Moab weather in December

December in Moab: cold, dry, with clean air — a great time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Moab🇺🇸 United States · Desert Southwest · Trekking72
  1. 69Jan
  2. 77Feb
  3. 88Mar
  4. 95Apr
  5. 84May
  6. 50Jun
  7. 34Jul
  8. 43Aug
  9. 65Sep
  10. 91Oct
  11. 82Nov
  12. 72Dec

#7 of 12 months in Moab · #685 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 72/100 (tier B)

Days
7°C
Nights
-4°C
Wet days
3
Sun
7.8 h
Humidity
61%
Daylight
10 h
Moab, United States
Photo: Francisco Jaramillo · Pexels

Traveller notes on Moab in December

Other months in Moab

Moab-forum threads on a January visit describe crowds as genuinely essentially nonexistent, one visitor naming only about fourteen other people on the Delicate Arch hike compared with hundreds during peak season. Regulars call microspikes genuinely required at the Devils Garden trailhead, several posters naming these as removable once you reach open slickrock further along the trail. Posters call Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands genuinely deserted this time of year, several regulars naming this a real draw for anyone wanting the views without the usual traffic. Regulars call some hotel and restaurant closures genuinely standard in January, several threads naming lower prices as the real tradeoff worth planning around. Posters recommend checking which businesses are actually open before a January trip, several regulars calling this standard given how much winter closures vary. The record: 5.8C days, -4.7C nights, 14.7mm across under 3 days and 66 percent humidity.
MoabJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Moab-forum threads on a September visit call this genuinely one of the most popular months, posters describing highs in the eighties and lows in the fifties Fahrenheit as considerably more comfortable than the desert's summer extremes. Regulars call sunrise arriving around six-thirty to seven in September, a real advantage for anyone wanting an early start without the brutal pre-dawn heat of midsummer. Posters recommend the Fisher Towers section of the Colorado River for a scenic float with low rapids, both full and half-day trips considered strong September options. Regulars call Arches' timed entry permit essential to book ahead, entering before seven or after four the only way around it otherwise. Posters recommend booking a Moab-area campsite as backup, Arches' own sites filling by seven-thirty most September mornings. The record: 32.1C days feeling like 34C, 15.7C nights, 13mm across over 2 days and 27 percent humidity.
MoabSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Moab-forum threads on the real deal with July weather describe average highs as sitting around ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit, posters calling this genuinely brutal for midday activity. Regulars recommend doing hikes early and late in the day, spending the actual midday hours in a hotel pool or somewhere air-conditioned in town. Posters call flash flood risk genuinely high this time of year, seasonal storms rolling in off tropical moisture capable of turning a dry wash dangerous within minutes. Regulars recommend checking current forecasts and avoiding narrow canyons entirely when a storm system is nearby. Posters describe the desert landscape as still spectacular in July for anyone willing to plan around the heat and storm risk both. Regulars call real sun protection and far more water than feels necessary standing advice regardless of activity. The record: 38.2C days feeling like 37C, 22.4C nights, a scant 2.6 days of measurable precipitation and 24 percent humidity.
MoabJulyRegular · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Moab-forum threads on a February visit are consistent this can genuinely swing both ways within the same day, freezing mornings giving way to sunny, comfortable afternoons in the low fifties Fahrenheit on a good stretch. Posters call a light dusting entirely possible in shaded spots and higher terrain, though it rarely lingers long at the lower elevations most trails sit at. Regulars recommend real traction devices for icy sections regardless of how clear the trailhead looks, ice in shaded canyon stretches a standing hazard this time of year. Posters recommend layering heavily and adjusting through the day rather than committing to one outfit. Regulars call the primary park roads reliably open, though some backcountry routes stay closed through winter. Posters describe February crowds as genuinely thin, popular viewpoints often nearly empty compared to peak season. The record: 9.9C days feeling like 6C, -2.2C nights, a notably high 3.6cm of fresh accumulation and 57 percent humidity.
MoabFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Moab climate normals — December

Daytime high7°C / 45°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low-4°C / 25°F
Feels like (high)4°C / 39°F
Rainfall16 mm / 0.6 in☀️ dry
Rainy days3 days
Humidity61%💧 humid
Dew point-5°C / 22°F
Sunshine7.8 h/day
Daylight9.5 h
Wind10 km/h / 6 mph
Snowfall3.1 cm / 1.2 in
Air quality (US AQI)34🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Moab in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Moab's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherMoab's best weather comes in March, April and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Moab in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Winter quiet season

    15 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

    The least visited months: lodging discounts, near-empty viewpoints in Arches, and snow on the red rock after storms. Several shops, cafes and restaurants close from December to the end of February, and shaded trails ice up. Source ↗

  • Festival

    Electric Light Parade

    1–7 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New Year

    Moab's small-town holiday parade of lit floats and vehicles down Main Street on the first Saturday of December. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Moab — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Moab?

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Moab in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Moab?
December in Moab: cold, dry, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Moab on SeasonMap's comfort score (72/100).
What is the weather like in Moab in December?
In December, Moab averages a daily high of 7.3°C and a low of -3.9°C, with about 16 mm of rain over roughly 3.1 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Moab in December?
Moab has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in December.
Does it snow in Moab in December?
Moab sees roughly 3.1 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Telluride's Ski season around 26 Nov – 5 Apr, and Aspen's Ski season around 26 Nov – 18 Apr.