Topeka, KS weather in December
December in Topeka: chilly and mostly dry, with some snow. Highs 44°F, lows 24°F, about 6 wet days and about 4.1 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Topeka.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.1 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:22 am / 5:00 pm | 7:41 am / 5:09 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 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 am29°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon38°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm37°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm33°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Topeka Muni Airport (3 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 64% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 33%.
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 below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more5 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.5 in; a dry December brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 2.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 51°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 30°F
- Wettest December2007: 4.1 in
- Driest December1996: 0.04 in
- Highest reading74°F (December 3, 2012)
- Lowest reading-9°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 | 55°F | 44°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 24°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Tulsa, OK201 mi · high 51°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Omaha, NE153 mi · high 38°F · 7 wet days
How Topeka ranks in December
- Normal high253rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Kansas
- Wet days70th driest of 378
- Comfortable days202nd most of 340
What to pack for Topeka in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 44°F
- Waterproof boots – about 4.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 964 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 Topeka in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -9°F (December 18, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Topeka in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (4.1 in); the driest was in 1996 (0.04 in).
Does it snow in Topeka in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Topeka?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Topeka (38 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Topeka Muni Airport (USW00013996), 3.2 mi ENE of the city center, 876 ft (72 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Philip Billard Municipal Airport (724560-13996), 3.2 mi ENE of the city center, 880 ft (68 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.