December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 38.2°C and lows around 24.3°C (mean 31.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 71 mm of rainfall and 43% 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 2024 — when the month averaged 33.7°C — while the coldest was 2000 at 26.9°C. Typical December days reach 38.2°C with nights near 24.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Richmond, averaging 71 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2000 with 287 mm, while the driest was 2019 at 3 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during December averages 43%. The most humid December was 2010 at 69%, and the least humid was 2019 at 25%.
December receives about 7.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest December was 2019 at 8.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 6.4.
Average wind speed in Richmond during December is 3.1 m/s. The windiest December was 2018 at 4 m/s, while the calmest was 1997 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 31.0°C | 30.8°C | 31.1°C | 31.6°C | 31.9°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 38.2°C | 37.7°C | 37.9°C | 38.5°C | 38.7°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 23.8°C | 23.8°C | 24.3°C | 24.7°C | 25.1°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 64 mm | 70 mm | 87 mm | 49 mm | 91 mm | +26 mm |
December temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 14.9°C (1991) to a record high of 45.2°C (1996).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 71 mm, with a wettest year of 287 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Richmond
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Richmond. That said, December — with days averaging 38.2°C and nights around 24.3°C (mean 31.3°C) and moderate rainfall (71 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 | 36.1°C | 30.0°C | 23.8°C | 41.6°C | 17.5°C | 287 mm | 52% | 3 m/s | — |
| 2024 🔥 | 40.6°C | 33.7°C | 26.9°C | 44.1°C | 23.6°C | 31 mm | 39% | 2.8 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2023 | 40.5°C | 33.1°C | 25.7°C | 44.4°C | 20.9°C | 16 mm | 38% | 3.4 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2022 | 37.2°C | 30.1°C | 23.0°C | 41.7°C | 18.9°C | 55 mm | 42% | 3.1 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2021 | 39.4°C | 32.4°C | 25.4°C | 42.6°C | 18.4°C | 13 mm | 36% | 3.3 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2020 | 38.1°C | 31.8°C | 25.5°C | 43.8°C | 22.3°C | 141 mm | 47% | 3.2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2019 | 42.0°C | 33.6°C | 25.2°C | 44.5°C | 21.4°C | 3 mm | 25% | 3.5 m/s | 8.4 |
| 2018 | 40.4°C | 33.0°C | 25.6°C | 44.4°C | 20.9°C | 6 mm | 35% | 4 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2017 | 40.5°C | 32.7°C | 25.0°C | 43.3°C | 16.9°C | 4 mm | 27% | 3.3 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2016 | 39.3°C | 32.8°C | 26.3°C | 44.2°C | 23.8°C | 23 mm | 39% | 2.8 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2015 | 37.7°C | 31.9°C | 26.1°C | 41.8°C | 23.0°C | 27 mm | 43% | 3.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2014 | 38.7°C | 32.2°C | 25.7°C | 42.0°C | 20.2°C | 51 mm | 43% | 2.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2013 | 38.7°C | 31.0°C | 23.4°C | 43.8°C | 17.1°C | 32 mm | 41% | 3.1 m/s | 8 |
| 2012 | 38.1°C | 31.4°C | 24.7°C | 43.2°C | 21.8°C | 72 mm | 43% | 3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2011 | 36.7°C | 29.7°C | 22.7°C | 41.0°C | 17.1°C | 72 mm | 51% | 3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2010 | 33.3°C | 27.9°C | 22.5°C | 38.3°C | 15.4°C | 201 mm | 69% | 2.8 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2009 | 38.4°C | 31.7°C | 24.9°C | 43.0°C | 18.2°C | 74 mm | 40% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 38.1°C | 31.2°C | 24.3°C | 41.4°C | 17.6°C | 49 mm | 48% | 2.6 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2007 | 36.4°C | 30.2°C | 24.1°C | 41.6°C | 17.5°C | 108 mm | 53% | 2.8 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2006 | 38.1°C | 31.1°C | 24.0°C | 44.4°C | 20.3°C | 46 mm | 41% | 3.6 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2005 | 40.1°C | 32.6°C | 25.1°C | 43.2°C | 18.8°C | 29 mm | 35% | 3.1 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2004 | 37.2°C | 30.5°C | 23.9°C | 42.9°C | 20.8°C | 110 mm | 48% | 2.