The Dalles weather in December

In December, The Dalles sees average daytime highs of 38°F and overnight lows near 28°F, with 5.3 in of precipitation across 15.3 wet days and about 8.6 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 38°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 12% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 8 h 48 min at the start of December to 8 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is The Dalles's 12th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see The Dalles's year-round climate.

Daytime high
38°
12th warmest
Overnight low
28°
1st coldest
Precipitation
5.3 in
15.3 wet days
Daylight
8 h 30 min
7:45 AM – 4:16 PM
Cloud cover
77%
12th clearest
Wind
4 mph
11th windiest
Solar energy
1.24 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

The Dalles is city in and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States.

Density
854/km²
people per km²
Founded
1857

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 38°F through the month.

A typical December day in The Dalles reaches about 38°F in the afternoon and slips back to 28°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 30°F and 46°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and on par with January.

20°30°40°50°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14130
24030
34029
44029
54029
63929
73929
83929
93929
103929
113929
123929
133928
143928
153828
163828
173828
183828
193828
203828
213828
223828
233828
243828
253828
263828
273828
283728
293728
303728
313728

How December really feels in The Dalles

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.

The Dalles weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 12th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan39° / 29°4.614.66.78.90.0
Feb44° / 30°3.612.85.210.10.6
Mar51° / 34°3.413.63.111.62.2
Apr57° / 39°2.311.40.413.33.9
May66° / 45°1.67.9014.76.3
Jun73° / 50°0.95.1015.47.7
Jul82° / 55°0.31.7015.17.7
Aug83° / 55°0.31.9013.97.6
Sep74° / 50°0.83.2012.38.2
Oct60° / 42°2.38.40.210.75.2
Nov46° / 34°4.113.52.49.31.2
Dec38° / 28°5.315.37.78.60.0

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 12% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 78%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12773
22773
32773
42674
52575
62476
72476
82377
92377
102179
112179
122278
132080
142080
152179
162179
171981
182080
192080
202080
212179
222278
232278
242278
252278
262278
272377
282377
292278
302278
312278

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

The Dalles gets around 5.3 in of rain and snow over 15.3 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 50% and peaks near 51% on the wettest days, and about 8 days bring snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
14917
24918
34918
44919
54920
65021
75021
85022
95022
105023
115023
125024
135124
145124
155125
165125
175126
185026
195026
205026
215027
224927
234927
244927
254927
264927
274927
284927
294927
304926
314926

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 4 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 4 mph on the calmest days to 4 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
14calm
24calm
34calm
44calm
54calm
64calm
74calm
84calm
94calm
104calm
114calm
124calm
134calm
144calm
154calm
164calm
174calm
184calm
194calm
204calm
214calm
224calm
234calm
244calm
254calm
264calm
274calm
284calm
294calm
304calm
314calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 8 h 48 min at the start of December to 8 h 30 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 18 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:32 AM to 7:51 AM, and sunset from 4:17 PM to 4:24 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
18.87:324:17
28.77:334:17
38.77:344:17
48.77:354:16
58.77:364:16
68.77:374:16
78.67:384:16
88.67:394:16
98.67:404:16
108.67:414:16
118.67:414:16
128.67:424:16
138.57:434:16
148.57:444:16
158.57:454:16
168.57:454:16
178.57:464:17
188.57:474:17
198.57:474:17
208.57:484:18
218.57:484:18
228.57:494:19
238.57:494:19
248.57:504:20
258.57:504:20
268.57:504:21
278.57:514:21
288.57:514:22
298.57:514:23
308.57:514:24
318.57:514:24

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.24 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.24 kWh/m² to a high of 7.69 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.24 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

00.511.52151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.3Dim
21.3Dim
31.3Dim
41.3Dim
51.3Dim
61.3Dim
71.3Dim
81.2Dim
91.2Dim
101.2Dim
111.2Dim
121.2Dim
131.2Dim
141.2Dim
151.2Dim
161.2Dim
171.2Dim
181.2Dim
191.2Dim
201.2Dim
211.2Dim
221.2Dim
231.2Dim
241.2Dim
251.2Dim
261.3Dim
271.3Dim
281.3Dim
291.3Dim
301.3Dim
311.3Dim
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for The Dalles

In seasonPeak

In December, The Dalles sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

The Dalles's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit The Dalles?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in The Dalles.

What to pack for The Dalles in December

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

In December, The Dalles sees daytime highs around 38°F and nights near 28°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. Worth having: a heavy coat. About 15 days see rain.

a warm layerrain geara heavy coat

UV index in The Dalles in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in The Dalles peaks around July 16 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 1 (low).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 16UV 8Dec 13UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb2Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr5High
May8Very high
Jun7High
Jul9Very high
Aug7High
Sep5Moderate
Oct4Moderate
Nov1Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in The Dalles 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 The Dalles is worst in August — around 43 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.8× the cleanest month (December, 5 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 2041 µg/m³Dec 245 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb6Good
Mar8Good
Apr8Good
May8Good
Jun8Good
Jul8Good
Aug43Poor
Sep29Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov9Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is The Dalles?

The Dalles sits at 45.6°N, 121.2°W, 253 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Washougal, 57 mi away.

Topography around The Dalles

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around The Dalles has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,047 ft around an average of 397 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,140 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 12,215 ft.

The land around The Dalles is covered by trees (38%), grassland (29%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 2 miles, grassland (58%) and trees (24%) within 10 miles, and trees (50%) and grassland (39%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
1,047 ft
10 miles
3,140 ft
50 miles
12,215 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Washougal 57 mi · Troutdale 58 mi · Camas 59 mi · Gresham 61 mi · Happy Valley 66 mi · Battle Ground 66 mi · Orchards 67 mi · Lents 68 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 The Dalles (45.5946°, -121.1787°, elevation 253 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).