Pocatello weather in December

In December, Pocatello sees average daytime highs of 31°F and overnight lows near 17°F, with 2.0 in of precipitation across 10.5 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 34°F in the first days to 29°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Pocatello's 12th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pocatello's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
11th warmest
Overnight low
17°
1st coldest
Precipitation
2.0 in
10.5 wet days
Daylight
8 h 54 min
8:00 AM – 4:52 PM
Cloud cover
68%
12th clearest
Wind
6 mph
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.86 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Pocatello is city in Bannock and Power counties in Idaho, United States, that is the county seat of Bannock County.

Density
649/km²
people per km²
Founded
1889

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 34°F in the first days to 29°F by the end.

A typical December day in Pocatello reaches about 31°F in the afternoon and slips back to 17°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°F and 41°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 12°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°40°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13520
23420
33420
43419
53319
63319
73319
83218
93218
103218
113218
123118
133117
143117
153117
163017
173017
183017
193016
202916
212916
222916
232916
242916
252916
262916
272916
282916
292916
302916
312916

How December really feels in Pocatello

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
31 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Pocatello weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 17°2.010.911.19.20.0
Feb35° / 21°1.69.38.510.20.0
Mar45° / 28°1.910.66.911.61.1
Apr55° / 34°2.111.43.413.13.3
May65° / 42°2.310.20.814.45.8
Jun75° / 49°1.26.30.215.17.5
Jul86° / 58°0.64.2014.86.2
Aug84° / 56°0.84.4013.86.6
Sep74° / 48°1.250.112.37.9
Oct59° / 37°1.46.61.610.85.0
Nov43° / 26°1.68.25.89.50.8
Dec31° / 17°2.010.510.98.90.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 66%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13565
23565
33565
43466
53565
63565
73367
83466
93466
103466
113466
123466
133466
143367
153367
163367
173367
183367
193466
203466
213466
223466
233466
243466
253565
263466
273565
283565
293466
303565
313466

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Pocatello gets around 2.0 in of rain and snow over 10.5 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 33% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days, and about 11 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13230
23230
33231
43231
53332
63332
73333
83333
93334
103334
113334
123334
133335
143435
153435
163436
173436
183436
193436
203436
213436
223436
233436
243436
253436
263335
273335
283335
293335
303335
313435

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 6 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 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 7:47 AM to 8:07 AM, and sunset from 4:52 PM to 4:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:474:52
29.17:484:52
39.07:494:51
49.07:504:51
59.07:514:51
69.07:524:51
79.07:534:51
88.97:544:51
98.97:554:51
108.97:564:51
118.97:574:51
128.97:574:51
138.97:584:51
148.97:594:51
158.98:004:51
168.98:004:52
178.88:014:52
188.88:024:52
198.88:024:53
208.88:034:53
218.88:034:53
228.88:044:54
238.88:044:54
248.88:054:55
258.88:054:55
268.88:054:56
278.88:064:57
288.98:064:57
298.98:064:58
308.98:064:59
318.98:074:59

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.86 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.86 kWh/m² to a high of 7.91 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.86 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.522.5151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.0Dim
21.9Dim
31.9Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.8Dim
111.8Dim
121.8Dim
131.8Dim
141.8Dim
151.8Dim
161.8Dim
171.8Dim
181.8Dim
191.8Dim
201.8Dim
211.8Dim
221.9Dim
231.9Dim
241.9Dim
251.9Dim
261.9Dim
271.9Dim
281.9Dim
291.9Dim
301.9Dim
311.9Dim
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Pocatello?

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
8th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Pocatello.

What to pack for Pocatello in December

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

In December, Pocatello sees daytime highs around 31°F and nights near 17°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

UV index in Pocatello 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 Pocatello peaks around July 10 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateVery highHighModerateLowJul 10UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Pocatello 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 Pocatello is worst in August — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.9× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 1721 µg/m³Dec 178 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb11Good
Mar12Good
Apr11Good
May10Good
Jun10Good
Jul13Moderate
Aug22Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Pocatello?

Pocatello sits at 42.9°N, 112.4°W, 4,462 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Idaho Falls, 46 mi away.

Topography around Pocatello

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Pocatello has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 833 ft around an average of 4,596 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,923 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,033 ft.

The land around Pocatello is covered by artificial surfaces (42%) and grassland (31%) within 2 miles, grassland (51%) within 10 miles, and grassland (62%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
833 ft
10 miles
2,923 ft
50 miles
5,033 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Idaho Falls 46 mi · Conda 47 mi · Rexburg 74 mi · Logan 85 mi · Brigham City 96 mi · Twin Falls 104 mi · North Ogden 111 mi · Ogden 116 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 Pocatello (42.8713°, -112.4455°, elevation 4,462 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).