Wichita, KS weather in December
In December, Wichita sees highs around 46°F and lows around 25°F: chilly and mostly dry, with some snow. Expect about 5 wet days. Snowfall averages about 3.1 in. It is one of the coldest months in Wichita.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.1 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 17% | 17% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 5:10 pm | 7:44 am / 5:20 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 9.6 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 am30°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Wichita (6 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 53% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 41%.
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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 52°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 33°F
- Wettest December1999: 4.1 in
- Driest December1996: 0.03 in
- Highest reading73°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-10°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 | 57°F | 46°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 25°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.6 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and -2°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Tulsa, OK130 mi · high 51°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Lincoln, NE218 mi · high 39°F · 6 wet days
How Wichita ranks in December
- Normal high226th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 3 in Kansas
- Wet days57th driest of 378
- Comfortable days192nd most of 340
What to pack for Wichita in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 46°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 911 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 Wichita in December?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (December 18, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Wichita in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (4.1 in); the driest was in 1996 (0.03 in).
Does it snow in Wichita in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is December a good time to visit Wichita?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Wichita (40 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Wichita (USW00003928), 6.3 mi WSW of the city center, 1,335 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Wichita Mcconnell AFB (USW00003923), 6.5 mi SE of the city center, 1,358 ft (55 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Wichita Eisenhower National (724500-03928), 5.9 mi WSW of the city center, 1,318 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.