Weather · December
San Luis Obispo weather in December
Average highs of 65°F, lows of 40°F and 3.3 in of rain, from 30 years of weather records.
December is San Luis Obispo’s coldest month, with average highs of 65°F and lows of 40°F. That is 6° cooler than November, and 7° below the yearly average high.
- Average high
- 65°F
- Average low
- 40°F
- Precipitation
- 3.3 in
- Wet days
- 9
- Sunrise · sunset
- 7:04 AM · 4:51 PM
What to wear in December
- Mild days: dress in layers, with a light jacket or sweater for mornings and evenings.
- Pack an umbrella or rain jacket: rain or snow falls on about 9 days this month.
What December weather is good for
What’s on in San Luis Obispo in December
Guides for this month: Christmas in San Luis Obispo · New Year’s Eve in San Luis Obispo.
- 50th Anniversary Downtown SLO Holiday ParadeFriday, December 4 · 7:00 p.m. · Downtown San Luis Obispo
- The Nutcracker: A Storybook Ballet (North County Dance Foundation)December 4 – December 6 · Fri. 7 p.m.; Sat. 5 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. · Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly campus, San Luis Obispo
- Cal Poly Choirs: Holiday KaleidoscopeSaturday, December 5 · 7:30 p.m. · Harold Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
- Hanukkah Downtown at Mission San Luis ObispoSaturday, December 5 · 5:00-7:00 p.m. · Front steps of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Mission Plaza
- Santa Arrives on the SurflinerSaturday, December 5 · About 10:53 a.m. (depends on train arrival) · SLO Amtrak Station, then the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
- Civic Ballet of SLO: The NutcrackerDecember 11 – December 13 · Fri. 7 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 12, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 13, 2 p.m. · Harold Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
- Christmas Dreaming with Stella ColeMonday, December 14 · 7:30 p.m. · Harold Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
- SLO Master Chorale: Holiday Festival and Sing-Along MessiahSaturday, December 19 · 7:30 p.m. · Harold Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
- Noon Year's Eve at the Central Coast ZooThursday, December 31 · 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. · Central Coast Zoo, Atascadero (about 20 minutes north)
- SLO Symphony New Year's Eve Pops: Experience FantasiaThursday, December 31 · 7:30 p.m.; countdown at 9 p.m. · Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo
See all upcoming events.
December compared with the months around it
Planning a trip? See the best time to visit San Luis Obispo and today’s forecast.
Questions
How hot does it get in San Luis Obispo in December?
Average highs are 65°F and average lows 40°F, for a daily mean of 53°F. Individual days run hotter or colder than these 30-year averages.
Does it rain in San Luis Obispo in December?
December averages 3.3 in of precipitation over about 9 days with at least 0.01 in. It is the 3rd wettest month of the year.
What time is sunset in San Luis Obispo in December?
Around mid-December the sun rises about 7:04 AM and sets about 4:51 PM, for roughly 9.8 hours of daylight.
Is December a good time to visit San Luis Obispo?
The mildest months for visiting are June, August, September. December is mild, with Christmas lights and New Year’s Eve events.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, San Luis Obispo Ap station (2.8 mi from downtown). Sunrise and sunset are calculated for December 15 at the city’s coordinates.