Rolla weather in December

In December, Rolla sees average daytime highs of 45°F and overnight lows near 29°F, with 2.6 in of precipitation across 7.7 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 48°F in the first days to 42°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Rolla's 9th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Rolla's year-round climate.

Daytime high
45°
11th warmest
Overnight low
29°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
2.6 in
7.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:22 AM – 4:45 PM
Cloud cover
60%
9th clearest
Wind
7 mph
6th windiest
Solar energy
2.01 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.9
out of 10

Rolla is city in and county seat of Phelps County, Missouri, United States.

Density
641/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 48°F in the first days to 42°F by the end.

A typical December day in Rolla reaches about 45°F in the afternoon and slips back to 29°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 30°F and 59°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 10°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14932
24832
34832
44831
54731
64731
74630
84630
94630
104630
114529
124529
134529
144529
154429
164429
174428
184428
194428
204428
214328
224328
234328
244327
254327
264327
274227
284227
294227
304227
314226

How December really feels in Rolla

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.

Rolla weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan42° / 25°2.77.63.19.70.1
Feb46° / 28°2.57.62.610.51.4
Mar56° / 37°3.610.81.611.73.8
Apr67° / 47°4.811.80.2135.8
May74° / 56°5.013.30146.3
Jun83° / 65°3.811.3014.65.5
Jul88° / 69°3.510.7014.44.5
Aug86° / 67°2.99.5013.55.0
Sep79° / 59°3.37.9012.37.0
Oct68° / 47°3.38.70.1116.6
Nov55° / 37°3.48.20.99.93.7
Dec45° / 29°2.67.72.19.40.9

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% 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 55%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34951
44753
54753
64753
74654
84654
94555
104555
114555
124456
134456
144456
154456
164456
174456
184456
194456
204555
214456
224456
234456
244456
254357
264357
274357
284456
294456
304357
314357

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Rolla gets around 2.6 in of rain and snow over 7.7 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 26% and peaks near 27% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1276
2276
3276
4276
5276
6276
7276
8276
9276
10276
11276
12276
13276
14276
15276
16266
17266
18266
19266
20256
21256
22257
23247
24247
25247
26248
27238
28238
29239
30239
31239

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 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1982
2982
3982
4982
5982
6982
7982
8982
9982
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
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
48light breeze
57light breeze
67light breeze
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237light breeze
247light breeze
257light breeze
267light breeze
277light breeze
287light breeze
297light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 36 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 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 7:10 AM to 7:28 AM, and sunset from 4:44 PM to 4:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.67:104:44
29.57:114:44
39.57:124:43
49.57:134:43
59.57:144:43
69.57:144:43
79.57:154:43
89.57:164:43
99.47:174:43
109.47:184:43
119.47:184:44
129.47:194:44
139.47:204:44
149.47:214:44
159.47:214:44
169.47:224:45
179.47:224:45
189.47:234:45
199.47:244:46
209.47:244:46
219.47:254:47
229.47:254:47
239.47:264:47
249.47:264:48
259.47:264:49
269.47:274:49
279.47:274:50
289.47:274:50
299.47:284:51
309.47:284:52
319.47:284:52

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.01 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.01 kWh/m² to a high of 6.41 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.01 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.0Moderate
82.0Moderate
92.0Moderate
102.0Moderate
112.0Moderate
122.0Dim
132.0Dim
142.0Dim
152.0Dim
162.0Dim
172.0Dim
182.0Dim
192.0Dim
202.0Dim
212.0Dim
222.0Dim
232.0Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Moderate
262.0Moderate
272.0Moderate
282.0Moderate
292.0Moderate
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Rolla?

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

0.9
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Rolla.

What to pack for Rolla in December

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

In December, Rolla sees daytime highs around 45°F and nights near 29°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Rolla 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 Rolla peaks around June 22 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 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 22UV 10Dec 23UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr7Very high
May8Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Rolla 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 Rolla is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1516 µg/m³Nov 146 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr9Good
May12Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Rolla?

Rolla sits at 38.0°N, 91.8°W, 1,122 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Fort Leonard Wood, 27 mi away.

Topography around Rolla

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Rolla has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 308 ft around an average of 1,073 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 633 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,060 ft.

The land around Rolla is covered by trees (55%) and artificial surfaces (24%) within 2 miles, trees (66%) and grassland (30%) within 10 miles, and trees (73%) and grassland (23%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
308 ft
10 miles
633 ft
50 miles
1,060 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
December weather nearby: Fort Leonard Wood 27 mi · Jefferson City 48 mi · Wildwood 75 mi · Farmington 75 mi · Columbia 76 mi · Wentzville 78 mi · Ballwin 80 mi · Chesterfield 81 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 Rolla (37.9514°, -91.7713°, elevation 1,122 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).