Gillette, WY weather in December
Expect cold weather with some rain and some snow in Gillette in December, with highs near 36°F and lows near 16°F. Rain or snow falls on about 7 days. Snowfall averages about 8.4 in. It is one of the coldest months in Gillette.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 16°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 0.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 8.4 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 21% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:17 am / 4:24 pm | 7:37 am / 4:32 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).
A typical December day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 am26°Fdew point 15°F
- Noon33°Fdew point 17°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 17°F
- 6 pm25°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 15°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Gillette Campbell Airport (4 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 0.6 in; a dry December brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 0.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 8.4 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202020: average high 42°F
- Coolest December1992: average high 26°F
- Wettest December1996: 1.8 in
- Driest December2006: 0.02 in
- Highest reading65°F (December 8, 2020)
- Lowest reading-27°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 | 46°F | 36°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 16°F | 16°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 8.9 h | 9.3 h |
Highs change by -10°F from November and 0°F into January.
How Gillette ranks in December
- Normal high329th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in Wyoming
- Wet days111th driest of 378
What to pack for Gillette in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 16°F, highs near 36°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1210 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 Gillette in December?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 16°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -27°F (December 21, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in Gillette in December?
About 7 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.6 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (1.8 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.02 in).
Does it snow in Gillette in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 8.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is December a good time to visit Gillette?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Gillette (30 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Gillette 4SE (USC00483855), 3.1 mi ESE of the city center, 4,640 ft (86 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Gillette Campbell Airport (USW00094023), 3.9 mi NNW of the city center, 4,354 ft (200 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).