Ruston weather in December

In December, Ruston sees average daytime highs of 58°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 4.8 in of precipitation across 9.4 wet days and about 9.9 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 61°F in the first days to 56°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% 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 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Ruston's 11th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ruston's year-round climate.

Daytime high
58°
11th warmest
Overnight low
41°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
4.8 in
9.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 54 min
7:11 AM – 5:03 PM
Cloud cover
58%
11th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.38 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.5
out of 10

Ruston is small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States.

Density
408/km²
people per km²
Founded
1885

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 61°F in the first days to 56°F by the end.

A typical December day in Ruston reaches about 58°F in the afternoon and slips back to 41°F overnight — a 18°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 45°F and 72°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 2°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16243
26143
36142
46142
56042
66042
76042
86042
95941
105941
115941
125941
135941
145841
155841
165840
175840
185840
195840
205840
215740
225740
235740
245740
255740
265740
275740
285639
295639
305639
315639

How December really feels in Ruston

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

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Ruston 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 daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan57° / 39°4.59.510.14.1
Feb61° / 42°4.59.310.85.0
Mar69° / 49°5.01111.86.3
Apr76° / 56°5.49.512.86.9
May84° / 64°3.910.713.65.6
Jun90° / 71°3.911.614.13.8
Jul93° / 74°3.011.713.93.0
Aug93° / 73°3.29.513.23.1
Sep88° / 68°3.37.212.24.9
Oct78° / 56°4.17.811.27.3
Nov66° / 47°3.97.910.36.5
Dec58° / 41°4.89.49.94.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 9% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 55%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
24951
34951
44654
54654
64654
74555
84456
94456
104357
114258
124258
134357
144357
154456
164456
174456
184555
194555
204555
214555
224555
234654
244654
254654
264654
274654
284654
294654
304654
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Ruston gets around 4.8 in of rain and snow over 9.4 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 31% and peaks near 33% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
128
228
329
429
529
629
730
830
930
1031
1131
1231
1332
1432
1532
1632
1733
1833
1933
2033
2132
2232
2332
2432
2532
2632
2731
2831
2931
3031
3131

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 84% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1801082
2801082
3801082
481982
581982
681982
781982
882882
983872
1083872
1183872
1283872
1384862
1484862
1584862
1685861
1785861
1885852
1985852
2085852
2185852
2285852
2386851
2486851
2585861
2685861
2785861
2885861
2985861
3085861
3185861

Wind in December

Winds average 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 hours at the start of December to 9 h 54 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 7:00 AM to 7:17 AM, and sunset from 5:01 PM to 5:10 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.07:005:01
210.07:015:01
310.07:015:01
410.07:025:01
510.07:035:01
610.07:045:01
79.97:045:01
89.97:055:01
99.97:065:01
109.97:075:01
119.97:075:02
129.97:085:02
139.97:095:02
149.97:095:02
159.97:105:03
169.97:115:03
179.97:115:03
189.97:125:04
199.97:125:04
209.97:135:04
219.97:135:05
229.97:145:05
239.97:145:06
249.97:155:06
259.97:155:07
269.97:155:07
279.97:165:08
289.97:165:09
299.97:165:09
309.97:175:10
319.97:175:10

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.38 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.38 kWh/m² to a high of 6.28 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.38 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.6Moderate
22.5Moderate
32.5Moderate
42.5Moderate
52.5Moderate
62.5Moderate
72.4Moderate
82.4Moderate
92.4Moderate
102.4Moderate
112.4Moderate
122.4Moderate
132.4Moderate
142.4Moderate
152.4Moderate
162.4Moderate
172.4Moderate
182.4Moderate
192.4Moderate
202.4Moderate
212.4Moderate
222.4Moderate
232.4Moderate
242.4Moderate
252.4Moderate
262.4Moderate
272.4Moderate
282.4Moderate
292.4Moderate
302.4Moderate
312.4Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Ruston?

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

4.5
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.2
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Ruston for sightseeing.

What to pack for Ruston in December

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

In December, Ruston sees daytime highs around 58°F and nights near 41°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

UV index in Ruston 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 Ruston peaks around June 19 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 — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 19UV 10Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar7High
Apr10Very high
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Ruston 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 Ruston is worst in July — around 24 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.9× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1723 µg/m³Jan 138 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb11Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr12Good
May16Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul24Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov10Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ruston?

Ruston sits at 32.5°N, 92.6°W, 335 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Monroe, 30 mi away.

Topography around Ruston

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Ruston has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 184 ft around an average of 302 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 325 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 525 ft.

The land around Ruston is covered by trees (58%) and grassland (23%) within 2 miles, trees (82%) within 10 miles, and trees (85%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
184 ft
10 miles
325 ft
50 miles
525 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Monroe 30 mi · El Dorado 47 mi · Natchitoches 59 mi · Bossier City 64 mi · Shreveport 65 mi · Alexandria 85 mi · Natchez 98 mi · Marshall 101 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 Ruston (32.5232°, -92.6379°, elevation 335 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).