McKinney weather in December

In December, McKinney sees average daytime highs of 56°F and overnight lows near 39°F, with 3.8 in of precipitation across 7.2 wet days and about 9.8 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 59°F in the first days to 54°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is McKinney's 7th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see McKinney's year-round climate.

Daytime high
56°
11th warmest
Overnight low
39°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
3.8 in
7.2 wet days
Daylight
9 h 48 min
7:28 AM – 5:17 PM
Cloud cover
51%
7th clearest
Wind
9 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.52 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.2
out of 10

McKinney is city in Collin County, Texas, United States.

Density
988/km²
people per km²
Founded
1848

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 59°F in the first days to 54°F by the end.

A typical December day in McKinney reaches about 56°F in the afternoon and slips back to 39°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 42°F and 70°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 1°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16042
26041
35941
45941
55840
65840
75840
85840
95740
105739
115739
125739
135639
145639
155638
165638
175638
185638
195638
205538
215538
225537
235537
245537
255537
265537
275537
285437
295437
305437
315437

How December really feels in McKinney

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 15 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
15
wind chill below the day's low

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

McKinney weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan55° / 37°2.86.80.510.13.8
Feb59° / 40°2.97.50.610.84.8
Mar66° / 47°4.19.50.311.76.2
Apr74° / 55°4.69.2012.87.0
May81° / 64°5.711.5013.76.1
Jun89° / 72°3.69.1014.24.4
Jul93° / 75°2.06.20143.4
Aug93° / 75°2.05.8013.23.4
Sep87° / 68°3.16.8012.25.4
Oct76° / 57°4.17.9011.27.4
Nov65° / 46°3.77.2010.36.4
Dec56° / 39°3.87.20.39.84.2

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% 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 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16040
25941
35941
45842
55842
65743
75644
85644
95545
105545
115446
125446
135446
145446
155446
165446
175446
185545
195446
205446
215446
225347
235347
245347
255347
265347
275347
285248
295347
305347
315347

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

McKinney gets around 3.8 in of rain and snow over 7.2 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 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1231
2231
3231
4241
5241
6241
7251
8251
9251
10251
11250
12250
13250
14240
15240
16240
17241
18241
19231
20231
21231
22231
23221
24221
25221
26221
27222
28222
29222
30222
31222

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 92% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
18875
28965
38965
49064
59064
69064
79064
89163
99253
109253
119352
129352
139352
149451
159541
169541
179541
189541
199541
209541
219541
229541
239541
249541
259541
269442
279352
289352
299352
309352
319253

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

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

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:17 AM to 7:35 AM, and sunset from 5:15 PM to 5:25 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.07:175:15
29.97:185:15
39.97:195:15
49.97:205:15
59.97:215:15
69.97:215:15
79.97:225:15
89.97:235:15
99.97:245:15
109.97:245:16
119.87:255:16
129.87:265:16
139.87:265:16
149.87:275:16
159.87:285:17
169.87:285:17
179.87:295:17
189.87:295:18
199.87:305:18
209.87:305:19
219.87:315:19
229.87:315:20
239.87:325:20
249.87:325:20
259.87:335:21
269.87:335:22
279.87:335:22
289.87:345:23
299.87:345:23
309.87:345:24
319.87:355:25

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.52 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.52 kWh/m² to a high of 6.77 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.52 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.7Moderate
22.7Moderate
32.6Moderate
42.6Moderate
52.6Moderate
62.6Moderate
72.6Moderate
82.5Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.5Moderate
122.5Moderate
132.5Moderate
142.5Moderate
152.5Moderate
162.5Moderate
172.5Moderate
182.5Moderate
192.5Moderate
202.5Moderate
212.5Moderate
222.5Moderate
232.5Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.5Moderate
262.5Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.5Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit McKinney?

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

4.2
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
0.1
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit McKinney for sightseeing.

What to pack for McKinney in December

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

In December, McKinney sees daytime highs around 56°F and nights near 39°F. Worth packing: a warm layer. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in McKinney in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 3 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in McKinney peaks around July 17 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 17UV 10Dec 21UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr9Very high
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in McKinney 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 McKinney is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (October, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1519 µg/m³Oct 248 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb8Good
Mar10Good
Apr11Good
May14Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct8Good
Nov8Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is McKinney?

McKinney sits at 33.2°N, 96.6°W, 630 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Allen, 7.5 mi away.

Topography around McKinney

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around McKinney has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 164 ft around an average of 594 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 318 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 722 ft.

The land around McKinney is covered by artificial surfaces (38%), trees (27%) and grassland (24%) within 2 miles, grassland (37%), trees (24%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 10 miles, and grassland (47%) and trees (26%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
164 ft
10 miles
318 ft
50 miles
722 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Allen 7.5 mi · Prosper 11 mi · Frisco 12 mi · Murphy 12 mi · Celina 13 mi · Plano 13 mi · Wylie 14 mi · The Trails of Frisco 15 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 McKinney (33.1976°, -96.6153°, elevation 630 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).