Kansas City, MO weather in December
Expect chilly, mostly dry weather with some snow in Kansas City in December, with highs near 44°F and lows near 27°F. Rain or snow falls on about 5 days. Snowfall averages about 4.0 in. It is one of the coldest months in Kansas City.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 27°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.0 in
- snow on the ground 5 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 16% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 4:56 pm | 7:37 am / 5:05 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 (2 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 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 1.3 in; a dry December brings about 0.7 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 4.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 52°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 29°F
- Wettest December2000: 9.5 in
- Driest December1996: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading74°F (December 3, 2012)
- Lowest reading-8°F (December 25, 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 | 22°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 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: Branson, MO185 mi · high 50°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Omaha, NE166 mi · high 38°F · 7 wet days
How Kansas City ranks in December
- Normal high250th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days39th driest of 378
- Comfortable days193rd most of 340
What to pack for Kansas City in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 44°F
- Waterproof boots – about 4.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 921 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 Kansas City in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -8°F (December 25, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Kansas City in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (9.5 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Kansas City in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Kansas City?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Kansas City (38 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 1.8 mi NW of the city center, 742 ft (156 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Kansas City Intl Airport (USW00003947), 16 mi NNW of the city center, 1,005 ft (107 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 2.0 mi NNW of the city center, 742 ft (156 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.