SeasonMapTraverse City weather in December
United States
December in Traverse City: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a hit-or-miss time to visit.
#10 of 12 months in Traverse City · #1238 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 42/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Traverse City in December
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Traverse City climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 3°C / 37°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -1°C / 29°F | |
| Rainfall | 66 mm / 2.6 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 13 days | |
| Humidity | 79% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -2°C / 28°F | |
| Sunshine | 3.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 8.9 h | |
| Wind | 22 km/h / 14 mph | |
| Snowfall | 30.2 cm / 11.9 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Traverse City 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 Traverse City'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 weatherTraverse City's best weather comes in June, August and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
December coincides with Lake-effect snow season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Traverse City in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Lake-effect snow season
15 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyExtreme coldBands of lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan can drop several inches an hour onto the peninsulas and the roads around the bay, and the region's seasonal total of well over a hundred inches mostly falls between late November and March. Driving the lakeshore roads after a squall is the main hazard, not the cold itself. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 30 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Traverse City — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Traverse City?
Traverse City in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Traverse City?
- December in Traverse City: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a hit-or-miss time to visit. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Traverse City on SeasonMap's comfort score (42/100).
- What is the weather like in Traverse City in December?
- In December, Traverse City averages a daily high of 2.5°C and a low of -1.4°C, with about 65.6 mm of rain over roughly 12.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Traverse City in December?
- Traverse City has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
- Does it snow in Traverse City in December?
- Traverse City sees roughly 30.2 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Traverse City
Compare Traverse City in December
Warmer or cooler than Traverse City in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: Mackinac Island's No motor vehicles on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.