Lakewood weather in December

In December, Lakewood sees average daytime highs of 42°F and overnight lows near 18°F, with 0.8 in of precipitation across 4.8 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 44°F in the first days to 40°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Lakewood's 3rd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Lakewood's year-round climate.

Daytime high
42°
12th warmest
Overnight low
18°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
0.8 in
4.8 wet days
Daylight
9 h 12 min
7:20 AM – 4:33 PM
Cloud cover
40%
3rd clearest
Wind
5 mph
4th windiest
Solar energy
2.55 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.3
out of 10

Lakewood is city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.

Density
1,337/km²
people per km²
Founded
1889

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 44°F in the first days to 40°F by the end.

A typical December day in Lakewood reaches about 42°F in the afternoon and slips back to 18°F overnight — a 23°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°F and 56°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14521
24421
34420
44420
54420
64320
74320
84319
94219
104219
114219
124219
134219
144219
154118
164118
174118
184118
194118
204018
214017
224017
234017
244017
254017
264017
274017
284017
294017
304017
314017

How December really feels in Lakewood

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
31 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Lakewood weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan42° / 18°0.95.259.50.3
Feb44° / 20°0.95.85.510.41.0
Mar53° / 27°1.97.65.711.73.3
Apr59° / 33°2.79.94.7134.7
May69° / 43°3.211114.26.2
Jun80° / 52°2.18.3014.86.8
Jul85° / 58°1.67.2014.55.5
Aug83° / 57°1.56.4013.66.3
Sep76° / 49°1.45.80.512.37.7
Oct64° / 37°1.66.12.210.96.4
Nov51° / 26°1.265.19.82.9
Dec42° / 18°0.84.84.99.20.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 30%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16931
26931
36931
47030
57030
67030
77030
87030
97030
107030
117030
127030
137030
147030
157030
167030
177030
187030
197129
207129
217129
227129
237030
247030
257030
267030
277030
287030
296931
306931
316931

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Lakewood gets around 0.8 in of rain and snow over 4.8 wet days in December, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 16% and peaks near 18% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
11818
21717
31717
41717
51616
61616
71616
81616
91616
101616
111616
121616
131716
141717
151717
161717
171717
181717
191717
201717
211717
221717
231717
241617
251617
261617
271616
281616
291616
301515
311515

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 5 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 5 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:08 AM to 7:27 AM, and sunset from 4:32 PM to 4:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:084:32
29.47:094:32
39.47:104:32
49.37:114:32
59.37:124:31
69.37:134:31
79.37:144:31
89.37:144:31
99.37:154:31
109.37:164:31
119.27:174:32
129.27:184:32
139.27:184:32
149.27:194:32
159.27:204:32
169.27:204:33
179.27:214:33
189.27:224:33
199.27:224:34
209.27:234:34
219.27:234:34
229.27:244:35
239.27:244:35
249.27:254:36
259.27:254:36
269.27:254:37
279.27:264:38
289.27:264:38
299.27:264:39
309.27:264:40
319.27:274:40

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.55 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.55 kWh/m² to a high of 7.45 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.55 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.6Moderate
22.6Moderate
32.6Moderate
42.6Moderate
52.6Moderate
62.6Moderate
72.6Moderate
82.5Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.5Moderate
122.5Moderate
132.5Moderate
142.5Moderate
152.5Moderate
162.5Moderate
172.5Moderate
182.5Moderate
192.5Moderate
202.5Moderate
212.5Moderate
222.5Moderate
232.5Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.6Moderate
302.6Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Lakewood?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.3
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Lakewood.

What to pack for Lakewood in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Lakewood sees daytime highs around 42°F and nights near 18°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Lakewood in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Lakewood peaks around July 14 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 14UV 11Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar7High
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Lakewood in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Lakewood is worst in August — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.6× the cleanest month (May, 13 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateAug 1620 µg/m³May 1113 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan17Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar16Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May13Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov15Moderate
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Lakewood?

Lakewood sits at 39.7°N, 105.1°W, 5,518 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Wheat Ridge, 4.3 mi away.

Topography around Lakewood

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Lakewood.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Lakewood has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 417 ft around an average of 5,502 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,805 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9,505 ft.

The land around Lakewood is covered by artificial surfaces (57%) and trees (27%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (46%), grassland (26%) and trees (25%) within 10 miles, and grassland (43%) and trees (36%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
417 ft
10 miles
2,805 ft
50 miles
9,505 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermoss and lichen
December weather nearby: Wheat Ridge 4.3 mi · Denver 5.6 mi · Englewood 6.2 mi · Arvada 6.8 mi · Dakota Ridge 6.8 mi · Littleton 7.5 mi · Columbine 8.1 mi · Golden 8.1 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Lakewood (39.7047°, -105.0814°, elevation 5,518 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).