Fayetteville weather in December

In December, Fayetteville sees average daytime highs of 48°F and overnight lows near 32°F, with 3.0 in of precipitation across 7.6 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 51°F in the first days to 46°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Fayetteville's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Fayetteville's year-round climate.

Daytime high
48°
11th warmest
Overnight low
32°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
3.0 in
7.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:26 AM – 5:00 PM
Cloud cover
55%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.24 kWh/m²
Travel score
2.0
out of 10

Fayetteville is county seat of Washington County, Arkansas, United States.

Density
579/km²
people per km²
Founded
1828

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 51°F in the first days to 46°F by the end.

A typical December day in Fayetteville reaches about 48°F in the afternoon and slips back to 32°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 34°F and 62°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15235
25235
35134
45134
55134
65034
75033
84933
94933
104933
114933
124932
134832
144832
154832
164832
174832
184831
194731
204731
214731
224731
234731
244731
254731
264630
274630
284630
294630
304630
314630

How December really feels in Fayetteville

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
wind chill below the day's low

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

Fayetteville weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan46° / 29°2.77.61.79.81.4
Feb51° / 33°2.77.61.510.62.6
Mar60° / 40°4.410.6111.74.7
Apr68° / 49°5.511.1012.96.1
May75° / 58°5.612.9013.96.4
Jun83° / 67°4.110.9014.45.6
Jul88° / 70°3.310.4014.24.5
Aug87° / 69°3.09.6013.44.8
Sep81° / 61°3.87.8012.26.8
Oct70° / 50°4.19011.16.9
Nov58° / 40°3.77.90.410.14.5
Dec48° / 32°3.07.61.49.62.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 50%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15446
25446
35347
45347
55248
65248
75149
85050
95050
105050
114852
124852
134852
144852
154852
164852
174852
184852
194852
204852
214852
224951
234951
244951
255050
265050
275050
285050
295050
305149
315149

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Fayetteville gets around 3.0 in of rain and snow over 7.6 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 25% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1264
2264
3264
4264
5265
6265
7265
8265
9265
10265
11265
12265
13264
14264
15264
16264
17264
18254
19254
20254
21244
22244
23234
24234
25234
26235
27235
28235
29235
30235
31235

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 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1955
2964
3964
4964
5964
6964
7973
8973
9973
10973
11982
12982
13982
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21982
22982
23982
24982
25982
26973
27973
28973
29973
30964
31964

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 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 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 7:15 AM to 7:32 AM, and sunset from 4:58 PM to 5:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.77:154:58
29.77:154:58
39.77:164:58
49.77:174:58
59.77:184:58
69.77:194:58
79.67:204:58
89.67:204:58
99.67:214:58
109.67:224:58
119.67:234:58
129.67:234:59
139.67:244:59
149.67:254:59
159.67:254:59
169.67:265:00
179.67:275:00
189.67:275:00
199.57:285:01
209.57:285:01
219.57:295:02
229.57:295:02
239.57:305:02
249.57:305:03
259.57:315:04
269.67:315:04
279.67:315:05
289.67:325:05
299.67:325:06
309.67:325:07
319.67:325:07

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.24 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.24 kWh/m² to a high of 6.55 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.24 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.3Moderate
42.3Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.3Moderate
72.3Moderate
82.3Moderate
92.3Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.2Moderate
162.2Moderate
172.2Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.3Moderate
282.3Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Fayetteville?

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

2.0
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Fayetteville.

What to pack for Fayetteville in December

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

In December, Fayetteville sees daytime highs around 48°F and nights near 32°F. Pack a warm layer. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in Fayetteville in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Fayetteville peaks around July 12 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 3 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highVery highHighModerateJul 12UV 10Dec 22UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodJul 1518 µg/m³Nov 236 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr11Good
May13Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Fayetteville?

Fayetteville sits at 36.1°N, 94.2°W, 1,401 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Springdale, 8.7 mi away.

Topography around Fayetteville

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Fayetteville has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 564 ft around an average of 1,355 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,135 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,218 ft.

The land around Fayetteville is covered by trees (58%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 2 miles, trees (52%) and grassland (35%) within 10 miles, and trees (67%) and grassland (28%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
564 ft
10 miles
1,135 ft
50 miles
2,218 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Springdale 8.7 mi · Rogers 19 mi · Bentonville 22 mi · Siloam Springs 23 mi · Bella Vista 30 mi · Van Buren 45 mi · Tahlequah 47 mi · Fort Smith 48 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 Fayetteville (36.0626°, -94.1574°, elevation 1,401 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).