Joplin weather in December

In December, Joplin sees average daytime highs of 47°F and overnight lows near 30°F, with 2.5 in of precipitation across 7.1 wet days and about 9.5 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 50°F in the first days to 45°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 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Joplin's 7th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Joplin's year-round climate.

Daytime high
47°
11th warmest
Overnight low
30°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
2.5 in
7.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 30 min
7:30 AM – 4:58 PM
Cloud cover
55%
7th clearest
Wind
7 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
2.18 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.7
out of 10

Joplin is city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County, Missouri, USA.

Density
542/km²
people per km²
Founded
1873

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 50°F in the first days to 45°F by the end.

A typical December day in Joplin reaches about 47°F in the afternoon and slips back to 30°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 32°F and 61°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)
15134
25133
35033
45033
55033
64932
74932
84932
94831
104831
114831
124731
134731
144731
154730
164730
174730
184630
194630
204630
214629
224629
234629
244629
254529
264529
274529
284528
294528
304528
314528

How December really feels in Joplin

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.

Joplin weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan45° / 28°2.37.129.71.0
Feb50° / 31°2.271.610.62.3
Mar59° / 40°3.910.30.911.74.6
Apr68° / 48°5.111.50.112.96.1
May76° / 58°6.2130.1146.3
Jun85° / 67°4.310.8014.55.3
Jul90° / 71°3.29.2014.34.2
Aug89° / 69°2.98.3013.44.5
Sep81° / 61°3.97.9012.36.7
Oct70° / 50°3.98.40.1117.0
Nov57° / 39°2.97.60.6104.5
Dec47° / 30°2.57.11.79.51.7

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 (%)
15347
25347
35248
45248
55149
65050
74951
84951
94951
104951
114951
125050
135050
145050
154951
164951
174951
184951
194951
204951
215050
224951
234951
244951
254951
264951
274951
284951
294852
304852
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Joplin gets around 2.5 in of rain and snow over 7.1 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 24% and peaks near 26% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1255
2255
3255
4266
5266
6266
7266
8266
9266
10266
11266
12266
13256
14256
15256
16256
17256
18245
19245
20235
21225
22225
23215
24215
25215
26215
27215
28215
29215
30215
31215

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 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1973
2973
3973
4982
5982
6982
7982
8982
9982
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25982
26982
27982
28982
29982
30982
31982

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
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
47light breeze
57light breeze
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 30 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 7:19 AM to 7:37 AM, and sunset from 4:57 PM to 5:06 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:194:57
29.67:204:57
39.67:204:57
49.67:214:57
59.67:224:57
69.67:234:57
79.57:244:57
89.57:254:57
99.57:254:57
109.57:264:57
119.57:274:57
129.57:284:57
139.57:284:57
149.57:294:58
159.57:304:58
169.57:304:58
179.57:314:58
189.57:314:59
199.57:324:59
209.57:335:00
219.47:335:00
229.47:345:01
239.47:345:01
249.57:345:01
259.57:355:02
269.57:355:03
279.57:365:03
289.57:365:04
299.57:365:04
309.57:365:05
319.57:375:06

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.18 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.18 kWh/m² to a high of 6.6 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.18 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.3Moderate
22.3Moderate
32.3Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.1Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.1Moderate
192.1Moderate
202.1Moderate
212.2Moderate
222.2Moderate
232.2Moderate
242.2Moderate
252.2Moderate
262.2Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.2Moderate
302.2Moderate
312.2Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Joplin?

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

1.7
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 Joplin.

What to pack for Joplin in December

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

In December, Joplin sees daytime highs around 47°F and nights near 30°F. Pack a warm layer. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in Joplin 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 Joplin peaks around June 21 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 21UV 10Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Joplin 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 Joplin is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1516 µg/m³Nov 196 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar12Good
Apr10Good
May12Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Joplin?

Joplin sits at 37.1°N, 94.5°W, 1,004 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Pittsburg, 25 mi away.

Topography around Joplin

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Joplin has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 177 ft around an average of 1,017 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 423 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,017 ft.

The land around Joplin is covered by artificial surfaces (40%), trees (38%) and grassland (21%) within 2 miles, trees (48%) and grassland (36%) within 10 miles, and grassland (43%), trees (31%) and cropland (23%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
177 ft
10 miles
423 ft
50 miles
1,017 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Pittsburg 25 mi · Bella Vista 43 mi · Bentonville 52 mi · Rogers 57 mi · Republic 57 mi · Siloam Springs 62 mi · Springdale 66 mi · Nixa 67 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 Joplin (37.0842°, -94.5133°, elevation 1,004 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).