December is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello, with average highs near -0.3°C and lows around -9.1°C (mean -4.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 43 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Pocatello was 2025 — when the month averaged 1.8°C — while the coldest were 1983, 1985 and 1990 at -9.7°C. Typical December days reach -0.3°C with nights near -9.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Pocatello, averaging 43 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1996 with 129 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Pocatello during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 1985 at 96%, and the least humid were 2013 and 2025 at 74%.
December receives about 1.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Pocatello. The sunniest December was 2011 at 2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2007, 2012 and 2021, among others at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Pocatello during December is 2.6 m/s. The windiest December was 1996 at 3.8 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -6.0°C | -5.2°C | -4.5°C | -4.7°C | -2.4°C | +3.6°C |
| Avg High | -1.5°C | -0.8°C | -0.2°C | -0.3°C | 2.0°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -10.6°C | -9.5°C | -8.8°C | -9.1°C | -6.7°C | +3.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 33 mm | 39 mm | 45 mm | 44 mm | 59 mm | +26 mm |
December temperatures in Pocatello have risen by about 4.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -31.3°C (2016) to a record high of 13.8°C (2014).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 43 mm, with a wettest year of 129 mm.
A quieter season to visit Pocatello
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Pocatello. That said, December — with days averaging -0.3°C and nights around -9.1°C (mean -4.7°C) and moderate rainfall (43 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 🔥 | 6.0°C | 1.8°C | -2.4°C | 12.1°C | -10.1°C | 84 mm | 74% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 3.2°C | -0.8°C | -4.7°C | 6.4°C | -11.4°C | 67 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 | 1.7°C | -2.3°C | -6.4°C | 6.7°C | -13.1°C | 49 mm | 85% | 2.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2022 | -2.0°C | -6.9°C | -11.7°C | 3.8°C | -30.6°C | 67 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2021 | 1.6°C | -2.7°C | -7.0°C | 12.5°C | -20.0°C | 65 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | 1.2°C | -3.4°C | -8.0°C | 7.3°C | -13.5°C | 21 mm | 75% | 2.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2019 | -0.2°C | -4.3°C | -8.5°C | 4.7°C | -17.7°C | 39 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2018 | -0.8°C | -5.4°C | -9.9°C | 4.4°C | -20.6°C | 27 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2017 | 0.2°C | -4.3°C | -8.7°C | 5.8°C | -17.0°C | 31 mm | 81% | 2.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | -3.8°C | -9.0°C | -14.2°C | 2.6°C | -31.3°C | 86 mm | 90% | 2.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2015 | -0.7°C | -4.8°C | -9.0°C | 12.4°C | -23.1°C | 50 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | 3.1°C | -1.0°C | -5.1°C | 13.8°C | -25.2°C | 44 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2013 | -0.8°C | -5.3°C | -9.9°C | 5.9°C | -19.5°C | 16 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2012 | 0.6°C | -3.5°C | -7.6°C | 11.9°C | -15.5°C | 60 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 0.3°C | -4.2°C | -8.8°C | 10.9°C | -13.0°C | 11 mm | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | -0.7°C | -4.9°C | -9.1°C | 2.6°C | -21.6°C | 75 mm | 92% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2009 | -2.4°C | -6.7°C | -11.1°C | 3.2°C | -18.7°C | 21 mm | 79% | 2.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | -0.6°C | -5.2°C | -9.7°C | 9.6°C | -21.9°C | 59 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | -1.2°C | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | 5.8°C | -16.5°C | 35 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2006 | 0.5°C | -3.7°C | -8.0°C | 7.1°C | -13.9°C | 39 mm | 77% | 2.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2005 | -1.6°C | -5.9°C | -10.3°C | 6.7°C | -26.3°C | 83 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | 1.7°C | -2.3°C | -6.3°C | 6.8°C | -17.9°C | 42 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2003 | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | -6.1°C | 7.4°C | -16.1°C | 63 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | 2.8°C | -1.1°C | -5.0°C | 8.8°C | -12.4°C | 33 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2001 | -3.4°C | -8.3°C | -13.3°C | 2.1°C | -20.9°C | 58 mm | 94% | 2.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2000 | 0.5°C | -4.1°C | -8.8°C | 4.9°C | -13.7°C | 20 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 | 1.2°C | -3.0°C | -7.3°C | 4.4°C | -11.3°C | 17 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | -0.7°C | -4.6°C | -8.6°C | 9.1°C | -22.8°C | 25 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1997 | -0.6°C | -4.8°C | -9.1°C | 4.2°C | -14.5°C | 20 mm | 81% | 2.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1996 🌧️ | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | -8.6°C | 3.5°C | -25.2°C | 129 mm | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | 1.4°C | -2.8°C | -6.9°C | 13.0°C | -12.9°C | 55 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -0.8°C | -4.9°C | -9.0°C | 5.5°C | -19.7°C | 35 mm | 88% | 2.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | 0.1°C | -4.3°C | -8.8°C | 8.1°C | -14.2°C | 19 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | -3.7°C | -8.6°C | -13.4°C | 1.2°C | -23.9°C | 47 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 0.6°C | -4.4°C | -9.3°C | 4.5°C | -18.0°C | 11 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1990 | -4.8°C | -9.7°C | -14.5°C | 7.8°C | -30.5°C | 32 mm | 77% | 2.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1989 | 1.3°C | -3.3°C | -8.0°C | 5.6°C | -16.4°C | 6 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1988 | -3.0°C | -7.7°C | -12.4°C | 2.5°C | -24.9°C | 34 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1987 | -0.1°C | -4.5°C | -8.9°C | 9.8°C | -20.4°C | 34 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 1.3°C | -3.3°C | -7.9°C | 5.7°C | -14.1°C | 6 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | -5.2°C | -9.7°C | -14.3°C | 1.2°C | -28.5°C | 28 mm | 96% | 1.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | -2.1°C | -7.1°C | -12.2°C | 3.3°C | -18.3°C | 19 mm | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -5.1°C | -9.7°C | -14.2°C | 1.5°C | -28.4°C | 69 mm | 96% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -1.9°C | -6.0°C | -10.1°C | 2.8°C | -21.3°C | 36 mm | 89% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.4°C | -2.8°C | -7.0°C | 10.5°C | -19.5°C | 66 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -0.3°C with lows near -9.1°C (mean -4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 43 mm of rainfall in Pocatello, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 129 mm in 1996.
The hottest December reached 13.8°C in 2014. The coldest dipped to -31.3°C in 2016.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4.9°C. Daytime highs moved from -2.6°C to 2.1°C and overnight lows from -11.6°C to -6.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -0.3°C daytime highs and -9.1°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Pocatello, averaging -4.7°C.
For December in Pocatello, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -0.3°C and lows of -9.1°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.6 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.8 m/s (1996).
The wettest December on record was 1996 with 129 mm. On average, December sees 43 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Pocatello behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
