December weather forecastCapitol Reef National Park, UT

Weather in December

To round off the year, December at Capitol Reef National Park brings the return of substantial cold, with temperatures oscillating between 10°F (-12.2°C) to 39°F (3.9°C). As the winter solstice approaches, daylight hours dwindle to about 9.5 hours a day. The sun graces the sky for a reduced six hours, and the UV index touches the lower limit of 2. The year concludes with an average rainfall figure of 0.5" (13mm) across seven days. Winter enthusiasts find December's frosty ambiance favorable, marking a serene end to the year in the park.

Temperature

Onset of December comes with a temperature decline, the average high falling from a cool 50°F (10°C) in November to a wintry 39.2°F (4°C). Capitol Reef National Park documents a marked decrease from day to night, with an average low of 10.4°F (-12°C) throughout December.

Rainfall

In December, the rain falls for 7 days. Throughout December, 0.47" (12mm) of precipitation is accumulated. Throughout the year, there are 79 rainfall days, and 7.99" (203mm) of precipitation is accumulated.

Daylight

December has the shortest days of the year, with an average of 9h and 30min of daylight.
On the first day of the month, sunrise is at 7:23 am and sunset at 5:04 pm. On the last day of December, sunrise is at 7:41 am and sunset at 5:14 pm MST.

Sunshine

The months with the least sunshine are January and December, with an average of 6h of sunshine.

UV index

January and December, with an average maximum UV index of 2, are months with the lowest UV index. A UV Index reading of 2, and below, represents a minimal health vulnerability from exposure to the Sun's UV radiation for average individuals.
Note: A maximum daily UV index of 2 during December morphs into the following directions:
Prolonged exposure to sunlight rarely troubles the majority, but constant protection is vital for babies, children, and fair-skinned people. Stay safe from the Sun's strongest UV rays by limiting exposure during midday. A hat with a broad brim is indispensable, filtering out up to half of UV rays.