Missoula, MT weather in December
Missoula is cold and snowy in December: highs average 31°F and nights drop to about 18°F. Expect about 13 wet days. Snowfall averages about 11.6 in. This is the depth of winter in Missoula. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 1.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.6 in
- snow on the ground 16 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 30°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 17°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:00 am / 4:49 pm | 8:21 am / 4:56 pm |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | 8.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
A typical December day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm30°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 20°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Missoula Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more16 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.1 in; a dry December brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 11.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202004: average high 37°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 26°F
- Wettest December1996: 4.7 in
- Driest December1997: 0.3 in
- Highest reading58°F (December 21, 2019)
- Lowest reading-24°F (December 21, 1998)
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 | 40°F | 31°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 18°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 8.6 h | 9.0 h |
Highs change by -9°F from November and +1°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Boise, ID249 mi · high 39°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Great Falls, MT134 mi · high 36°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: West Yellowstone, MT207 mi · high 23°F · 15 wet days
How Missoula ranks in December
- Normal high359th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days321st driest of 378
- Comfortable days309th most of 340
What to pack for Missoula in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 16 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1260 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Missoula in December?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -24°F (December 21, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Missoula in December?
About 13 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.1 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (4.7 in); the driest was in 1997 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Missoula in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 11.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 16 days.
Is December a good time to visit Missoula?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Missoula (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Missoula Intl Airport (USW00024153), 5.7 mi NW of the city center, 3,192 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Missoula 2 Ne (USC00245735), 2.2 mi NE of the city center, 3,420 ft (212 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Missoula International Airport (727730-24153), 5.8 mi NW of the city center, 3,195 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).