Indianola weather in December

In December, Indianola sees average daytime highs of 36°F and overnight lows near 20°F, with 1.6 in of precipitation across 6 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 40°F in the first days to 33°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 12 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Indianola's 10th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Indianola's year-round climate.

Daytime high
36°
10th warmest
Overnight low
20°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
1.6 in
6 wet days
Daylight
9 hours
7:40 AM – 4:41 PM
Cloud cover
63%
10th clearest
Wind
10 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
1.84 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Indianola is city in Warren County, Iowa, United States.

Density
531/km²
people per km²
Founded
1849

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 40°F in the first days to 33°F by the end.

A typical December day in Indianola reaches about 36°F in the afternoon and slips back to 20°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°F and 51°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 13°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14125
24125
34024
44024
53923
63923
73822
83822
93822
103722
113721
123721
133621
143621
153620
163520
173520
183520
193520
203419
213419
223419
233419
243419
253318
263318
273318
283318
293317
303217
313217

How December really feels in Indianola

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
28 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Indianola weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 15°1.26.14.49.40.0
Feb35° / 19°1.66.64.610.30.0
Mar49° / 30°2.792.511.72.0
Apr61° / 41°4.311.2113.14.9
May71° / 53°5.313.20.114.36.1
Jun81° / 63°4.911.6014.96.1
Jul84° / 67°3.89.8014.75.6
Aug83° / 64°3.59.4013.76.4
Sep76° / 55°3.68.3012.37.2
Oct63° / 43°2.87.80.310.95.8
Nov48° / 31°2.16.81.49.72.0
Dec36° / 20°1.663.79.10.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14456
24456
34456
44456
54555
64555
74555
84555
94555
104456
114555
124555
134357
144357
154357
164258
174159
184159
194060
204060
214060
224060
233961
243961
253961
263961
273961
284060
294060
304159
314258

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Indianola gets around 1.6 in of rain and snow over 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 20% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12210
22211
32211
42112
52112
62112
72112
82113
92113
102013
112013
122013
132013
142012
152012
162012
172012
182012
192012
202011
211911
221911
231811
241811
251811
261811
271811
281711
291711
301711
311711

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 10 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
110light breeze
210light breeze
310light breeze
410light breeze
510light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
1710light breeze
1810light breeze
1910light breeze
2010light breeze
2110light breeze
2210light breeze
2310light breeze
2410light breeze
2510light breeze
2610light breeze
2710light breeze
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 12 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 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 7:27 AM to 7:46 AM, and sunset from 4:41 PM to 4:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.27:274:41
29.27:284:41
39.27:294:41
49.27:304:40
59.27:314:40
69.17:324:40
79.17:334:40
89.17:344:40
99.17:344:40
109.17:354:40
119.17:364:40
129.17:374:40
139.17:374:41
149.07:384:41
159.07:394:41
169.07:404:41
179.07:404:41
189.07:414:42
199.07:414:42
209.07:424:43
219.07:424:43
229.07:434:43
239.07:434:44
249.07:444:44
259.07:444:45
269.07:454:46
279.07:454:46
289.07:454:47
299.07:454:47
309.07:464:48
319.17:464:49

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.84 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.84 kWh/m² to a high of 6.47 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.84 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.9Dim
21.9Dim
31.9Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.9Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.8Dim
141.8Dim
151.8Dim
161.8Dim
171.8Dim
181.8Dim
191.8Dim
201.8Dim
211.8Dim
221.8Dim
231.8Dim
241.8Dim
251.8Dim
261.8Dim
271.9Dim
281.9Dim
291.9Dim
301.9Dim
311.9Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Indianola?

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
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Indianola.

What to pack for Indianola in December

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

In December, Indianola sees daytime highs around 36°F and nights near 20°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Indianola 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 Indianola peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 20UV 9Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Indianola 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 Indianola is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1915 µg/m³Oct 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr10Good
May11Good
Jun12Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Indianola?

Indianola sits at 41.4°N, 93.6°W, 968 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Des Moines, 17 mi away.

Topography around Indianola

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Indianola has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 190 ft around an average of 912 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 305 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 741 ft.

The land around Indianola is covered by grassland (34%), trees (25%) and cropland (24%) within 2 miles, cropland (43%), grassland (30%) and trees (25%) within 10 miles, and cropland (53%) and grassland (26%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
190 ft
10 miles
305 ft
50 miles
741 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Des Moines 17 mi · West Des Moines 17 mi · Clive 19 mi · Urbandale 21 mi · Altoona 21 mi · Johnston 23 mi · Waukee 24 mi · Ankeny 26 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 Indianola (41.358°, -93.5574°, elevation 968 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).