December is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine, with average highs near 34.9°C and lows around 24.8°C (mean 29.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 214 mm of rainfall and 66% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Katherine was 2019 — when the month averaged 33.6°C — while the coldest was 1988 at 27.3°C. Typical December days reach 34.9°C with nights near 24.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Katherine, averaging 214 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 551 mm, while the driest was 2017 at 46 mm.
Relative humidity in Katherine during December averages 66%. The most humid December was 1988 at 82%, and the least humid was 2019 at 43%.
December receives about 6.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Katherine. The sunniest Decembers were 1986 and 1991 at 7.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2008 and 2015 at 5.7.
Average wind speed in Katherine during December is 2.3 m/s. The windiest December was 2000 at 3.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2005 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 29.8°C | 29.2°C | 29.8°C | 30.1°C | 30.6°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg High | 35.2°C | 34.1°C | 34.7°C | 35.1°C | 35.9°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | 24.4°C | 24.3°C | 24.8°C | 25.1°C | 25.3°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 151 mm | 237 mm | 263 mm | 224 mm | 175 mm | +24 mm |
December temperatures in Katherine have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 19°C (1981) to a record high of 43.5°C (2006).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 214 mm, with a wettest year of 551 mm.
A quieter season to visit Katherine
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Katherine. That said, December — with days averaging 34.9°C and nights around 24.8°C (mean 29.9°C) and higher rainfall (214 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35.7°C | 30.3°C | 25.0°C | 40.6°C | 21.9°C | 151 mm | 64% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 36.3°C | 30.9°C | 25.5°C | 40.9°C | 24.0°C | 171 mm | 67% | 2.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2023 | 38.5°C | 32.5°C | 26.5°C | 42.4°C | 25.0°C | 109 mm | 57% | 2.3 m/s | 7 |
| 2022 | 34.6°C | 29.4°C | 24.3°C | 41.4°C | 19.5°C | 184 mm | 65% | 2.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2021 | 36.9°C | 31.4°C | 25.8°C | 43.1°C | 21.7°C | 155 mm | 57% | 2.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2020 | 33.2°C | 29.0°C | 24.9°C | 39.2°C | 23.2°C | 279 mm | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2019 🔥 | 40.1°C | 33.6°C | 27.1°C | 43.2°C | 21.9°C | 53 mm | 43% | 2.5 m/s | 7 |
| 2018 | 38.5°C | 32.6°C | 26.6°C | 43.4°C | 24.5°C | 68 mm | 55% | 2.2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2017 | 38.2°C | 31.9°C | 25.6°C | 41.2°C | 19.9°C | 46 mm | 50% | 2.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2016 | 35.3°C | 30.4°C | 25.5°C | 42.2°C | 23.4°C | 187 mm | 63% | 2.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2015 🌧️ | 31.6°C | 28.0°C | 24.4°C | 39.5°C | 22.2°C | 551 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2014 | 32.7°C | 28.8°C | 24.9°C | 39.0°C | 23.7°C | 295 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2013 | 34.2°C | 29.2°C | 24.2°C | 37.5°C | 22.8°C | 137 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2012 | 35.2°C | 30.0°C | 24.8°C | 41.6°C | 21.9°C | 168 mm | 64% | 1.8 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2011 | 32.5°C | 28.3°C | 24.1°C | 37.3°C | 21.2°C | 338 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2010 | 32.5°C | 28.4°C | 24.2°C | 40.0°C | 21.4°C | 398 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2009 | 33.9°C | 29.2°C | 24.6°C | 41.6°C | 20.7°C | 286 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2008 | 33.0°C | 28.7°C | 24.3°C | 40.6°C | 22.2°C | 319 mm | 75% | 2.1 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2007 | 34.2°C | 29.5°C | 24.8°C | 40.0°C | 22.2°C | 308 mm | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2006 | 37.4°C | 31.5°C | 25.5°C | 43.5°C | 22.5°C | 172 mm | 55% | 2.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2005 | 34.2°C | 29.4°C | 24.5°C | 39.8°C | 22.9°C | 320 mm | 71% | 1.7 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2004 | 37.0°C | 31.4°C | 25.8°C | 41.5°C | 23.7°C | 253 mm | 59% | 2.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2003 | 32.8°C | 29.0°C | 25.1°C | 40.1°C | 23.7°C | 457 mm | 75% | 2.3 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2002 | 37.9°C | 31.6°C | 25.3°C | 41.9°C | 23.0°C | 121 mm | 55% | 2 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2001 | 34.4°C | 29.3°C | 24.1°C | 38.7°C | 22.4°C | 145 mm | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2000 | 32.5°C | 28.2°C | 23.8°C | 36.9°C | 20.8°C | 245 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1999 | 34.2°C | 29.1°C | 24.0°C | 37.9°C | 21.9°C | 183 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 7 |
| 1998 | 33.1°C | 28.4°C | 23.8°C | 38.0°C | 21.0°C | 245 mm | 73% | 2.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1997 | 33.0°C | 28.8°C | 24.6°C | 38.2°C | 23.2°C | 410 mm | 74% | 1.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1996 | 33.6°C | 29.1°C | 24.5°C | 40.1°C | 23.1°C | 390 mm | 73% | 2.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1995 | 34.0°C | 29.2°C | 24.4°C | 38.2°C | 23.4°C | 136 mm | 72% | 2.6 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1994 | 33.6°C | 28.8°C | 23.9°C | 39.2°C | 22.4°C | 179 mm | 70% | 1.9 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1993 | 34.2°C | 29.3°C | 24.4°C | 40.7°C | 21.0°C | 302 mm | 69% | 2.7 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1992 | 35.4°C | 30.0°C | 24.6°C | 39.6°C | 23.2°C | 138 mm | 64% | 2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1991 | 38.3°C | 31.6°C | 24.9°C | 41.1°C | 22.0°C | 92 mm | 53% | 2.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1990 | 31.9°C | 27.9°C | 23.9°C | 34.9°C | 20.7°C | 299 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 7 |
| 1989 | 37.8°C | 31.6°C | 25.4°C | 40.5°C | 20.8°C | 77 mm | 52% | 2.2 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1988 ❄️ | 31.0°C | 27.3°C | 23.6°C | 35.3°C | 22.0°C | 276 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1987 | 33.1°C | 28.6°C | 24.1°C | 38.9°C | 21.5°C | 196 mm | 73% | 2.7 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1986 | 37.3°C | 31.0°C | 24.7°C | 41.5°C | 23.1°C | 111 mm | 55% | 2.3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1985 | 35.3°C | 30.0°C | 24.6°C | 40.3°C | 23.2°C | 117 mm | 64% | 2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1984 | 35.9°C | 30.3°C | 24.8°C | 42.4°C | 22.8°C | 166 mm | 63% | 2.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1983 | 37.5°C | 31.0°C | 24.6°C | 41.4°C | 21.3°C | 123 mm | 52% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 34.1°C | 29.1°C | 24.0°C | 40.5°C | 21.9°C | 193 mm | 65% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 34.7°C | 29.3°C | 23.8°C | 39.0°C | 19.0°C | 100 mm | 66% | 2.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 34.9°C with lows near 24.8°C (mean 29.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 214 mm of rainfall in Katherine, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 551 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 43.5°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to 19°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 35.5°C to 36.4°C and overnight lows from 24.4°C to 25.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 34.9°C daytime highs and 24.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 10th coolest month in Katherine, averaging 29.9°C.
For December in Katherine, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 34.9°C and lows of 24.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 66% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.1 m/s (2000).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 551 mm. On average, December sees 214 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 Katherine 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.
