McAlester weather in December

In December, McAlester sees average daytime highs of 52°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 2.9 in of precipitation across 7 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 55°F in the first days to 50°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is McAlester's 8th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see McAlester's year-round climate.

Daytime high
52°
11th warmest
Overnight low
36°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
2.9 in
7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 42 min
7:29 AM – 5:09 PM
Cloud cover
53%
8th clearest
Wind
8 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.35 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.1
out of 10

McAlester is city in Oklahoma, United States.

Density
439/km²
people per km²
Founded
1872

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 55°F in the first days to 50°F by the end.

A typical December day in McAlester reaches about 52°F in the afternoon and slips back to 36°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 38°F and 66°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15639
25639
35538
45538
55538
65438
75437
85437
95337
105337
115337
125336
135336
145236
155236
165236
175236
185235
195135
205135
215135
225135
235135
245135
255135
265135
275034
285034
295034
305034
315034

How December really feels in McAlester

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 27 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
27
wind chill below the day's low

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

McAlester weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan50° / 33°2.46.619.92.6
Feb55° / 37°2.46.80.910.73.8
Mar64° / 45°4.0100.511.75.7
Apr72° / 53°4.79.7012.96.7
May79° / 62°5.311.8013.86.4
Jun87° / 71°3.58.8014.34.8
Jul92° / 74°2.57.3014.13.6
Aug92° / 73°2.27013.33.8
Sep84° / 66°3.37.4012.26.0
Oct74° / 55°3.67.8011.17.4
Nov62° / 44°3.17.10.310.25.7
Dec52° / 36°2.970.69.73.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 47%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25545
35545
45446
55446
65446
75347
85347
95347
105347
115248
125248
135347
145248
155248
165248
175248
185347
195347
205446
215446
225446
235446
245446
255446
265446
275446
285347
295347
305347
315347

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

McAlester gets around 2.9 in of rain and snow over 7 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 23% and peaks near 25% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1242
2242
3242
4242
5242
6242
7242
8252
9252
10252
11252
12242
13242
14242
15242
16242
17242
18232
19232
20222
21222
22212
23212
24212
25213
26213
27213
28213
29213
30213
31213

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 96% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19442
29442
39442
49442
59442
69541
79541
89541
99631
109631
119631
129631
139721
149721
159721
169721
179811
189811
199811
209811
219811
229811
239721
249721
259721
269721
279631
289631
299631
309541
319541

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.

051015151015202531
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 48 min at the start of December to 9 h 42 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 7:18 AM to 7:36 AM, and sunset from 5:08 PM to 5:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:185:08
29.87:195:07
39.87:205:07
49.87:215:07
59.87:215:07
69.87:225:07
79.77:235:07
89.77:245:07
99.77:255:08
109.77:255:08
119.77:265:08
129.77:275:08
139.77:275:08
149.77:285:09
159.77:295:09
169.77:295:09
179.77:305:09
189.77:305:10
199.77:315:10
209.77:325:11
219.67:325:11
229.67:335:12
239.67:335:12
249.77:335:13
259.77:345:13
269.77:345:14
279.77:355:14
289.77:355:15
299.77:355:15
309.77:365:16
319.77:365:17

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.35 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.35 kWh/m² to a high of 6.67 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.35 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.5Moderate
22.5Moderate
32.5Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.4Moderate
62.4Moderate
72.4Moderate
82.4Moderate
92.4Moderate
102.4Moderate
112.3Moderate
122.3Moderate
132.3Moderate
142.3Moderate
152.3Moderate
162.3Moderate
172.3Moderate
182.3Moderate
192.3Moderate
202.3Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.3Moderate
252.3Moderate
262.3Moderate
272.4Moderate
282.4Moderate
292.4Moderate
302.4Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit McAlester?

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

3.1
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 McAlester.

What to pack for McAlester in December

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

In December, McAlester sees daytime highs around 52°F and nights near 36°F. Pack a warm layer. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in McAlester 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 McAlester peaks around June 23 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 23UV 10Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr9Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in McAlester 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 McAlester is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.6× the cleanest month (November, 5 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodJul 1717 µg/m³Nov 185 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb9Good
Mar14Moderate
Apr10Good
May12Good
Jun14Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct6Good
Nov5Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is McAlester?

McAlester sits at 34.9°N, 95.8°W, 735 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Ada, 53 mi away.

Topography around McAlester

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around McAlester has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 315 ft around an average of 719 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 420 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,713 ft.

The land around McAlester is covered by trees (38%), grassland (33%) and artificial surfaces (26%) within 2 miles, trees (47%) and grassland (44%) within 10 miles, and trees (60%) and grassland (36%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
315 ft
10 miles
420 ft
50 miles
1,713 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Ada 53 mi · Muskogee 61 mi · Bixby 70 mi · Shawnee 71 mi · Durant 73 mi · Jenks 76 mi · Sapulpa 76 mi · Broken Arrow 77 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 McAlester (34.9334°, -95.7697°, elevation 735 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).