December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 28.6°C and lows around 14.7°C (mean 21.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 81 mm of rainfall and 62% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Richmond was 1990 — when the month averaged 24.9°C — while the coldest was 2011 at 17°C. Typical December days reach 28.6°C with nights near 14.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Richmond, averaging 81 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1991 with 195 mm, while the driest was 2019 at 2 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during December averages 62%. The most humid December was 1992 at 79%, and the least humid was 2019 at 45%.
December receives about 6.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest December was 2005 at 8.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2011 at 5.1.
Average wind speed in Richmond during December is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2022, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2014, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 21.0°C | 21.3°C | 22.0°C | 22.1°C | 22.0°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 28.0°C | 28.3°C | 29.1°C | 29.0°C | 28.9°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 14.1°C | 14.4°C | 14.9°C | 15.2°C | 15.1°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 82 mm | 87 mm | 75 mm | 80 mm | 80 mm | -2 mm |
December temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 6.2°C (1995) to a record high of 41.6°C (2019).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 81 mm, with a wettest year of 195 mm.
One of the best times to visit Richmond
December is one of the best times to visit Richmond. Expect days averaging 28.6°C and nights around 14.7°C (mean 21.7°C) — warmer than Richmond's yearly average — with higher rainfall (81 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31.2°C | 23.2°C | 15.2°C | 40.6°C | 9.5°C | 56 mm | 53% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 32.0°C | 24.4°C | 16.7°C | 40.0°C | 11.7°C | 47 mm | 58% | 0.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2023 | 30.8°C | 23.8°C | 16.7°C | 39.4°C | 13.0°C | 93 mm | 64% | 0.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 26.1°C | 19.4°C | 12.7°C | 34.5°C | 9.1°C | 37 mm | 61% | 0.4 m/s | 7 |
| 2021 | 26.3°C | 20.2°C | 14.2°C | 34.7°C | 9.6°C | 85 mm | 74% | 0.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2020 | 26.9°C | 20.9°C | 15.0°C | 38.8°C | 11.3°C | 161 mm | 69% | 0.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2019 | 32.3°C | 24.1°C | 15.8°C | 41.6°C | 10.6°C | 2 mm | 45% | 0.4 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2018 | 29.4°C | 22.5°C | 15.6°C | 38.6°C | 10.0°C | 115 mm | 65% | 0.4 m/s | 7 |
| 2017 | 30.9°C | 23.9°C | 16.8°C | 41.0°C | 12.9°C | 66 mm | 61% | 0.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2016 | 31.5°C | 24.3°C | 17.0°C | 37.9°C | 12.7°C | 80 mm | 58% | 0.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2015 | 29.0°C | 21.9°C | 14.8°C | 37.6°C | 10.3°C | 103 mm | 60% | 0.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2014 | 28.8°C | 22.3°C | 15.8°C | 35.1°C | 10.3°C | 140 mm | 65% | 0.3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2013 | 29.4°C | 21.9°C | 14.4°C | 39.7°C | 8.6°C | 32 mm | 57% | 0.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2012 | 30.0°C | 22.3°C | 14.7°C | 37.2°C | 9.6°C | 62 mm | 59% | 0.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2011 ❄️ | 21.9°C | 17.0°C | 12.1°C | 28.6°C | 6.5°C | 108 mm | 79% | 0.4 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2010 | 26.6°C | 20.8°C | 14.9°C | 35.5°C | 8.9°C | 92 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 6 |
| 2009 | 30.6°C | 23.2°C | 15.9°C | 39.4°C | 10.3°C | 75 mm | 58% | 0.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2008 | 28.1°C | 21.3°C | 14.5°C | 34.2°C | 10.6°C | 87 mm | 60% | 0.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2007 | 24.9°C | 19.7°C | 14.6°C | 30.3°C | 11.4°C | 138 mm | 77% | 0.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2006 | 28.5°C | 21.3°C | 14.1°C | 39.1°C | 7.0°C | 72 mm | 61% | 0.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2005 | 32.1°C | 23.7°C | 15.3°C | 40.6°C | 10.1°C | 35 mm | 50% | 0.4 m/s | 8.4 |
