Fargo

North Dakota Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in North Dakota, the United States of America in December.

Planning a trip to North Dakota, the United States of America this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in North Dakota in December

North Dakota, the United States of America is a region in the United States of America. December in North Dakota generally has very cold temperatures, with low precipitation. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -7°C (19°F) in Devils Lake to -3°C (27°F) in Dickinson. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -14°C (7°F) in Dickinson and -16°C (3°F) in Devils Lake. In many areas in the United States of America, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

For a closer look at conditions across North Dakota, the United States of America, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Williston with an average of 10 mm (0.4 in) to low snowfall in Wahpeton with 28 mm (1.1 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Fargo receives about 107 hours of sunlight in December, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore North Dakota by month

Best Places to Visit in North Dakota in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across North Dakota.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in North Dakota

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in North Dakota, the United States of America?

Temperature range in North Dakota (December)

Precipitation variation in North Dakota (December)

Fargo

In December Fargo generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-17°C (1°F)
Monthly sun hours
112 hours
107 hours
141 hours
Monthly snowfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
27 mm (1.1 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
10 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Bismarck

In December Bismarck generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
122 hours
149 hours
Monthly snowfall
12 mm (0.5 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
10 mm (0.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Grand Forks

In December Grand Forks generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-18°C (0°F)
Monthly snowfall
19 mm (0.7 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
8 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Minot

In December Minot generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
17 mm (0.7 in)
23 mm (0.9 in)
13 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
8 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Dickinson

In December Dickinson generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly snowfall
9.6 mm (0.4 in)
16 mm (0.6 in)
8.4 mm (0.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
8 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in North Dakota, in the United States of America.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in North Dakota in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Fargo -5°C (23°F) -14°C (7°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Bismarck -4°C (25°F) -14°C (7°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Grand Forks -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Minot -6°C (21°F) -15°C (5°F) 23 mm (0.9 in)
Dickinson -3°C (27°F) -14°C (7°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Williston -4°C (25°F) -15°C (5°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)

North Dakota weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Dakota, the United States of America in December?

Expect poor weather across North Dakota, the United States of America in December. The popular destination of Fargo averages -5°C (23°F) by day and -14°C (7°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in North Dakota, the United States of America in December?

Daytime temperatures in Fargo peak at roughly -5°C (23°F) in December, dropping to about -14°C (7°F) overnight.

Does North Dakota, the United States of America get a lot of snow in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in North Dakota, the United States of America during December, with Fargo averaging close to 27 mm (1.1 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit North Dakota, the United States of America?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Fargo, December may not be the ideal time to visit North Dakota, the United States of America.

Generally speaking, May, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Fargo. In contrast, January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in North Dakota.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.