December is one of the warmer months of the year in Scottsdale, with average highs near 18.2°C and lows around 11.2°C (mean 14.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Scottsdale. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Scottsdale was 2015 — when the month averaged 16.5°C — while the coldest was 1996 at 12.7°C. Typical December days reach 18.2°C with nights near 11.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Scottsdale, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1985 with 169 mm, while the driest was 1983 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Scottsdale during December averages 75%. The most humid December was 1992 at 82%, and the least humid was 2006 at 69%.
December receives about 6.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Scottsdale. The sunniest December was 2015 at 7.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1985 at 5.7.
Average wind speed in Scottsdale during December is 3.8 m/s. The windiest December was 2005 at 4.7 m/s, while the calmest was 2011 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 14.5°C | 14.4°C | 14.8°C | 15.2°C | 14.8°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 18.0°C | 17.9°C | 18.3°C | 18.7°C | 18.3°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg Low | 10.9°C | 10.9°C | 11.4°C | 11.7°C | 11.3°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 76 mm | 62 mm | 53 mm | 66 mm | 59 mm | -16 mm |
December temperatures in Scottsdale have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 4.9°C (1995) to a record high of 27.4°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 169 mm.
One of the best times to visit Scottsdale
December is one of the best times to visit Scottsdale. Expect days averaging 18.2°C and nights around 11.2°C (mean 14.7°C) — warmer than Scottsdale's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (63 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 | 17.6°C | 13.9°C | 10.2°C | 24.1°C | 6.6°C | 31 mm | 71% | 4.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 18.9°C | 15.5°C | 12.1°C | 23.9°C | 9.4°C | 54 mm | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2023 | 19.8°C | 16.1°C | 12.4°C | 23.5°C | 9.5°C | 80 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2022 | 17.6°C | 14.1°C | 10.7°C | 23.9°C | 6.4°C | 68 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2021 | 18.6°C | 15.0°C | 11.4°C | 23.5°C | 8.6°C | 20 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2020 | 17.4°C | 14.1°C | 10.9°C | 23.5°C | 7.1°C | 103 mm | 77% | 4.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2019 | 18.8°C | 14.9°C | 11.1°C | 26.1°C | 7.6°C | 20 mm | 71% | 4.3 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2018 | 19.5°C | 16.3°C | 13.0°C | 23.6°C | 8.3°C | 101 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2017 | 19.3°C | 16.0°C | 12.6°C | 23.2°C | 8.8°C | 99 mm | 75% | 4.2 m/s | 7 |
| 2016 | 18.0°C | 14.7°C | 11.4°C | 24.4°C | 7.2°C | 99 mm | 79% | 4 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2015 🔥 | 20.5°C | 16.5°C | 12.5°C | 27.4°C | 8.6°C | 30 mm | 70% | 3.7 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2014 | 18.9°C | 15.4°C | 11.9°C | 21.7°C | 8.9°C | 72 mm | 76% | 3.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2013 | 17.5°C | 14.3°C | 11.0°C | 22.2°C | 6.6°C | 65 mm | 80% | 3.8 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2012 | 18.6°C | 14.9°C | 11.2°C | 22.2°C | 6.8°C | 54 mm | 74% | 4.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2011 | 18.5°C | 15.1°C | 11.6°C | 22.1°C | 6.4°C | 33 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2010 | 17.1°C | 14.0°C | 10.9°C | 21.0°C | 7.1°C | 92 mm | 78% | 4.3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2009 | 18.2°C | 14.8°C | 11.3°C | 24.6°C | 8.8°C | 37 mm | 76% | 3.9 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2008 | 16.9°C | 13.5°C | 10.2°C | 21.5°C | 6.2°C | 85 mm | 75% | 4.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2007 | 19.2°C | 15.7°C | 12.3°C | 23.5°C | 9.3°C | 64 mm | 74% | 3.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 18.4°C | 14.5°C | 10.6°C | 24.7°C | 7.0°C | 18 mm | 69% | 4.1 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2005 | 17.5°C | 14.5°C | 11.6°C | 22.2°C | 9.1°C | 88 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2004 | 19.1°C | 15.4°C | 11.7°C | 23.5°C | 7.8°C | 48 mm | 74% | 3.7 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2003 | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 12.0°C | 24.5°C | 8.5°C | 50 mm | 75% | 4 m/s | 7 |
| 2002 | 19.4°C | 15.6°C | 11.9°C | 24.3°C | 7.6°C | 42 mm | 72% | 3.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 16.2°C | 13.3°C | 10.3°C | 20.7°C | 6.6°C | 61 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2000 | 18.9°C | 15.3°C | 11.7°C | 23.6°C | 7.0°C | 35 mm | 69% | 4.3 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1999 | 19.3°C | 15.4°C | 11.4°C | 23.5°C | 7.1°C | 60 mm | 70% | 3.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1998 | 18.8°C | 15.0°C | 11.2°C | 24.6°C | 8.5°C | 79 mm | 75% | 3.9 m/s | 7 |
| 1997 | 17.9°C | 14.4°C | 10.9°C | 22.6°C | 7.1°C | 23 mm | 74% | 4.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1996 ❄️ | 16.1°C | 12.7°C | 9.2°C | 20.6°C | 5.9°C | 32 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1995 | 16.8°C | 13.2°C | 9.7°C | 20.5°C | 4.9°C | 73 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1994 | 19.7°C | 15.5°C | 11.4°C | 25.6°C | 7.1°C | 14 mm | 70% | 3.3 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1993 | 17.1°C | 14.0°C | 10.9°C | 22.4°C | 7.1°C | 149 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 17.1°C | 14.3°C | 11.5°C | 20.5°C | 8.2°C | 56 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 17.6°C | 14.4°C | 11.2°C | 21.9°C | 7.3°C | 89 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1990 | 18.2°C | 14.8°C | 11.4°C | 25.6°C | 7.3°C | 45 mm | 75% | 4.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1989 | 18.6°C | 15.0°C | 11.3°C | 22.8°C | 7.8°C | 47 mm | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1988 | 18.5°C | 15.0°C | 11.5°C | 23.4°C | 7.1°C | 62 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 7 |
| 1987 | 17.9°C | 14.1°C | 10.2°C | 22.3°C | 6.5°C | 59 mm | 72% | 3.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1986 | 16.9°C | 13.7°C | 10.5°C | 20.8°C | 7.8°C | 102 mm | 79% | 3.8 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1985 🌧️ | 17.7°C | 14.9°C | 12.1°C | 21.8°C | 8.9°C | 169 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1984 | 16.3°C | 12.8°C | 9.4°C | 20.0°C | 5.4°C | 73 mm | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1983 | 18.9°C | 15.1°C | 11.4°C | 23.9°C | 7.5°C | 13 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 18.4°C | 14.4°C | 10.5°C | 24.8°C | 7.2°C | 116 mm | 72% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.8°C | 15.2°C | 11.5°C | 22.6°C | 9.0°C | 43 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 18.2°C with lows near 11.2°C (mean 14.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 63 mm of rainfall in Scottsdale, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 169 mm in 1985.
The hottest December reached 27.4°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 4.9°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 18°C to 18.5°C and overnight lows from 11°C to 11.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Scottsdale and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.2°C daytime highs and 11.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 9th coolest month in Scottsdale, averaging 14.7°C.
For December in Scottsdale, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 18.2°C and lows of 11.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 75% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.7 m/s (2005).
The wettest December on record was 1985 with 169 mm. On average, December sees 63 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 Scottsdale 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.
