Springfield, IL weather in December
In December, Springfield sees highs around 41°F and lows around 25°F: cold, with some rain and some snow. Expect about 9 wet days. Snowfall averages about 4.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Springfield.
- Normal high
- 41°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.3 in
- snow on the ground 6 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:00 am / 4:34 pm | 7:19 am / 4:43 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am29°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon36°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm34°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm32°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Springfield Capital Airport (4 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 52% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 45%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more6 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.3 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 50°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 26°F
- Wettest December2015: 6.6 in
- Driest December2017: 0.4 in
- Highest reading74°F (December 3, 2012)
- Lowest reading-9°F (December 27, 2017)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 53°F | 41°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 25°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 9.4 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -5°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Louisville, KY242 mi · high 47°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Aurora, IL152 mi · high 36°F · 9 wet days
How Springfield ranks in December
- Normal high279th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days163rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days221st most of 340
What to pack for Springfield in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 41°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 993 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Springfield in December?
The normal high is 41°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -9°F (most recently on December 27, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Springfield in December?
About 9 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (6.6 in); the driest was in 2017 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Springfield in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.
Is December a good time to visit Springfield?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Springfield (32 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Springfield Capital Airport (USW00093822), 3.7 mi NW of the city center, 594 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (724390-93822), 3.7 mi NW of the city center, 590 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.