Ottumwa weather in December

In December, Ottumwa sees average daytime highs of 37°F and overnight lows near 22°F, with 1.8 in of precipitation across 6.3 wet days and about 9.1 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 41°F in the first days to 34°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of December to 9 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Ottumwa's 10th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ottumwa's year-round climate.

Daytime high
37°
10th warmest
Overnight low
22°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
1.8 in
6.3 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:34 AM – 4:38 PM
Cloud cover
64%
10th clearest
Wind
9 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
1.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Ottumwa is city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States.

Density
575/km²
people per km²
Founded
1844

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 41°F in the first days to 34°F by the end.

A typical December day in Ottumwa reaches about 37°F in the afternoon and slips back to 22°F overnight — a 15°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°F and 52°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 12°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14226
24226
34125
44125
54024
64024
73924
83923
93823
103823
113822
123722
133722
143722
153722
163621
173621
183621
193621
203520
213520
223520
233520
243520
253419
263419
273419
283419
293419
303318
313318

How December really feels in Ottumwa

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
25 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Ottumwa weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 16°1.46.84.59.40.0
Feb36° / 20°1.874.310.40.0
Mar49° / 31°2.792.511.72.1
Apr62° / 42°4.311.60.813.14.9
May72° / 53°4.812.70.114.36.2
Jun81° / 63°5.011.8014.96.0
Jul85° / 67°3.39.6014.65.4
Aug83° / 64°3.59.4013.66.2
Sep76° / 56°3.68.1012.37.2
Oct64° / 44°2.87.90.210.95.9
Nov49° / 32°2.26.71.29.72.2
Dec37° / 22°1.86.33.59.10.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 60%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14159
24159
34159
44258
54258
64258
74258
84258
94258
104159
114159
124159
134159
144159
154159
164159
173961
183961
193961
203961
213961
223961
233961
243862
253961
264060
274060
284060
294060
304060
314060

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Ottumwa gets around 1.8 in of rain and snow over 6.3 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 21% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1219
2219
32110
42110
52111
62111
72011
82011
92011
102012
112112
122111
132111
142111
152111
162111
172111
182111
192111
202111
212111
222011
232011
242011
252011
262011
272011
282112
292112
302112
312112

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 (%)Comfortable (%)
1991
2991
3991
4991
5991
6991
7991
8991
9991
10991
11991
121000
131000
141000
151000
161000
171000
181000
191000
201000
211000
221000
231000
241000
251000
261000
271000
281000
291000
301000
311000

Wind in December

Winds average 9 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
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
2810light breeze
2910light breeze
3010light breeze
3110light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 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 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:21 AM to 7:40 AM, and sunset from 4:37 PM to 4:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.37:214:37
29.27:224:37
39.27:234:37
49.27:244:37
59.27:254:37
69.27:264:37
79.27:274:37
89.17:284:37
99.17:294:37
109.17:304:37
119.17:304:37
129.17:314:37
139.17:324:37
149.17:334:37
159.17:334:37
169.17:344:38
179.17:354:38
189.17:354:38
199.17:364:39
209.07:364:39
219.07:374:40
229.07:374:40
239.07:384:40
249.07:384:41
259.17:394:42
269.17:394:42
279.17:394:43
289.17:404:43
299.17:404:44
309.17:404:45
319.17:404:45

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.82 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.82 kWh/m² to a high of 6.44 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.82 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
71.8Dim
81.8Dim
91.8Dim
101.8Dim
111.8Dim
121.8Dim
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
271.8Dim
281.8Dim
291.9Dim
301.9Dim
311.9Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Ottumwa?

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 Ottumwa.

What to pack for Ottumwa in December

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

In December, Ottumwa sees daytime highs around 37°F and nights near 22°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 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 highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodJul 1816 µg/m³Oct 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb14Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr11Good
May12Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct7Good
Nov8Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ottumwa?

Ottumwa sits at 41.0°N, 92.4°W, 673 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Newton, 57 mi away.

Topography around Ottumwa

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Ottumwa has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 249 ft around an average of 715 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 322 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 574 ft.

The land around Ottumwa is covered by trees (45%), artificial surfaces (25%) and grassland (20%) within 2 miles, cropland (40%), trees (33%) and grassland (24%) within 10 miles, and cropland (52%), grassland (25%) and trees (22%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
249 ft
10 miles
322 ft
50 miles
574 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Newton 57 mi · Kirksville 58 mi · Coralville 63 mi · Iowa City 63 mi · Indianola 64 mi · North Liberty 66 mi · Burlington 70 mi · Altoona 70 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 Ottumwa (41.02°, -92.4113°, elevation 673 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).