December is one of the warmer months of the year in Melbourne, with average highs near 23.2°C and lows around 12.8°C (mean 18°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 62 mm of rainfall and 67% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Melbourne. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Melbourne was 2015 — when the month averaged 20.8°C — while the coldest was 1995 at 15.2°C. Typical December days reach 23.2°C with nights near 12.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Melbourne, averaging 62 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2017 with 142 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 11 mm.
Relative humidity in Melbourne during December averages 67%. The most humid December was 1992 at 79%, and the least humid was 2015 at 58%.
December receives about 7.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Melbourne. The sunniest December was 1994 at 8.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 5.9.
Average wind speed in Melbourne during December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest December was 1984 at 4 m/s, while the calmest were 1988, 1992 and 2018 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.6°C | 17.5°C | 18.2°C | 18.7°C | 18.0°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 22.8°C | 22.6°C | 23.5°C | 24.0°C | 23.2°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Low | 12.4°C | 12.3°C | 12.9°C | 13.4°C | 12.8°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 66 mm | 66 mm | 55 mm | 63 mm | 61 mm | -5 mm |
December temperatures in Melbourne have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 7.3°C (1994) to a record high of 39.5°C (2005).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 62 mm, with a wettest year of 142 mm.
One of the best times to visit Melbourne
December is one of the best times to visit Melbourne. Expect days averaging 23.2°C and nights around 12.8°C (mean 18°C) — warmer than Melbourne's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (62 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 | 22.9°C | 17.5°C | 12.1°C | 33.6°C | 9.0°C | 46 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 25.5°C | 19.8°C | 14.1°C | 36.3°C | 11.2°C | 39 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2023 | 23.2°C | 18.6°C | 14.0°C | 32.6°C | 11.7°C | 115 mm | 74% | 3.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2022 | 22.3°C | 17.2°C | 12.2°C | 33.4°C | 8.5°C | 73 mm | 73% | 3.2 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2021 | 23.2°C | 17.8°C | 12.4°C | 35.5°C | 9.5°C | 31 mm | 68% | 3.5 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2020 | 21.9°C | 17.1°C | 12.2°C | 31.1°C | 9.4°C | 61 mm | 67% | 3.7 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2019 | 23.9°C | 18.4°C | 12.8°C | 39.5°C | 9.1°C | 19 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2018 | 24.9°C | 19.8°C | 14.7°C | 35.9°C | 10.9°C | 84 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2017 🌧️ | 23.6°C | 18.8°C | 14.0°C | 32.1°C | 11.1°C | 142 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 7 |
| 2016 | 24.7°C | 19.0°C | 13.3°C | 34.0°C | 9.6°C | 61 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2015 🔥 | 27.3°C | 20.8°C | 14.3°C | 38.1°C | 9.9°C | 43 mm | 58% | 3.2 m/s | 7.9 |
| 2014 | 23.7°C | 18.5°C | 13.2°C | 31.8°C | 10.2°C | 50 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 7 |
| 2013 | 23.1°C | 17.8°C | 12.5°C | 35.3°C | 8.8°C | 50 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | 7 |
| 2012 | 23.9°C | 18.5°C | 13.1°C | 35.3°C | 10.8°C | 35 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2011 | 23.0°C | 18.1°C | 13.3°C | 32.7°C | 7.8°C | 57 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2010 | 21.8°C | 17.4°C | 12.9°C | 34.3°C | 9.1°C | 90 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2009 | 23.8°C | 18.3°C | 12.8°C | 35.4°C | 9.9°C | 50 mm | 65% | 3.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 21.4°C | 16.8°C | 12.2°C | 28.8°C | 9.3°C | 89 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2007 | 24.9°C | 19.4°C | 14.0°C | 35.7°C | 10.4°C | 88 mm | 65% | 3.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2006 | 23.7°C | 17.9°C | 12.1°C | 38.9°C | 9.7°C | 32 mm | 59% | 3.6 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2005 | 25.7°C | 19.4°C | 13.1°C | 39.5°C | 11.1°C | 61 mm | 59% | 3.6 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2004 | 22.6°C | 17.9°C | 13.2°C | 34.0°C | 10.5°C | 55 mm | 69% | 3.3 m/s | 7 |
| 2003 | 25.4°C | 19.6°C | 13.8°C | 36.8°C | 11.0°C | 51 mm | 64% | 3.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2002 | 23.3°C | 18.2°C | 13.2°C | 33.8°C | 9.4°C | 37 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 20.1°C | 15.7°C | 11.3°C | 31.4°C | 9.2°C | 49 mm | 70% | 3.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2000 | 24.4°C | 18.7°C | 13.0°C | 35.5°C | 9.3°C | 37 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1999 | 22.8°C | 18.0°C | 13.1°C | 33.4°C | 10.5°C | 88 mm | 66% | 3.8 m/s | 7 |
| 1998 | 23.6°C | 18.2°C | 12.7°C | 36.7°C | 9.5°C | 62 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1997 | 23.6°C | 18.2°C | 12.8°C | 30.1°C | 10.9°C | 11 mm | 66% | 3.5 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1996 | 21.6°C | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 31.6°C | 7.9°C | 26 mm | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1995 ❄️ | 19.8°C | 15.2°C | 10.7°C | 28.8°C | 8.4°C | 65 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1994 | 25.7°C | 19.5°C | 13.2°C | 35.0°C | 7.3°C | 19 mm | 60% | 3.3 m/s | 8.1 |
| 1993 | 21.0°C | 16.3°C | 11.6°C | 29.3°C | 8.4°C | 128 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1992 | 21.7°C | 17.5°C | 13.2°C | 28.7°C | 7.6°C | 105 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1991 | 21.5°C | 16.8°C | 12.1°C | 31.9°C | 8.6°C | 117 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1990 | 24.6°C | 18.8°C | 13.1°C | 33.5°C | 9.2°C | 37 mm | 65% | 3.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1989 | 24.1°C | 18.5°C | 13.0°C | 33.3°C | 10.5°C | 34 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1988 | 23.4°C | 18.3°C | 13.3°C | 34.4°C | 10.0°C | 93 mm | 72% | 3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1987 | 21.5°C | 16.6°C | 11.6°C | 32.0°C | 8.8°C | 90 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 7 |
| 1986 | 21.3°C | 16.4°C | 11.4°C | 30.9°C | 8.3°C | 89 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1985 | 21.7°C | 17.3°C | 13.0°C | 27.8°C | 10.7°C | 138 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1984 | 22.3°C | 17.0°C | 11.6°C | 28.7°C | 9.7°C | 54 mm | 65% | 4 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1983 | 23.2°C | 18.0°C | 12.8°C | 33.5°C | 9.6°C | 13 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 24.1°C | 18.4°C | 12.6°C | 34.8°C | 9.4°C | 52 mm | 62% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.4°C | 18.0°C | 12.6°C | 35.0°C | 10.2°C | 34 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 23.2°C with lows near 12.8°C (mean 18°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 62 mm of rainfall in Melbourne, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 142 mm in 2017.
The hottest December reached 39.5°C in 2005. The coldest dipped to 7.3°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.9°C to 23.4°C and overnight lows from 12.5°C to 13°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Melbourne and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 23.2°C daytime highs and 12.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 9th coolest month in Melbourne, averaging 18°C.
For December in Melbourne, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 23.2°C and lows of 12.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 67% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4 m/s (1984).
The wettest December on record was 2017 with 142 mm. On average, December sees 62 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 Melbourne 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.
