Waco weather in December

In December, Waco sees average daytime highs of 61°F and overnight lows near 42°F, with 3.3 in of precipitation across 7.1 wet days and about 10 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 63°F in the first days to 59°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 06 min at the start of December to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Waco's 9th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Waco's year-round climate.

Daytime high
61°
11th warmest
Overnight low
42°
2nd coldest
Precipitation
3.3 in
7.1 wet days
Daylight
10 hours
7:26 AM – 5:23 PM
Cloud cover
52%
9th clearest
Wind
9 mph
7th windiest
Solar energy
2.67 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
out of 10

Waco is city in and seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States.

Density
505/km²
people per km²
Founded
1849

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 63°F in the first days to 59°F by the end.

A typical December day in Waco reaches about 61°F in the afternoon and slips back to 42°F overnight — a 19°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 47°F and 74°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 1°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16444
26444
36344
46344
56343
66243
76243
86243
96243
106242
116142
126142
136142
146142
156142
166041
176041
186041
196041
206041
216041
226040
235940
245940
255940
265940
275940
285940
295940
305840
315840

How December really feels in Waco

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.

Waco weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan59° / 40°2.86.910.25.0
Feb63° / 44°2.87.410.85.9
Mar70° / 50°3.5911.86.7
Apr77° / 57°3.48.512.77.1
May84° / 66°4.710.513.65.5
Jun91° / 73°2.98.4143.8
Jul95° / 76°1.45.713.82.8
Aug95° / 76°1.95.313.22.8
Sep89° / 70°2.4612.24.7
Oct80° / 59°4.27.211.27.2
Nov69° / 49°2.97.210.47.0
Dec61° / 42°3.37.1105.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 47%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25545
35644
45545
55446
65446
75446
85347
95347
105347
115347
125347
135347
145446
155446
165545
175446
185446
195446
205446
215446
225446
235347
245347
255248
265248
275149
285248
295248
305248
315149

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Waco gets around 3.3 in of rain and snow over 7.1 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 23% and peaks near 25% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
122
222
323
423
523
624
724
824
925
1025
1125
1225
1325
1425
1525
1625
1724
1824
1924
2023
2123
2222
2322
2422
2521
2621
2721
2821
2921
3021
3121

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 87% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
182972
282972
382972
483962
583962
683962
784952
885951
985951
1086941
1186941
1286941
1387931
1488831
1588831
1688831
1788831
1889731
1989731
2089731
2189731
2290631
2390631
2490631
2590631
2690631
2790631
2890631
2989641
3089641
3189641

Wind in December

Winds average 9 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 mph on the calmest days to 9 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
19light breeze
29light breeze
39light breeze
49light breeze
59light breeze
69light breeze
79light breeze
89light breeze
99light breeze
109light breeze
119light breeze
129light breeze
139light breeze
149light breeze
159light breeze
169light breeze
179light breeze
189light breeze
199light breeze
209light breeze
219light breeze
229light breeze
239light breeze
249light breeze
259light breeze
269light breeze
279light breeze
289light breeze
299light breeze
309light breeze
319light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 06 min at the start of December to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:16 AM to 7:33 AM, and sunset from 5:21 PM to 5:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.17:165:21
210.17:165:21
310.17:175:21
410.17:185:21
510.07:195:21
610.07:195:21
710.07:205:21
810.07:215:21
910.07:225:22
1010.07:225:22
1110.07:235:22
1210.07:245:22
1310.07:245:22
1410.07:255:23
1510.07:265:23
1610.07:265:23
1710.07:275:24
189.97:275:24
199.97:285:24
209.97:285:25
219.97:295:25
229.97:295:26
239.97:305:26
249.97:305:27
259.97:315:27
269.97:315:28
2710.07:315:28
2810.07:325:29
2910.07:325:30
3010.07:325:30
3110.07:335:31

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.67 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.67 kWh/m² to a high of 6.83 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 2.67 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.8Moderate
22.8Moderate
32.8Moderate
42.7Moderate
52.7Moderate
62.7Moderate
72.7Moderate
82.7Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.7Moderate
112.6Moderate
122.6Moderate
132.6Moderate
142.6Moderate
152.6Moderate
162.6Moderate
172.6Moderate
182.6Moderate
192.6Moderate
202.6Moderate
212.7Moderate
222.7Moderate
232.7Moderate
242.7Moderate
252.7Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.7Moderate
282.7Moderate
292.7Moderate
302.7Moderate
312.7Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Waco?

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

5.4
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
0.7
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Waco for sightseeing.

What to pack for Waco in December

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

In December, Waco sees daytime highs around 61°F and nights near 42°F. Worth packing: a warm layer. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layer

UV index in Waco 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 Waco peaks around July 24 at about 10 (extreme) — 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 highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 24UV 10Dec 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5High
Mar6High
Apr9Very high
May10Very high
Jun10Extreme
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct6High
Nov5Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Waco 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 Waco is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1517 µg/m³Dec 116 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar10Good
Apr10Good
May14Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Waco?

Waco sits at 31.5°N, 97.1°W, 469 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Temple, 34 mi away.

Topography around Waco

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waco has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 236 ft around an average of 476 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 410 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,060 ft.

The land around Waco is covered by artificial surfaces (49%) and trees (38%) within 2 miles, grassland (38%) and trees (29%) within 10 miles, and grassland (53%) and trees (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
236 ft
10 miles
410 ft
50 miles
1,060 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Temple 34 mi · Gatesville 36 mi · Belton 39 mi · Harker Heights 44 mi · Killeen 45 mi · Fort Cavazos 47 mi · Copperas Cove 53 mi · Corsicana 55 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 Waco (31.5493°, -97.1467°, elevation 469 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).