Springfield, MO weather in December
In December, Springfield sees highs around 47°F and lows around 28°F: chilly, with some rain and some snow. Rain or snow falls on about 8 days. Snowfall averages about 3.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Springfield.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.3 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:08 am / 4:56 pm | 7:26 am / 5:05 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 am32°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 29°F
- 3 pm44°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm39°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Springfield (6 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 58% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 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 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 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 2.6 in; a dry December brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.3 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202015: average high 54°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 32°F
- Wettest December2015: 11.4 in
- Driest December2005: 0.6 in
- Highest reading77°F (December 8, 1991)
- Lowest reading-10°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 | 57°F | 47°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 28°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | 9.7 h | 9.9 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and -3°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Fort Smith, AR140 mi · high 53°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO131 mi · high 42°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Lee's Summit, MO131 mi · high 42°F · 5 wet days
How Springfield ranks in December
- Normal high207th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days146th driest of 378
- Comfortable days175th most of 340
What to pack for Springfield in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 47°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 856 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 Springfield in December?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -10°F (December 22, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Springfield in December?
About 8 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (11.4 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Springfield in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 3.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is December a good time to visit Springfield?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Springfield (39 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Springfield (USW00013995), 5.8 mi WNW of the city center, 1,278 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Springfield-Branson Regional Airport (724400-13995), 5.3 mi WNW of the city center, 1,262 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.