Moab, UT weather in December
December in Moab: chilly and mostly dry, with some snow. Highs 44°F, lows 22°F, about 6 days with rain or snow and about 4.9 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Moab.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 0.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.9 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 18% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:16 am / 4:57 pm | 7:35 am / 5:06 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 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 (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.8 in; a dry December brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 4.9 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20201995: average high 53°F
- Coolest December2009: average high 34°F
- Wettest December2007: 1.9 in
- Driest December1995: 0.2 in
- Highest reading69°F (December 1, 1999)
- Lowest reading-5°F (December 10, 2009)
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 | 44°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 22°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -13°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Springdale, UT211 mi · high 53°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Telluride, CO104 mi · high 36°F · 9 wet days
How Moab ranks in December
- Normal high251st warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 7 in Utah
- Wet days61st driest of 378
What to pack for Moab in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 44°F
- Waterproof boots – about 4.9 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 993 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 Moab in December?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -5°F (December 10, 2009).
Does it rain a lot in Moab in December?
About 6 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.8 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2007 (1.9 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Moab in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 4.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is December a good time to visit Moab?
December ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Moab (39 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Moab (USC00425733), 0.2 mi ENE of the city center, 4,053 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).