Estes Park weather in December

In December, Estes Park sees average daytime highs of 31°F and overnight lows near 10°F, with 1.1 in of precipitation across 6.3 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 33°F in the first days to 30°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Estes Park's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Estes Park's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
11th warmest
Overnight low
10°
1st coldest
Precipitation
1.1 in
6.3 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:24 AM – 4:32 PM
Cloud cover
48%
4th clearest
Wind
7 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.46 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Estes Park is town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States.

Density
356/km²
people per km²
Founded
1859

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 33°F in the first days to 30°F by the end.

A typical December day in Estes Park reaches about 31°F in the afternoon and slips back to 10°F overnight — a 20°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°F and 43°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°40°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13313
23312
33312
43312
53212
63211
73211
83211
93111
103111
113111
123111
133110
143110
153110
163010
173010
183010
193010
203010
213010
22309
23309
24309
25309
26309
27309
28309
29309
30309
313010

How December really feels in Estes Park

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.

Estes Park weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 11°1.16.77.69.40.0
Feb32° / 11°1.38.1910.40.0
Mar39° / 17°2.09.69.111.70.0
Apr44° / 22°3.413.510.2130.7
May54° / 31°4.618.65.114.22.7
Jun66° / 40°4.217.50.614.85.0
Jul72° / 46°5.720014.65.3
Aug70° / 45°4.920013.65.2
Sep63° / 37°3.013.31.112.35.1
Oct51° / 27°2.08.95.610.92.6
Nov39° / 18°1.26.26.39.80.1
Dec31° / 10°1.16.37.29.20.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 39%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16535
26436
36436
46337
56337
66337
76238
86139
96139
106139
116139
126139
136040
146040
156040
166040
176040
186040
196040
206139
216139
226139
236139
246139
256139
266139
276139
286040
296040
305941
315941

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Estes Park gets around 1.1 in of rain and snow over 6.3 wet days in December, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 20% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days, and about 7 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12123
22123
32123
42223
52223
62223
72123
82123
92123
102123
112123
122124
132124
142124
152124
162124
172124
182124
192024
202024
212024
221923
231923
241923
251923
261923
271922
281922
291922
301922
311922

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 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127light breeze
137light breeze
147light breeze
157light breeze
167light breeze
177light breeze
187light breeze
197light breeze
207light 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 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:12 AM to 7:31 AM, and sunset from 4:32 PM to 4:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:124:32
29.37:134:32
39.37:144:31
49.37:154:31
59.37:164:31
69.27:174:31
79.27:174:31
89.27:184:31
99.27:194:31
109.27:204:31
119.27:214:31
129.27:214:31
139.27:224:32
149.17:234:32
159.17:244:32
169.17:244:32
179.17:254:33
189.17:254:33
199.17:264:33
209.17:274:34
219.17:274:34
229.17:284:35
239.17:284:35
249.17:284:36
259.17:294:36
269.17:294:37
279.17:304:37
289.17:304:38
299.17:304:39
309.17:304:39
319.27:314:40

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.46 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.46 kWh/m² to a high of 7.61 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.46 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.6Moderate
22.6Moderate
32.5Moderate
42.5Moderate
52.5Moderate
62.5Moderate
72.5Moderate
82.5Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.4Moderate
122.4Moderate
132.4Moderate
142.4Moderate
152.4Moderate
162.4Moderate
172.4Moderate
182.4Moderate
192.4Moderate
202.4Moderate
212.4Moderate
222.4Moderate
232.4Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.5Moderate
262.5Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.5Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Estes Park

In seasonPeak

None of Estes Park's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Estes Park's rainy season runs April–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Estes Park?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Estes Park.

What to pack for Estes Park in December

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

In December, Estes Park sees daytime highs around 31°F and nights near 10°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Estes Park in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Estes Park peaks around July 13 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 11 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 13UV 11Jan 11UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May9Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Estes Park 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 Estes Park is worst in October — around 51 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.7× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorGoodOct 1447 µg/m³Jan 176 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr7Good
May8Good
Jun10Good
Jul10Good
Aug33Moderate
Sep27Moderate
Oct51Poor
Nov6Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Estes Park?

Estes Park sits at 40.4°N, 105.5°W, 0 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Loveland, 24 mi away.

Topography around Estes Park

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Estes Park has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,450 ft around an average of 7,825 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,995 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9,531 ft.

The land around Estes Park is covered by trees (54%) and grassland (32%) within 2 miles, trees (78%) within 10 miles, and grassland (42%) and trees (41%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
1,450 ft
10 miles
7,995 ft
50 miles
9,531 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermoss and lichen
December weather nearby: Loveland 24 mi · Longmont 27 mi · Fort Collins 27 mi · Boulder 29 mi · Windsor 34 mi · Erie 34 mi · Louisville 34 mi · Lafayette 35 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 Estes Park (40.3772°, -105.5217°, elevation 0 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).