Billings weather in December

In December, Billings sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 20°F, with 0.8 in of precipitation across 5.4 wet days and about 8.5 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 38°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 8 h 42 min at the start of December to 8 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Billings's 7th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Billings's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
11th warmest
Overnight low
20°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
0.8 in
5.4 wet days
Daylight
8 h 30 min
7:55 AM – 4:25 PM
Cloud cover
58%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
1.63 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Billings is city in and county seat of Yellowstone County, Montana, United States.

Density
1,039/km²
people per km²
Founded
1877

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 38°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Billings reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 20°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 18°F and 50°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13922
23822
33822
43821
53821
63721
73721
83721
93721
103721
113721
123620
133620
143620
153620
163620
173520
183520
193520
203519
213519
223519
233419
243419
253418
263418
273318
283318
293318
303317
313317

How December really feels in Billings

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
31 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Billings weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan35° / 18°0.95.75.88.90.0
Feb39° / 20°0.865.410.10.0
Mar49° / 27°1.27.14.311.62.1
Apr58° / 35°2.310.83.813.34.0
May67° / 45°2.610.70.614.76.0
Jun77° / 53°2.19015.56.9
Jul87° / 60°0.94.9015.25.5
Aug86° / 58°0.73.9013.96.1
Sep74° / 49°1.45.50.212.37.6
Oct59° / 38°1.87.22.210.75.0
Nov45° / 27°0.95.93.59.31.2
Dec36° / 20°0.85.45.28.50.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24753
34753
44852
54852
64852
74753
84753
94852
104753
114753
124852
134852
144852
154753
164753
174852
184852
194753
204753
214852
224852
234852
244852
254852
264753
274753
284753
294852
304852
314753

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Billings gets around 0.8 in of rain and snow over 5.4 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 17% and peaks near 20% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
11715
21715
31615
41615
51615
61615
71615
81615
91615
101615
111615
121615
131615
141616
151616
161716
171717
181717
191717
201818
211818
221818
231819
241919
251920
261920
272020
282020
292021
302021
312021

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 8 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 8 h 42 min at the start of December to 8 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:41 AM to 8:01 AM, and sunset from 4:26 PM to 4:33 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.77:414:26
28.77:434:26
38.77:444:25
48.77:454:25
58.77:464:25
68.67:474:25
78.67:484:25
88.67:494:24
98.67:504:24
108.67:514:24
118.57:514:24
128.57:524:24
138.57:534:24
148.57:544:25
158.57:554:25
168.57:554:25
178.57:564:25
188.57:574:26
198.57:574:26
208.57:584:26
218.57:584:27
228.57:594:27
238.57:594:28
248.58:004:28
258.58:004:29
268.58:004:29
278.58:014:30
288.58:014:31
298.58:014:31
308.58:014:32
318.58:014:33

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.63 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.63 kWh/m² to a high of 7.37 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.63 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.7Dim
21.7Dim
31.7Dim
41.7Dim
51.7Dim
61.7Dim
71.7Dim
81.7Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.6Dim
131.6Dim
141.6Dim
151.6Dim
161.6Dim
171.6Dim
181.6Dim
191.6Dim
201.6Dim
211.6Dim
221.6Dim
231.6Dim
241.6Dim
251.6Dim
261.6Dim
271.6Dim
281.6Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
311.7Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Billings?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Billings.

What to pack for Billings in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Billings sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 20°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Billings in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Billings peaks around July 13 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 13UV 9Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May6High
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7High
Sep5High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Billings in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Billings is worst in August — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodAug 1817 µg/m³Dec 157 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun12Good
Jul13Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Billings?

Billings sits at 45.8°N, 108.5°W, 3,123 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Sheridan, 101 mi away.

Topography around Billings

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Billings.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Billings has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 551 ft around an average of 3,196 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,096 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,050 ft.

The land around Billings is covered by artificial surfaces (38%), trees (28%) and grassland (25%) within 2 miles, grassland (69%) within 10 miles, and grassland (81%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
551 ft
10 miles
1,096 ft
50 miles
6,050 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Sheridan 101 mi · Bozeman 122 mi · Great Falls 178 mi · Helena 178 mi · Gillette 179 mi · Butte 194 mi · Rexburg 211 mi · Casper 229 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Billings (45.7833°, -108.5007°, elevation 3,123 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).