Lee's Summit, MO weather in December
Expect chilly, mostly dry weather in Lee's Summit in December, with highs near 42°F and lows near 24°F. Rain or snow falls on about 5 days. Snowfall averages about 2.4 in. It is one of the coldest months in Lee's Summit.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.4 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 | 16% | 15% |
| 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 (19 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 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 1.9 in; a dry December brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.4 in, with about 1 day 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: 4.6 in
- Driest December1996: 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 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 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, MO131 mi · high 47°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Des Moines, IA190 mi · high 36°F · 8 wet days
How Lee's Summit ranks in December
- Normal high270th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days40th driest of 378
- Comfortable days211th most of 340
What to pack for Lee's Summit in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 42°F
- 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 Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit in December?
About 5 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.9 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1992 (4.6 in); the driest was in 1996, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Lee's Summit in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 2.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 5 days.
Is December a good time to visit Lee's Summit?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lee's Summit (36 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Independence (USC00234154), 11 mi N of the city center, 985 ft (54 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain and snowfall: Unity Village (USC00238524), 2.7 mi NNW of the city center, 942 ft (97 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Pleasant Hill WFO (USC00236745), 9.4 mi SE of the city center, 1,000 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Lees Summit Muni Airport (USW00053879), 3.4 mi N of the city center, 997 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 19 mi NW of the city center, 742 ft (297 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 19 mi NW of the city center, 742 ft (297 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.