West Yellowstone, MT weather in December
West Yellowstone is very cold and snowy in December: highs average 23°F and nights drop to about 6°F. There are about 15 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 45.2 in. This is the depth of winter in West Yellowstone. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 23°F
- Normal low
- 6°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 4.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 45.2 in
- snow on the ground 31 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 26°F | 22°F |
| Normal low | 11°F | 3°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 49% | 50% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:41 am / 4:45 pm | 8:01 am / 4:53 pm |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 8.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in15 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more31 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 4.0 in; a dry December brings about 2.7 in and a wet one about 5.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 45.2 in, with about 11 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202004: average high 27°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 17°F
- Wettest December1996: 11.1 in
- Driest December1997: 1.6 in
- Highest reading51°F (December 12, 2014)
- Lowest reading-33°F (December 4, 1992)
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 | 34°F | 23°F | 23°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 6°F | 4°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 15 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 8.9 h | 9.3 h |
Highs change by -11°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Billings, MT148 mi · high 37°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Billings, MT148 mi · high 37°F · 6 wet days
How West Yellowstone ranks in December
- Normal high375th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days350th driest of 378
- Comfortable days310th most of 340
What to pack for West Yellowstone in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 6°F, highs near 23°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 15 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 31 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1573 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 West Yellowstone in December?
The normal high is 23°F and the normal low is 6°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -33°F (December 4, 1992).
Does it rain a lot in West Yellowstone in December?
About 15 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (11.1 in); the driest was in 1997 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in West Yellowstone in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 45.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 31 days.
Is December a good time to visit West Yellowstone?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for West Yellowstone (13 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Hebgen Dam (USC00244038), 18 mi NW of the city center, 6,489 ft (178 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain: Whiskey Creek (USS0011E30S), 4.2 mi SSW of the city center, 6,800 ft (133 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yellowstone (726664-94173), 35 mi ESE of the city center, 7,782 ft (1,115 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).