December is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockhampton, with average highs near 32.2°C and lows around 21.9°C (mean 27.1°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 104 mm of rainfall and 67% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockhampton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Rockhampton was 2005 — when the month averaged 29.4°C — while the coldest was 2000 at 24.8°C. Typical December days reach 32.2°C with nights near 21.9°C. The long-term December temperature trend is broadly flat.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Rockhampton, averaging 104 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2010 with 472 mm, while the driest was 2013 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Rockhampton during December averages 67%. The most humid December was 2010 at 85%, and the least humid was 2019 at 58%.
December receives about 7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rockhampton. The sunniest December was 2013 at 8.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 5.1.
Average wind speed in Rockhampton during December is 3.5 m/s. The windiest December was 2018 at 4.6 m/s, while the calmest were 2008, 2014 and 2021, among others at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 27.1°C | 26.8°C | 27.1°C | 27.0°C | 27.4°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 32.5°C | 32.0°C | 32.2°C | 32.1°C | 32.5°C | 0°C |
| Avg Low | 21.7°C | 21.7°C | 21.9°C | 22.0°C | 22.3°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 95 mm | 120 mm | 108 mm | 107 mm | 80 mm | -15 mm |
December temperatures in Rockhampton have stayed relatively stable across the record.
December has ranged from a record low of 15.5°C (2022) to a record high of 41.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 104 mm, with a wettest year of 472 mm.
A quieter season to visit Rockhampton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Rockhampton. That said, December — with days averaging 32.2°C and nights around 21.9°C (mean 27.1°C) and higher rainfall (104 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 | 32.8°C | 27.6°C | 22.4°C | 36.2°C | 17.6°C | 85 mm | 64% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 33.3°C | 28.2°C | 23.1°C | 39.4°C | 19.4°C | 72 mm | 68% | 3.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2023 | 33.5°C | 28.5°C | 23.5°C | 37.2°C | 20.5°C | 129 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2022 | 31.3°C | 25.8°C | 20.4°C | 38.1°C | 15.5°C | 48 mm | 66% | 3.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2021 | 30.9°C | 26.4°C | 21.9°C | 34.0°C | 20.5°C | 60 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 7 |
| 2020 | 33.1°C | 27.9°C | 22.7°C | 37.8°C | 19.8°C | 88 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2019 | 34.8°C | 28.8°C | 22.8°C | 40.7°C | 21.0°C | 23 mm | 58% | 3.8 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2018 | 31.9°C | 27.2°C | 22.5°C | 41.4°C | 19.9°C | 105 mm | 69% | 4.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2017 | 32.7°C | 27.2°C | 21.7°C | 37.3°C | 17.3°C | 31 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2016 | 33.0°C | 27.7°C | 22.3°C | 39.3°C | 20.0°C | 41 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2015 | 32.1°C | 27.0°C | 21.8°C | 35.6°C | 19.3°C | 27 mm | 64% | 3.8 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2014 | 31.2°C | 26.6°C | 22.0°C | 34.7°C | 18.4°C | 195 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 7 |
| 2013 | 32.5°C | 26.7°C | 20.9°C | 40.3°C | 18.5°C | 15 mm | 62% | 3.5 m/s | 8.2 |
| 2012 | 33.7°C | 27.8°C | 22.0°C | 40.2°C | 18.9°C | 28 mm | 59% | 3.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2011 | 31.1°C | 26.2°C | 21.3°C | 36.1°C | 18.9°C | 130 mm | 69% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 28.4°C | 25.3°C | 22.3°C | 31.1°C | 18.1°C | 472 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2009 | 32.2°C | 27.3°C | 22.5°C | 37.3°C | 19.5°C | 147 mm | 68% | 3.5 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2008 | 33.0°C | 27.5°C | 22.0°C | 38.4°C | 19.0°C | 85 mm | 67% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2007 | 30.3°C | 25.8°C | 21.3°C | 33.7°C | 17.3°C | 150 mm | 73% | 3.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2006 | 31.0°C | 25.9°C | 20.9°C | 36.1°C | 19.0°C | 53 mm | 65% | 4.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2005 🔥 | 35.3°C | 29.4°C | 23.5°C | 39.6°C | 19.0°C | 68 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2004 | 32.5°C | 27.3°C | 22.2°C | 40.2°C | 17.0°C | 114 mm | 67% | 3.3 m/s | 7 |
