United States Kansas City Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Kansas City is high
December is high for Kansas City.
December is the year's atmospheric peak for Plaza Lights enthusiasts — the Plaza Lights illumination (atmospheric Spanish Moorish architecture covered in 80+ miles of multicolored lights, the largest installation of its kind in the world) runs full swing through mid-January with atmospheric evening walks + canonical Plaza photography + atmospheric Kansas City heritage.
Chiefs NFL playoff push drives intense atmospheric December (Chiefs typically lock playoff seeding by mid-December — the December home games are canonical Chiefs December atmosphere). Christmas-NYE week (December 22 - January 2) drives MAJOR hotel surge +50-100% — book 8-12 weeks ahead for atmospheric Plaza Lights stays.
Travel score
Plaza Lights illumination full swing + canonical atmospheric Kansas City heritage + Chiefs NFL playoff push
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 41°F / 5°C highs and 25°F / -4°C lows with 6 rainy/snowy days and 35mm of precipitation. Humidity 70%, UV 1, sunshine 5 hours. Year's atmospheric Plaza Lights peak + winter cold + ice storm risk.
December Travel Advice
Book Christmas-NYE week (December 22 - January 2) 8-12 weeks ahead. Chiefs playoff weekends additional surge. Plaza Lights atmospheric peak — arrive Plaza 16:30 in winter darkness for atmospheric photography. Off-peak December (December 5-20) is the value sweet spot with same atmospheric Plaza Lights.
December Pricing Trends
High pricing with Christmas-NYE + Chiefs playoff surge: 3-star $160-240/night (mid-Dec) vs $240-380 / KRW 321,600-509,200 (Dec 22-Jan 2). 5-star InterContinental Plaza + Raphael + Loews $330-580/night (mid-Dec) vs $580-1,100 / KRW 777,200-1,474,000 (Christmas-NYE).
Kansas City December Weather Stats
Avg High
5°C
Avg Low
-4°C
Rainy Days
6
35mm total
Sunshine
5h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
comfortable
UV Index
1
Low
Wind
17 km/h
Gusts 35
Sea Temp
4°C
no swimming
Crowds
Busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
13 μg/m³
PM10
23 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
1°C
Nighttime
-10°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
17 km/h
Max gust 35 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Plaza Lights illumination full swing atmospheric peak
- Chiefs NFL playoff push + atmospheric December home games
- Atmospheric grey-mist Plaza + 18th & Vine winter photography
- Christmas-NYE atmospheric celebrations + Plaza atmospheric anniversary
- Cristallerie-equivalent — wait wrong city — Bluestem + American Restaurant atmospheric NYE dinners
Cons
- Christmas-NYE week MAJOR hotel surge +50-100%
- Year's coldest + greyest stretch (5h sunshine/day)
- Ice storms + 6-10 inches snow/month + flight cancellation risk
- Sells out 8-12 weeks ahead Christmas-NYE
- Chiefs playoff weekends additional surge
December Events & Festivals
- Plaza Lights illumination in full swing (Thanksgiving through mid-January — atmospheric peak)
- Chiefs NFL home games + atmospheric playoff push
- Christmas Day (December 25) + Boxing Day public holidays
- New Year's Eve (December 31) — Plaza Lights atmospheric celebration + downtown fireworks
Kansas City in December — Full Picture
December is the year's atmospheric peak for Plaza Lights enthusiasts — the Plaza Lights illumination (atmospheric Spanish Moorish architecture covered in 80+ miles of multicolored lights, the largest installation of its kind in the world) runs full swing through mid-January with atmospheric evening walks + canonical Plaza photography + atmospheric Kansas City heritage.
Chiefs NFL playoff push drives intense atmospheric December (Chiefs typically lock playoff seeding by mid-December — the December home games are canonical Chiefs December atmosphere). Christmas-NYE week (December 22 - January 2) drives MAJOR hotel surge +50-100% — book 8-12 weeks ahead for atmospheric Plaza Lights stays.
The canonical Kansas City Plaza Lights experience: arrive Plaza 16:30 in winter darkness for atmospheric Spanish Moorish illumination + Plaza walking + Jack Stack Barbecue Plaza dinner + carriage rides + atmospheric Plaza fountains in winter setting + canonical Kansas City heritage anniversary atmosphere.
Ice storms + 6-10 inches snow/month + 2-3 ice storms per typical winter — flights through MCI get cancelled or delayed 2-3 times per typical December.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Winter cold + Plaza Lights season — daytime 5°C / 41°F, nighttime -4°C / 25°F + occasional snow + ice storms. Heavy winter coat + scarf + gloves + insulated waterproof boots + warm layers + thermal base layers. Plaza Lights atmospheric evening attire (warm + festive).
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
18.7°C
7°C
10.3/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
30.7°C
19.7°C
8.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
18.7°C
8.3°C
7.7/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current5.3°C
-5°C
6/mo
Kansas City Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4° | -7° | 6d·30mm | 5h | 70% | 2 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 7° | -4° | 6d·35mm | 6h | 68% | 3 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 13° | 1° | 9d·60mm | 7h | 65% | 4 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 19° | 7° | 11d·95mm | 8h | 65% | 6 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| May (Best) | 24° | 13° | 11d·130mm | 9h | 70% | 8 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 29° | 18° | 10d·130mm | 10h | 70% | 9 | Busy | Peak |
| 32° | 21° | 8d·95mm | 10h | 70% | 10 | Busy | Peak | |
| 31° | 20° | 8d·95mm | 9h | 70% | 9 | Busy | Peak | |
| September (Best) | 26° | 15° | 8d·95mm | 8h | 70% | 7 | Very busy | Peak |
| October (Best) | 19° | 8° | 8d·90mm | 7h | 70% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| 11° | 2° | 7d·50mm | 5h | 70% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 5° | -4° | 6d·35mm | 5h | 70% | 1 | Busy | Peak |
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Kansas City December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Kansas City?
Kansas City in December is high. Tourist crowds are busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Kansas City in December?
Kansas City December averages a high of 5°C and a low of -4°C.
Does it rain much in Kansas City in December?
Kansas City December averages 35mm of rainfall over about 6 rainy days.
What should I wear in Kansas City in December?
Winter cold + Plaza Lights season — daytime 5°C / 41°F, nighttime -4°C / 25°F + occasional snow + ice storms. Heavy winter coat + scarf + gloves + insulated waterproof boots + warm layers + thermal base layers. Plaza Lights atmospheric evening attire (warm + festive).
What time are sunrise and sunset in Kansas City in December?
Kansas City December sunrise is 07:30 and sunset is 16:45, with 9h 15min of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Kansas City in December?
Kansas City December air quality (AQI) averages 40, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 13μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Kansas City in December?
In December, Kansas City is great for Plaza Lights illumination evening walks + atmospheric photography, Chiefs NFL playoff push home games Arrowhead Stadium, Indoor museums (WWI + Nelson-Atkins + American Jazz).
Is December peak season in Kansas City?
Kansas City December crowds are busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Kansas City
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Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.