| 2004 | 28.0°C | 21.2°C | 14.3°C | 38.8°C | 8.4°C | 91 mm | 65% | 0.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2003 | 29.8°C | 22.8°C | 15.8°C | 39.0°C | 11.7°C | 59 mm | 62% | 0.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2002 | 28.9°C | 21.7°C | 14.5°C | 39.9°C | 8.2°C | 91 mm | 59% | 0.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2001 | 29.8°C | 22.3°C | 14.8°C | 37.3°C | 11.4°C | 41 mm | 54% | 0.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 30.0°C | 22.8°C | 15.5°C | 37.0°C | 9.0°C | 56 mm | 58% | 0.4 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1999 | 26.0°C | 19.8°C | 13.7°C | 34.7°C | 8.5°C | 82 mm | 67% | 0.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1998 | 29.1°C | 22.3°C | 15.5°C | 36.3°C | 9.8°C | 47 mm | 64% | 0.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1997 | 32.5°C | 24.6°C | 16.7°C | 39.3°C | 12.9°C | 43 mm | 53% | 0.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1996 | 28.7°C | 21.2°C | 13.6°C | 37.5°C | 10.1°C | 62 mm | 59% | 0.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1995 | 26.0°C | 19.3°C | 12.7°C | 32.0°C | 6.2°C | 86 mm | 65% | 0.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1994 | 29.8°C | 22.1°C | 14.4°C | 40.8°C | 7.6°C | 72 mm | 61% | 0.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1993 | 28.4°C | 21.3°C | 14.2°C | 38.3°C | 10.6°C | 51 mm | 60% | 0.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 23.7°C | 18.8°C | 13.8°C | 29.3°C | 9.2°C | 190 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 25.1°C | 19.0°C | 12.9°C | 34.3°C | 8.4°C | 195 mm | 70% | 0.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1990 🔥 | 33.2°C | 24.9°C | 16.5°C | 39.7°C | 10.7°C | 45 mm | 52% | 0.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1989 | 27.5°C | 20.7°C | 13.8°C | 35.6°C | 9.0°C | 118 mm | 64% | 0.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1988 | 27.0°C | 21.1°C | 15.2°C | 33.9°C | 10.1°C | 124 mm | 72% | 0.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1987 | 27.3°C | 20.5°C | 13.7°C | 35.9°C | 6.6°C | 90 mm | 62% | 0.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1986 | 27.5°C | 20.2°C | 13.0°C | 34.6°C | 8.0°C | 23 mm | 58% | 0.4 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1985 | 27.5°C | 21.0°C | 14.6°C | 34.8°C | 10.1°C | 76 mm | 62% | 0.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1984 | 27.5°C | 20.3°C | 13.0°C | 37.5°C | 7.7°C | 76 mm | 54% | 0.4 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1983 | 27.0°C | 20.3°C | 13.6°C | 38.2°C | 8.1°C | 129 mm | 67% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 31.3°C | 23.2°C | 15.1°C | 39.7°C | 10.5°C | 25 mm | 52% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 29.2°C | 21.9°C | 14.7°C | 36.8°C | 10.4°C | 77 mm | 60% | 0.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 28.6°C with lows near 14.7°C (mean 21.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 81 mm of rainfall in Richmond, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 195 mm in 1991.
The hottest December reached 41.6°C in 2019. The coldest dipped to 6.2°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 28.5°C to 29.3°C and overnight lows from 14.2°C to 15.1°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 28.6°C daytime highs and 14.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 10th coolest month in Richmond, averaging 21.7°C.
For December in Richmond, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 28.6°C and lows of 14.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 62% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.4 m/s (1981).
The wettest December on record was 1991 with 195 mm. On average, December sees 81 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Richmond behaves each December, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for December specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