| 2003 | 31.1°C | 26.5°C | 21.8°C | 34.8°C | 18.7°C | 183 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2002 | 32.8°C | 27.3°C | 21.8°C | 38.9°C | 17.7°C | 65 mm | 60% | 3.8 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2001 | 34.8°C | 29.0°C | 23.1°C | 40.4°C | 19.8°C | 118 mm | 66% | 3.4 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2000 ❄️ | 29.4°C | 24.8°C | 20.3°C | 33.0°C | 17.1°C | 100 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1999 | 30.1°C | 25.1°C | 20.1°C | 34.9°C | 17.7°C | 113 mm | 67% | 4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1998 | 32.3°C | 27.1°C | 21.9°C | 38.7°C | 17.9°C | 52 mm | 69% | 3.5 m/s | 7 |
| 1997 | 32.9°C | 28.1°C | 23.3°C | 40.0°C | 20.6°C | 99 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1996 | 32.5°C | 27.2°C | 22.0°C | 40.6°C | 19.3°C | 101 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1995 | 32.7°C | 27.0°C | 21.4°C | 38.5°C | 16.1°C | 115 mm | 66% | 3.5 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1994 | 31.9°C | 26.4°C | 20.8°C | 37.0°C | 18.5°C | 68 mm | 63% | 3.7 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1993 | 31.3°C | 26.1°C | 20.8°C | 36.9°C | 17.3°C | 68 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1992 | 32.1°C | 26.9°C | 21.7°C | 36.8°C | 16.8°C | 51 mm | 63% | 3.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1991 | 31.6°C | 26.9°C | 22.2°C | 38.4°C | 18.7°C | 189 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1990 | 32.2°C | 27.5°C | 22.9°C | 38.7°C | 19.8°C | 341 mm | 68% | 3.9 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1989 | 32.0°C | 26.4°C | 20.8°C | 38.6°C | 17.9°C | 32 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1988 | 29.7°C | 25.6°C | 21.6°C | 33.9°C | 18.9°C | 247 mm | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1987 | 31.9°C | 26.6°C | 21.3°C | 38.0°C | 17.9°C | 71 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1986 | 33.0°C | 27.3°C | 21.6°C | 38.5°C | 16.9°C | 63 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1985 | 34.2°C | 28.5°C | 22.8°C | 39.0°C | 21.1°C | 97 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1984 | 33.5°C | 28.1°C | 22.7°C | 38.9°C | 18.7°C | 136 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 7 |
| 1983 | 30.9°C | 25.5°C | 20.1°C | 34.5°C | 16.3°C | 47 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 32.4°C | 26.8°C | 21.2°C | 36.1°C | 17.7°C | 107 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 34.5°C | 28.7°C | 23.0°C | 40.7°C | 20.9°C | 58 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 32.2°C with lows near 21.9°C (mean 27.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 104 mm of rainfall in Rockhampton, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 472 mm in 2010.
The hottest December reached 41.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to 15.5°C in 2022.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have fallen by about 0.2°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 22°C to 22.3°C while daytime highs eased from 33.1°C to 32.4°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Rockhampton and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 32.2°C daytime highs and 21.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 11th coolest month in Rockhampton, averaging 27.1°C.
For December in Rockhampton, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 32.2°C and lows of 21.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 67% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.5 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.6 m/s (2018).
The wettest December on record was 2010 with 472 mm. On average, December sees 104 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 Rockhampton 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.