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2003 | 38.2°C | 31.5°C | 24.8°C | 42.3°C | 18.7°C | 74 mm | 44% | 2.9 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2002 | 40.2°C | 32.5°C | 24.8°C | 43.4°C | 19.9°C | 34 mm | 28% | 3.4 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2001 | 39.7°C | 32.6°C | 25.6°C | 43.7°C | 20.7°C | 57 mm | 40% | 2.9 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2000 ❄️ 🌧️ | 32.6°C | 26.9°C | 21.3°C | 36.6°C | 18.4°C | 287 mm | 65% | 3.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1999 | 35.6°C | 28.7°C | 21.7°C | 40.4°C | 18.4°C | 76 mm | 52% | 3.6 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1998 | 38.4°C | 31.8°C | 25.1°C | 42.4°C | 18.5°C | 77 mm | 45% | 3.2 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1997 | 35.1°C | 30.1°C | 25.1°C | 41.6°C | 21.2°C | 162 mm | 62% | 2.4 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1996 | 38.0°C | 31.2°C | 24.5°C | 45.2°C | 20.6°C | 93 mm | 47% | 3.1 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1995 | 38.9°C | 31.8°C | 24.7°C | 42.3°C | 18.6°C | 59 mm | 38% | 3.1 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1994 | 38.7°C | 31.5°C | 24.4°C | 42.4°C | 21.8°C | 15 mm | 35% | 3.2 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1993 | 37.8°C | 30.4°C | 22.9°C | 42.5°C | 18.8°C | 49 mm | 41% | 3.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1992 | 36.6°C | 29.5°C | 22.3°C | 42.2°C | 18.9°C | 94 mm | 46% | 3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1991 | 39.2°C | 31.1°C | 23.1°C | 42.8°C | 14.9°C | 27 mm | 31% | 2.9 m/s | 8 |
| 1990 | 39.1°C | 31.9°C | 24.7°C | 44.7°C | 20.0°C | 49 mm | 44% | 3.8 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1989 | 36.4°C | 29.4°C | 22.5°C | 41.6°C | 17.4°C | 58 mm | 51% | 2.9 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1988 | 36.3°C | 30.1°C | 24.0°C | 41.8°C | 19.3°C | 116 mm | 50% | 2.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1987 | 38.4°C | 31.5°C | 24.6°C | 42.5°C | 16.4°C | 35 mm | 40% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1986 | 39.3°C | 31.4°C | 23.5°C | 43.5°C | 16.6°C | 53 mm | 34% | 2.8 m/s | 8.1 |
| 1985 | 38.5°C | 30.9°C | 23.3°C | 43.1°C | 17.4°C | 72 mm | 43% | 2.7 m/s | 8.1 |
| 1984 | 38.5°C | 31.4°C | 24.2°C | 44.8°C | 19.7°C | 91 mm | 45% | 3.1 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1983 | 36.9°C | 29.6°C | 22.2°C | 41.6°C | 15.2°C | 53 mm | 43% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 39.5°C | 32.1°C | 24.8°C | 41.9°C | 17.3°C | 39 mm | 36% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 39.6°C | 32.2°C | 24.7°C | 42.7°C | 19.8°C | 61 mm | 43% | 2.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 38.2°C with lows near 24.3°C (mean 31.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 71 mm of rainfall in Richmond, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 287 mm in 2000.
The hottest December reached 45.2°C in 1996. The coldest dipped to 14.9°C in 1991.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 38.6°C to 38.8°C and overnight lows from 23.8°C to 25°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 38.2°C daytime highs and 24.3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 12th coolest month in Richmond, averaging 31.3°C.
For December in Richmond, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 38.2°C and lows of 24.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 43% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 3.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4 m/s (2018).
The wettest December on record was 2000 with 287 mm. On average, December sees 71 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.
