Shawnee weather in December

In December, Shawnee sees average daytime highs of 42°F and overnight lows near 26°F, with 1.8 in of precipitation across 5.6 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 46°F in the first days to 40°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 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shawnee's 7th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shawnee's year-round climate.

Daytime high
42°
11th warmest
Overnight low
26°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
1.8 in
5.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:37 AM – 4:53 PM
Cloud cover
57%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.05 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.5
out of 10

Shawnee is city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States.

Density
586/km²
people per km²

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 46°F in the first days to 40°F by the end.

A typical December day in Shawnee reaches about 42°F in the afternoon and slips back to 26°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°F and 57°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14730
24630
34629
44629
54529
64528
74428
84428
94428
104427
114327
124327
134327
144227
154226
164226
174226
184226
194126
204125
214125
224125
234025
244024
254024
264024
274024
284024
294023
303923
313923

How December really feels in Shawnee

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
2 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Shawnee 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
Jan39° / 22°1.45.63.49.60.0
Feb44° / 26°1.85.92.810.50.7
Mar55° / 36°3.09.11.911.73.5
Apr65° / 46°4.711.10.3135.7
May74° / 56°5.712.70.114.16.3
Jun83° / 66°4.811.3014.75.6
Jul88° / 70°3.69.4014.54.7
Aug86° / 68°3.79013.55.2
Sep78° / 59°3.68.1012.37.1
Oct66° / 47°3.380.2116.6
Nov53° / 36°2.36.40.99.93.4
Dec42° / 26°1.85.62.59.30.5

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 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15446
25446
35446
45347
55347
65347
75347
85248
95347
105347
115248
125248
135149
145050
155050
165050
174951
184852
194852
204753
214753
224753
234753
244654
254555
264555
274555
284654
294654
304654
314654

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Shawnee gets around 1.8 in of rain and snow over 5.6 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 19% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1216
2207
3207
4207
5208
6198
7198
8198
9198
10199
11199
12199
13199
14199
15199
16198
17198
18198
19198
20188
21188
22188
23188
24188
25188
26188
27188
28189
29189
30189
31189

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 8 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 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 7:25 AM to 7:43 AM, and sunset from 4:52 PM to 5:01 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:254:52
29.47:264:52
39.47:274:52
49.47:284:52
59.47:284:52
69.47:294:52
79.47:304:52
89.37:314:52
99.37:324:52
109.37:334:52
119.37:334:52
129.37:344:52
139.37:354:52
149.37:364:53
159.37:364:53
169.37:374:53
179.37:374:54
189.37:384:54
199.37:394:54
209.37:394:55
219.37:404:55
229.37:404:56
239.37:414:56
249.37:414:57
259.37:414:57
269.37:424:58
279.37:424:58
289.37:424:59
299.37:434:59
309.37:435:00
319.37:435:01

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.05 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.05 kWh/m² to a high of 6.56 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.05 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.1Moderate
62.1Moderate
72.1Moderate
82.1Moderate
92.1Moderate
102.0Moderate
112.0Moderate
122.0Moderate
132.0Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.0Moderate
162.0Moderate
172.0Moderate
182.0Moderate
192.0Moderate
202.0Moderate
212.0Moderate
222.0Moderate
232.0Moderate
242.0Moderate
252.0Moderate
262.0Moderate
272.1Moderate
282.1Moderate
292.1Moderate
302.1Moderate
312.1Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Shawnee?

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

0.5
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 Shawnee.

What to pack for Shawnee in December

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

In December, Shawnee sees daytime highs around 42°F and nights near 26°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Shawnee 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 Shawnee peaks around June 22 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJun 22UV 10Jan 1UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May7High
Jun10Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Shawnee 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 Shawnee is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (October, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1716 µg/m³Oct 237 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb12Good
Mar12Good
Apr11Good
May12Good
Jun14Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Shawnee?

Shawnee sits at 39.0°N, 94.7°W, 1,066 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Overland Park, 5.0 mi away.

Topography around Shawnee

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Shawnee has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 335 ft around an average of 981 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 397 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 551 ft.

The land around Shawnee is covered by trees (73%) within 2 miles, trees (54%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 10 miles, and trees (33%), grassland (32%) and cropland (30%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
335 ft
10 miles
397 ft
50 miles
551 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Overland Park 5.0 mi · Prairie Village 5.6 mi · Lenexa 6.2 mi · Kansas City 6.8 mi · Leawood 7.5 mi · Kansas City 8.7 mi · Olathe 12 mi · Raytown 14 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 Shawnee (39.0417°, -94.7202°, elevation 1,066 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).