Independence, MO weather in December
Independence is chilly in December, with some rain and some snow: highs average 42°F and nights drop to about 24°F. Rain or snow falls on about 7 days. Snowfall averages about 3.5 in. This is the depth of winter in Independence.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.5 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 47°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:17 am / 4:55 pm | 7:36 am / 5:04 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 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 (10 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 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 1.8 in; a dry December brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.5 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 49°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 28°F
- Wettest December1992: 4.3 in
- Driest December2002: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading72°F (December 5, 2001)
- Lowest reading-7°F (December 19, 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 | 38°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 24°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 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: Springfield, MO143 mi · high 47°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Des Moines, IA179 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
How Independence ranks in December
- Normal high269th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days114th driest of 378
- Comfortable days210th most of 340
What to pack for Independence in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 42°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.5 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 996 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 Independence in December?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -7°F (most recently on December 19, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Independence in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1992 (4.3 in); the driest was in 2002, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Independence in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Independence?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Independence (35 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 and frost dates: Independence (USC00234154), 2.4 mi SE of the city center, 985 ft (50 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), 9.9 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 9.6 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.