than being available within Burlington itself. Posters generally rate December as a quiet, atmospheric time to visit Burlington for anyone not chasing snow sports specifically.
Tripadvisor community · December · 1 month ago · about Burlington · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Stowe

Stowe-forum threads on an October visit describe peak foliage color as genuinely averaging within the first week of the month, posters naming late September through October fifteenth as the real sweet spot. Regulars call late-October arrivals genuinely too late for much color, several posters naming this the honest tradeoff though the town stays delightful with shops and restaurants open regardless. Posters call daytime conditions genuinely mild, several regulars naming highs in the fifties to sixties Fahrenheit with cooler nights as standard. Regulars call late fall genuinely its own draw beyond peak color, several threads naming quieter streets and easier bookings as real upsides. Posters recommend checking recent foliage reports before committing to exact dates, several regulars calling this standard given how fast the window can close. The record: 15.4C days, 3.7C nights, 117.2mm across nearly 11 days and 79 percent humidity.
StoweOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on an August visit describe the gondola as covering about ninety percent of the way up Mount Mansfield's east side, posters naming a remaining fifteen-minute stretch of steep scrambling as still required to reach the summit. Regulars call the toll road a real better option than the gondola for anyone wanting both views and a proper hike, several posters naming this the more complete way to experience the mountain. Posters call the Canyon Trail system a real highlight, several regulars naming its scrambling among the most impressive on the mountain. Regulars call riding the gondola down after hiking up genuinely available in past summers, several threads noting this policy has been uncertain since ownership changed. Posters recommend checking current gondola policy before an August hike, several regulars calling this standard given how much has shifted. The record: 25.8C days, 12.9C nights, 106.7mm across nearly 11 days and 77 percent humidity.
StoweAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on a May visit call this genuinely mud season locally, posters describing conditions capable of staying muddy right through the month depending on how the winter and spring went. Regulars call hiking trails on state land, including the Long Trail and its feeder routes, typically closed from early April through Memorial Day. Posters recommend the Stowe recreation path and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail as real alternatives, both open to walkers and cyclists regardless of the mud closures elsewhere. Regulars call real black flies a standing nuisance near running water, a genuine annoyance though harmless. Posters describe May as still genuinely rewarding for birding and wildflowers, orioles and various spring ephemerals real highlights for anyone working around trail closures. Regulars recommend checking current trail status before planning any higher route. The record: 19.7C days feeling like 18C, 5.2C nights, 102.4mm across over 11 days and 72 percent humidity.
StoweMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on March weather describe early-to-mid March as traditionally some of the best skiing of the entire season, base depth typically at its deepest and days noticeably longer and milder than deep winter. Posters call snow depth here often peaking in late March or even early April, a real contrast to the assumption that winter's tail end means thinning coverage. Regulars describe late March as considerably less predictable than the earlier weeks, some years staying cold and snowy while others swing warm fast. Posters call crowds through March noticeably smaller than the holiday peak, a genuine upside for anyone flexible on timing. Regulars recommend early-to-mid March as the more dependable target over the back half of the month. Posters recommend checking a current snow report before committing to specific late-March dates. The record: 4.6C days feeling like 1C, -6.8C nights, a notably high 39.1cm of fresh accumulation and 73 percent humidity.
StoweMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Stowe's card on the map.

Stowe climate normals — December

Daytime high1°C / 33°F🥶 freezing
Nighttime low-8°C / 17°F
Feels like (high)-3°C / 27°F
Rainfall103 mm / 4 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days15 days
Humidity80%💦 very humid
Dew point-6°C / 20°F
Sunshine4.3 h/day
Daylight8.9 h
Wind15 km/h / 9 mph
Snowfall47 cm / 18.5 in
Air quality (US AQI)31🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Stowe 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 crowdsSki season, Christmas and New Year peak, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Stowe'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 weatherStowe's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Stowe in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Closure

    Smugglers' Notch road closed

    20 Oct – 20 May · usually

    Route 108 squeezes between boulders over the notch and closes for the winter once the snow comes, usually not reopening until late May. The detour round to Jeffersonville is over an hour. Source ↗

  • Season

    Ski season

    20 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyCrowded

    The mountain usually opens around Thanksgiving on machine-made snow and runs to mid-April, with the front four and the trees off them dependent on whatever the Northeast winter delivers. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year peak

    20 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    The dearest fortnight in the valley, sold out months ahead, with lift queues that no January weekend matches. The village road backs up to the mountain for most of the afternoon. Source ↗

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 47 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Stowe — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Stowe?

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Stowe in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Stowe?
December in Stowe: freezing, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Stowe on SeasonMap's comfort score (83/100).
What is the weather like in Stowe in December?
In December, Stowe averages a daily high of 0.8°C and a low of -8.3°C, with about 102.7 mm of rain over roughly 14.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Stowe in December?
Stowe has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 31 in December.
Does it snow in Stowe in December?
Stowe sees roughly 47 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Ottawa's Winter Lights Across Canada around 5 Dec – 8 Jan, and Boston's First Night on 31 Dec – 1 Jan.