Omaha, NE weather in December
Omaha is cold in December, with some rain and some snow: highs average 38°F and nights drop to about 20°F. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 5.8 in. This is the depth of winter in Omaha.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.8 in
- snow on the ground 9 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:30 am / 4:55 pm | 7:49 am / 5:04 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.3 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 am24°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am25°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm30°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm27°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Omaha Eppley Airfield (4 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 46% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more9 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry December brings about 0.5 in and a wet one about 1.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.8 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202006: average high 43°F
- Coolest December2000: average high 24°F
- Wettest December2015: 5.3 in
- Driest December2002: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading69°F (December 1, 1998)
- Lowest reading-14°F (December 31, 2017)
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 | 50°F | 38°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 20°F | 15°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 9.3 h | 9.6 h |
Highs change by -12°F from November and -4°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Topeka, KS153 mi · high 44°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Sioux Falls, SD163 mi · high 32°F · 7 wet days
How Omaha ranks in December
- Normal high305th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 2 in Nebraska
- Wet days102nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days281st most of 340
What to pack for Omaha in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 38°F
- Waterproof boots – about 5.8 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1124 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 Omaha in December?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -14°F (December 31, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Omaha in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2002, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Omaha in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 5.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 9 days.
Is December a good time to visit Omaha?
December ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Omaha (32 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Omaha Eppley Airfield (USW00014942), 4.1 mi NNE of the city center, 982 ft (74 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Eppley Airfield Airport (725500-14942), 4.1 mi NNE of the city center, 980 ft (76 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.