Olathe, KS weather in December
Expect chilly weather with some rain and some snow in Olathe in December, with highs near 42°F and lows near 25°F. Rain or snow falls on about 6 days. Snowfall averages about 4.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Olathe.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.3 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 47°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 4:57 pm | 7:37 am / 5:06 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 9.5 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 am31°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon39°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Kansas City Downtown Airport (20 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 63% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 35%.
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 snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry December brings about 0.8 in and a wet one about 2.2 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 28°F
- Wettest December2015: 4.0 in
- Driest December2002: 0.02 in
- Highest reading71°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-8°F (December 18, 2016)
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 | 42°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 25°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Branson, MO178 mi · high 50°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Des Moines, IA198 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
How Olathe ranks in December
- Normal high266th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Kansas
- Wet days83rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days201st most of 340
What to pack for Olathe in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 42°F
- 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 967 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 Olathe in December?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -8°F (December 18, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Olathe in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (4.0 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.02 in).
Does it snow in Olathe in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is December a good time to visit Olathe?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Olathe (37 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport (USW00003967), 4.8 mi ESE of the city center, 1,070 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Bonner Springs (USC00140957), 13 mi NNW of the city center, 850 ft (185 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 20 mi NE of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: New Century Aircenter Arpt (724475-93909), 5.6 mi SW of the city center, 1,055 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.