United States Boston Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Boston is high
December is high for Boston.
December is Boston's Christmas-NYE peak month — Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week (Dec 23-Jan 2). Four Seasons Public Garden $1,500+/night vs $700-900 shoulder season. Reservations 6-8 months ahead are standard.
Boston Pops Holiday Concerts (early-mid December at Boston Symphony Hall) — the canonical Boston Christmas season tradition since 1980. Boston Ballet Nutcracker (late November-December at Boston Opera House) — the canonical New England Nutcracker production. Tickets $50-200 4-6 weeks ahead.
Travel score
Boston December Weather Stats
Avg High
5°C
Avg Low
-3°C
Rainy Days
12
100mm total
Sunshine
5h
Daily avg
Humidity
65%
moderate
UV Index
2
Low
Wind
17 km/h
Gusts 42
Sea Temp
7°C
freezing
Snow Days
4
Monthly avg
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Expect about 4 snow days this month. Bring slip-resistant shoes and warm gear.
Air Quality
PM2.5
9 μg/m³
PM10
20 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
1°C
Nighttime
-8°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
17 km/h
Max gust 42 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Christmas atmosphere + Boston Pops Holiday Concerts
- Boston Ballet Nutcracker
- First Night Boston NYE (free festival since 1976)
- Boston Common Frog Pond ice skating
- Christmas Tree Lighting
Cons
- Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week
- Wettest month (12 rainy days)
- Wind chill -5 to -10°C
- Nor'easter blizzard risk 1-3 per month
December Events & Festivals
- Boston Pops Holiday Concerts (early-mid Dec)
- Christmas Tree Lighting Boston Common (early Dec)
- Boston Ballet Nutcracker (late Nov-Dec)
- Christmas Eve + Christmas Day
- First Night Boston NYE December 31 (since 1976, free festival)
Boston in December — Full Picture
December is Boston's Christmas-NYE peak month — Hotels triple for Christmas-NYE week (Dec 23-Jan 2). Four Seasons Public Garden $1,500+/night vs $700-900 shoulder season. Reservations 6-8 months ahead are standard.
Boston Pops Holiday Concerts (early-mid December at Boston Symphony Hall) — the canonical Boston Christmas season tradition since 1980. Boston Ballet Nutcracker (late November-December at Boston Opera House) — the canonical New England Nutcracker production. Tickets $50-200 4-6 weeks ahead.
Faneuil Hall + Quincy Market Christmas lights + holiday market (free public). Macy's Department Store windows on Washington Street. Boston Common Frog Pond ice skating ($7-12 + skate rentals).
First Night Boston (NYE December 31, free festival since 1976) — the first 'First Night' citywide arts festival, copied by 100+ US cities. Boston Common + Faneuil Hall + Back Bay free street performances + fireworks 7 PM (family-friendly early fireworks) + midnight fireworks.
Weather: 5°C / 41°F days, -3°C / 27°F nights, wind chill -5 to -10°C / 14-23°F. Nor'easter blizzards 1-3 per winter month bringing 30-60 cm / 12-24 inch snowfalls.
The smart December move: target the first 2 weeks (pre-Christmas, post-Thanksgiving) for the brief mid-December value window. Four Seasons + Ritz-Carlton + Langham all need 4-6 months advance booking for Christmas-NYE week.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Winter — heavy parka + thermal layers + waterproof boots + wool hat + gloves + scarf. Wind chill -5 to -10°C / 14-23°F. Christmas-NYE peak crowd + price.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
14°C
4.3°C
11.7/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
26.7°C
17.3°C
9.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
17°C
8.3°C
9.7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current3.7°C
-4.7°C
11/mo
Boston Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2° | -6° | 11d·90mm | 5h | 65% | 2 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 4° | -5° | 10d·80mm | 6h | 64% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 8° | -1° | 12d·95mm | 7h | 62% | 4 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 14° | 4° | 12d·95mm | 8h | 60% | 5 | Very busy | Peak | |
| May (Best) | 20° | 10° | 11d·90mm | 9h | 60% | 7 | Very busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 25° | 15° | 11d·90mm | 10h | 64% | 9 | Busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 28° | 19° | 9d·85mm | 11h | 67% | 10 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 27° | 18° | 9d·90mm | 10h | 70% | 9 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 23° | 14° | 9d·90mm | 9h | 65% | 7 | Very busy | Peak |
| October (Best) | 17° | 8° | 9d·95mm | 7h | 65% | 5 | Very busy | Peak |
| 11° | 3° | 11d·95mm | 5h | 65% | 3 | Busy | Peak | |
| 5° | -3° | 12d·100mm | 5h | 65% | 2 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Boston December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Boston?
Boston in December is high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Boston in December?
Boston December averages a high of 5°C and a low of -3°C.
Does it rain much in Boston in December?
Boston December averages 100mm of rainfall over about 12 rainy days.
What should I wear in Boston in December?
Winter — heavy parka + thermal layers + waterproof boots + wool hat + gloves + scarf. Wind chill -5 to -10°C / 14-23°F. Christmas-NYE peak crowd + price.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Boston in December?
Boston December sunrise is 07:05 and sunset is 16:15, with 9h 10m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Boston in December?
Boston December air quality (AQI) averages 35, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 9μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Boston in December?
In December, Boston is great for Boston Pops Holiday Concerts, Boston Ballet Nutcracker, First Night Boston NYE (free).
Is December peak season in Boston?
Boston December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Boston
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.