Columbia, MO weather in December
December in Columbia: chilly, with some rain and some snow. Highs 44°F, lows 27°F, about 8 wet days and about 3.4 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Columbia.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.4 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 24°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:09 am / 4:47 pm | 7:27 am / 4:56 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 am30°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon38°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia Rgnl Airport (11 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 54% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 43%.
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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 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 2.1 in; a dry December brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.4 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 29°F
- Wettest December2015: 7.0 in
- Driest December2017: 0.2 in
- Highest reading76°F (December 8, 1991)
- Lowest reading-3°F (December 22, 2000)
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 | 36°F | 27°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 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: Branson, MO167 mi · high 50°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO110 mi · high 42°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Peoria, IL189 mi · high 39°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in December
- Normal high255th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days139th driest of 378
- Comfortable days197th most of 340
What to pack for Columbia in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 44°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 925 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 Columbia in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -3°F (December 22, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (7.0 in); the driest was in 2017 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is December a good time to visit Columbia?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (36 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia Rgnl Airport (USW00003945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Columbia U Of M (USC00231801), 1.0 mi SE of the city center, 770 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Regional Airport (724450-03945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.