Mitchell weather in December: Mitchell, South Dakota: normal highs, lows, rain and records for December
Mitchell in December has a normal high of 32°F and a normal low of 14°F, a daily mean of 23°F, falling from 37°F on the 1st to 29°F by the 31st. Measurable precipitation falls on 5 days in a normal December, 0.49 inches in all. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
In metric: a normal high of 0°C and low of −10°C, 12 mm of precipitation in December.
- NOAA stationMitchell Airport
- Station IDUSW00094950
- Location43.77°N 98.03°W
- Elevation1,303 ft (397 m)
- From the center3 miles
- Population15,621
- Jan 29° 9°
- Feb 33° 13°
- Mar 45° 24°
- Apr 59° 35°
- May 71° 48°
- Jun 81° 59°
- Jul 87° 64°
- Aug 84° 61°
- Sep 77° 51°
- Oct 62° 38°
- Nov 46° 24°
- Dec 32° 14°
Each month: normal high (large) and low, °F. Fill: the month's normal mean, colder blue to hotter red.
How warm is Mitchell in December?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low 14°F, for a daily mean of 23.0°F. December is 11.9°F cooler than November and 4.0°F warmer than January. December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Mitchell and the 10th wettest. Across the month the normal high falls 8°F, from 37°F on December 1 to 29°F on December 31. From one year to the next December's mean temperature typically moves about 5.5°F either way (NOAA's standard deviation), so roughly two Decembers in three average between 18°F and 29°F.
Bars above: each day's normal high to low. Columns below: the chance of 0.01 inch or more of precipitation that day, on a scale of 0 to 100% (highest 14%).
| Day | High | Low | Chance of 0.01 in | Chance of 0.10 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1 | 37°F | 18°F | 12% | 4% |
| December 8 | 34°F | 16°F | 13% | 4% |
| December 15 | 32°F | 14°F | 13% | 4% |
| December 22 | 30°F | 13°F | 14% | 4% |
| December 31 | 29°F | 11°F | 14% | 4% |
Every day of December: normal high, low and chance of precipitation (warmest afternoon December 1, coldest night December 31)
| Day | High | Low | Chance of 0.01 in | Chance of 0.10 in | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1 | 37°F | 18°F | 12% | 4% | 9 h 10 min |
| December 2 | 37°F | 18°F | 12% | 4% | 9 h 10 min |
| December 3 | 36°F | 18°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h 10 min |
| December 4 | 36°F | 17°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h 10 min |
| December 5 | 35°F | 17°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h 10 min |
| December 6 | 35°F | 17°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 7 | 35°F | 16°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 8 | 34°F | 16°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 9 | 34°F | 16°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 10 | 33°F | 15°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 11 | 33°F | 15°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 12 | 33°F | 15°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 13 | 32°F | 15°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 14 | 32°F | 14°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 15 | 32°F | 14°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 16 | 31°F | 14°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 17 | 31°F | 14°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 18 | 31°F | 13°F | 13% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 19 | 31°F | 13°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 20 | 30°F | 13°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 21 | 30°F | 13°F | 14% | 4% | 8 h 50 min |
| December 22 | 30°F | 13°F | 14% | 4% | 8 h 50 min |
| December 23 | 30°F | 12°F | 14% | 4% | 8 h 50 min |
| December 24 | 30°F | 12°F | 14% | 4% | 8 h 50 min |
| December 25 | 29°F | 12°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 26 | 29°F | 12°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 27 | 29°F | 12°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 28 | 29°F | 11°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 29 | 29°F | 11°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 30 | 29°F | 11°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
| December 31 | 29°F | 11°F | 14% | 4% | 9 h |
- Normal high
- 32°FDecember average
- Normal low
- 14°FDecember average
- Precipitation
- 0.49 inmonth total
- Days with precipitation
- 50.01 inch or more
- Nights at 32°F or colder
- 30
- Daylight
- 9 h 10 min to 9 hDecember 1 to December 31
- Sunshine
- 70%of clear-sky sunlight (NASA)
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 daily normals, station USW00094950; monthly normals. Daylight is computed from the place's latitude with NOAA's solar equations.
Does it rain in Mitchell in December?
On a given December day the chance of 0.01 inch or more is 13% on average, highest around December 28 (14%). In all, 0.49 in falls on 5 days of a normal December.
In a normal December in Mitchell, 30 nights fall to freezing and 15 days stay below freezing all day.
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 daily and monthly normals, station USW00094950.
How humid and windy is Mitchell in December?
At 3 p.m. the normal temperature is 25°F with 66% relative humidity and a dew point of 15°F; at 6 a.m. it is 16°F with 78% humidity. The wind averages 10.8 mph, most often from the northwest in the afternoon. A dew point under 50°F feels dry.
| Time | Temperature | Dew point | Humidity | Wind | Clear or few clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 16°F | 10°F | 78% | 10.3 mph | – |
| 9 a.m. | 17°F | 11°F | 78% | 10.6 mph | – |
| noon | 23°F | 14°F | 70% | 12.1 mph | – |
| 3 p.m. | 25°F | 15°F | 66% | 12.2 mph | – |
| 6 p.m. | 22°F | 14°F | 73% | 9.9 mph | – |
| 9 p.m. | 19°F | 13°F | 76% | 10.4 mph | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 hourly normals, station USW00094950. Hourly normals exist only for NOAA's first-order stations; a dash where NOAA publishes no value for that hour (the sky at some hours).
What are the records for December in Mitchell?
The warmest December temperature on Mitchell's official record (since 1893) is 70°F, on December 2, 1998; the coldest is −34°F, on December 29, 1917. The wettest December brought 2.13 in (1902); the snowiest, 28.5 inches (1968).
The December mean against the 1991-2020 normal of 23.0°F: 2021 25.8°F (+2.8), 2022 16.7°F (−6.3), 2023 32.9°F (+9.9), 2024 25.9°F (+2.9), 2025 25.1°F (+2.1). 4 of 5 ran warmer than normal.
| December | Mean | Against normal | Precip. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25.8°F | +2.8°F | 1.09 in |
| 2022 | 16.7°F | −6.3°F | 1.35 in |
| 2023 | 32.9°F | +9.9°F | 1.46 in |
| 2024 | 25.9°F | +2.9°F | 0.23 in |
| 2025 | 25.1°F | +2.1°F | 0.80 in |
Source: records: ACIS, NWS threaded record MHEthr; recent months: ACIS, station USW00094950. Records and recent months use complete months only.
How does December in Mitchell compare across South Dakota?
Across the 100 places PlainClimate covers in South Dakota, December normal highs run from 25°F in Eureka to 41°F in Hill City; Mitchell's is 32°F.
Source: NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 monthly normals for every station in the state.
Other months and places
- Mitchell in November46°F by day, 24°F at night
- Mitchell in January29°F by day, 9°F at night
- Mitchell through the yearEvery month, frost dates, records and recent years
- South Dakota in DecemberThe statewide normal and the warmest and coolest places
- Hill City: South Dakota's warmest Decembernormal high 41°F