December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bozeman, with average highs near -3.7°C and lows around -13.2°C (mean -8.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 45 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bozeman. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Bozeman was 2025 — when the month averaged -1.8°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -15.2°C. Typical December days reach -3.7°C with nights near -13.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Bozeman, averaging 45 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1996 with 98 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 9 mm.
Relative humidity in Bozeman during December averages 90%. The most humid December was 1983 at 98%, and the least humid was 2020 at 78%.
December receives about 1.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Bozeman. The sunniest December was 1986 at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2021 at 1.
Average wind speed in Bozeman during December is 1.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1990, 2021 and 2025 at 1.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1983 at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -9.7°C | -8.9°C | -8.6°C | -9.0°C | -4.8°C | +4.9°C |
| Avg High | -4.7°C | -4.2°C | -3.7°C | -4.2°C | -0.5°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Low | -14.6°C | -13.7°C | -13.4°C | -13.7°C | -9.2°C | +5.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 35 mm | 46 mm | 45 mm | 54 mm | 45 mm | +10 mm |
December temperatures in Bozeman have risen by about 6.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -40.8°C (1983) to a record high of 11.8°C (2021).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 45 mm, with a wettest year of 98 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.7°C per decade while lows rose 1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Bozeman
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Bozeman. That said, December — with days averaging -3.7°C and nights around -13.2°C (mean -8.4°C) and moderate rainfall (45 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 🔥 | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | -5.7°C | 8.6°C | -17.4°C | 86 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 1.4°C | -2.8°C | -7.1°C | 7.0°C | -18.7°C | 35 mm | 79% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2023 | 1.1°C | -3.4°C | -7.8°C | 8.1°C | -15.3°C | 30 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | -4.9°C | -9.6°C | -14.3°C | 1.0°C | -37.4°C | 47 mm | 95% | 1.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2021 | -2.1°C | -6.1°C | -10.1°C | 11.8°C | -25.5°C | 44 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2020 | -0.5°C | -5.3°C | -10.1°C | 6.5°C | -17.8°C | 29 mm | 78% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 | -2.1°C | -6.5°C | -11.0°C | 3.0°C | -20.4°C | 26 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | -5.2°C | -10.5°C | -15.8°C | 0.8°C | -28.0°C | 43 mm | 95% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | -3.7°C | -8.3°C | -12.9°C | 2.0°C | -26.0°C | 74 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2016 | -7.4°C | -12.6°C | -17.8°C | -0.2°C | -35.1°C | 59 mm | 95% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 | -3.9°C | -8.2°C | -12.4°C | 6.5°C | -23.6°C | 56 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2014 | -2.1°C | -6.6°C | -11.1°C | 7.0°C | -35.3°C | 51 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2013 | -5.8°C | -10.0°C | -14.2°C | 2.3°C | -27.1°C | 71 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | -4.2°C | -8.6°C | -12.9°C | 6.7°C | -24.6°C | 51 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 | -4.0°C | -9.2°C | -14.3°C | 1.8°C | -28.8°C | 54 mm | 95% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2010 | -4.0°C | -9.1°C | -14.3°C | 0.4°C | -28.0°C | 59 mm | 98% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | -7.7°C | -12.7°C | -17.7°C | 0.2°C | -29.4°C | 45 mm | 94% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2008 | -6.2°C | -11.3°C | -16.3°C | 3.6°C | -32.4°C | 74 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -6.0°C | -10.5°C | -15.0°C | 2.0°C | -26.1°C | 59 mm | 94% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 | -2.1°C | -6.8°C | -11.5°C | 2.5°C | -20.8°C | 37 mm | 84% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -4.4°C | -9.1°C | -13.8°C | 3.4°C | -31.8°C | 55 mm | 95% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2004 | -1.7°C | -6.2°C | -10.7°C | 4.8°C | -25.1°C | 37 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2003 | -2.1°C | -6.8°C | -11.4°C | 4.8°C | -23.8°C | 65 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | 0.1°C | -4.4°C | -9.0°C | 6.5°C | -18.5°C | 21 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2001 | -3.7°C | -8.9°C | -14.0°C | 0.2°C | -18.5°C | 28 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | -3.7°C | -9.4°C | -15.1°C | 1.2°C | -23.1°C | 28 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | -2.3°C | -6.5°C | -10.7°C | 0.3°C | -16.1°C | 53 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1998 | -5.2°C | -9.5°C | -13.8°C | 3.3°C | -32.8°C | 55 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | -3.8°C | -8.8°C | -13.8°C | 0.9°C | -22.9°C | 34 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1996 🌧️ | -4.6°C | -9.2°C | -13.7°C | 0.8°C | -27.0°C | 98 mm | 97% | 1.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1995 | -1.5°C | -6.3°C | -11.1°C | 5.7°C | -21.6°C | 38 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -4.1°C | -8.8°C | -13.6°C | 1.9°C | -23.2°C | 42 mm | 95% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | -3.1°C | -7.5°C | -12.0°C | 3.6°C | -17.5°C | 35 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1992 | -6.1°C | -11.3°C | -16.6°C | -1.3°C | -26.2°C | 43 mm | 94% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1991 | -3.2°C | -8.3°C | -13.5°C | 0.4°C | -21.6°C | 28 mm | 96% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1990 | -8.0°C | -12.9°C | -17.8°C | 5.4°C | -35.2°C | 35 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 | -3.3°C | -7.8°C | -12.3°C | 4.7°C | -27.3°C | 46 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | -5.0°C | -9.8°C | -14.7°C | 0.6°C | -27.0°C | 32 mm | 94% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | -3.2°C | -7.7°C | -12.1°C | 6.4°C | -20.0°C | 32 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | -2.1°C | -7.3°C | -12.4°C | 1.6°C | -17.7°C | 9 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | -4.8°C | -9.8°C | -14.9°C | 0.4°C | -27.2°C | 19 mm | 97% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1984 | -5.8°C | -11.1°C | -16.4°C | 0.8°C | -26.1°C | 29 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -9.5°C | -15.2°C | -21.0°C | 0.2°C | -40.8°C | 46 mm | 98% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -5.3°C | -10.1°C | -14.9°C | 0.3°C | -28.9°C | 58 mm | 97% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.6°C | -8.1°C | -12.7°C | 4.9°C | -22.3°C | 43 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -3.7°C with lows near -13.2°C (mean -8.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 45 mm of rainfall in Bozeman, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 98 mm in 1996.
The hottest December reached 11.8°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -40.8°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 6.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -5.8°C to -0.5°C and overnight lows from -16°C to -9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bozeman and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -3.7°C daytime highs and -13.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Bozeman, averaging -8.4°C.
For December in Bozeman, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3.7°C and lows of -13.2°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.5 m/s (1990).
The wettest December on record was 1996 with 98 mm. On average, December sees 45 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 Bozeman 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.
