Hottest Decembers in South Dakota since 1895
In 2022, the continental United States experienced its , according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their in the same month. The year prior, July marked the .
Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The has climbed each decade since 1880 by about .14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total.
compiled a ranking of the hottest Decembers in South Dakota since 1895 using data from the . Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation.
#9. December 2002 (tie)
- Average temperature: 27.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 38.3掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 16.2掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.24"
#9. December 1991 (tie)
- Average temperature: 27.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 38.3掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 16.3掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.07"
#9. December 1965 (tie)
- Average temperature: 27.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 37.4掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 17.3掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.55"
#8. December 1997
- Average temperature: 28掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 37.2掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 18.8掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.15"
#7. December 1979
- Average temperature: 28.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 41.4掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 15.1掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.09"
#6. December 2020
- Average temperature: 28.3掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 39.8掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 16.7掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.35"
#5. December 1959
- Average temperature: 28.5掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 37.4掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 19.6掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.46"
#4. December 1957
- Average temperature: 29掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 40.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 17掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.13"
#3. December 1999
- Average temperature: 29.1掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 40.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 17.4掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.18"
#2. December 1939
- Average temperature: 29.8掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 41.7掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 17.9掳F
- Total precipitation: 0.32"
#1. December 2023
- Average temperature: 31.2掳F
- Monthly high temperature: 41.9掳F
- Monthly low temperature: 20.6掳F
- Total precipitation: 1.18"
