December is one of the cooler months of the year in Edmonton, with average highs near -6.8°C and lows around -14.3°C (mean -10.5°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 21 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Edmonton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Edmonton was 2023 — when the month averaged -3.1°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -19.7°C. Typical December days reach -6.8°C with nights near -14.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Edmonton, averaging 21 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2025 with 64 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Edmonton during December averages 90%. The most humid December was 2012 at 96%, and the least humid was 1997 at 78%.
December receives about 0.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Edmonton. The sunniest Decembers were 2003 and 2017 at 0.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2004, 2005 and 2008, among others at 0.6.
Average wind speed in Edmonton during December is 3 m/s. The windiest December was 2004 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2010 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -10.8°C | -10.9°C | -9.7°C | -10.5°C | -10.9°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg High | -7.1°C | -6.9°C | -6.0°C | -6.9°C | -7.2°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Low | -14.5°C | -15.0°C | -13.4°C | -14.2°C | -14.6°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 20 mm | 21 mm | 18 mm | 20 mm | 27 mm | +7 mm |
December temperatures in Edmonton have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -41.1°C (1983) to a record high of 7°C (1999).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 21 mm, with a wettest year of 64 mm.
A quieter season to visit Edmonton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Edmonton. That said, December — with days averaging -6.8°C and nights around -14.3°C (mean -10.5°C) and low rainfall (21 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 🌧️ | -10.4°C | -15.3°C | -20.1°C | 2.1°C | -31.3°C | 64 mm | 94% | 3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | -5.5°C | -9.0°C | -12.6°C | 2.1°C | -25.9°C | 31 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2023 🔥 | 0.0°C | -3.1°C | -6.2°C | 4.5°C | -11.3°C | 8 mm | 87% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2022 | -12.2°C | -16.2°C | -20.1°C | -1.3°C | -32.9°C | 21 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -12.4°C | -15.9°C | -19.4°C | 3.1°C | -37.3°C | 28 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2020 | -2.5°C | -5.9°C | -9.2°C | 3.8°C | -20.3°C | 8 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2019 | -5.2°C | -8.6°C | -12.0°C | 3.6°C | -18.8°C | 17 mm | 92% | 2.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | -4.3°C | -8.6°C | -12.8°C | 2.8°C | -25.8°C | 27 mm | 91% | 2.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2017 | -5.6°C | -8.7°C | -11.8°C | 4.8°C | -31.5°C | 6 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2016 | -8.9°C | -12.1°C | -15.3°C | 1.1°C | -24.9°C | 20 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2015 | -5.6°C | -8.6°C | -11.6°C | 3.4°C | -20.6°C | 12 mm | 92% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2014 | -4.5°C | -7.9°C | -11.4°C | 4.9°C | -22.6°C | 10 mm | 93% | 2.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2013 | -10.6°C | -15.1°C | -19.5°C | 1.8°C | -35.2°C | 43 mm | 95% | 3.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2012 | -12.1°C | -16.3°C | -20.6°C | 0.5°C | -30.5°C | 25 mm | 96% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | -8.6°C | 4.3°C | -17.4°C | 18 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2010 | -11.3°C | -14.7°C | -18.1°C | -3.1°C | -28.1°C | 18 mm | 94% | 2.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2009 | -11.4°C | -15.6°C | -19.8°C | 0.3°C | -33.8°C | 30 mm | 91% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2008 | -10.2°C | -14.5°C | -18.9°C | 4.4°C | -31.8°C | 30 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2007 | -8.4°C | -12.1°C | -15.7°C | 0.3°C | -24.8°C | 21 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2006 | -2.7°C | -7.0°C | -11.4°C | 2.3°C | -27.2°C | 16 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2005 | -3.0°C | -5.8°C | -8.6°C | 7.0°C | -20.7°C | 8 mm | 88% | 3.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2004 | -4.1°C | -7.6°C | -11.1°C | 6.4°C | -22.0°C | 32 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2003 | -3.9°C | -7.2°C | -10.5°C | 2.0°C | -18.0°C | 8 mm | 89% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | -1.7°C | -4.8°C | -7.9°C | 4.5°C | -15.0°C | 12 mm | 87% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2001 | -6.1°C | -9.8°C | -13.5°C | 4.2°C | -21.3°C | 12 mm | 89% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2000 | -8.7°C | -12.4°C | -16.1°C | 6.0°C | -25.9°C | 15 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1999 | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 7.0°C | -21.4°C | 16 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1998 | -8.1°C | -11.9°C | -15.7°C | 2.8°C | -29.7°C | 21 mm | 90% | 3.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1997 | -0.5°C | -3.5°C | -6.6°C | 4.3°C | -16.1°C | 5 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1996 | -14.1°C | -18.3°C | -22.6°C | 0.6°C | -37.6°C | 28 mm | 95% | 2.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1995 | -11.7°C | -15.5°C | -19.4°C | -1.3°C | -36.4°C | 22 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1994 | -7.1°C | -10.7°C | -14.2°C | 2.5°C | -26.3°C | 19 mm | 92% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1993 | -2.3°C | -6.2°C | -10.2°C | 3.8°C | -19.9°C | 18 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1992 | -10.9°C | -15.2°C | -19.6°C | 1.5°C | -39.0°C | 28 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1991 | -4.2°C | -8.4°C | -12.7°C | 1.9°C | -21.7°C | 24 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1990 | -10.1°C | -15.6°C | -21.1°C | 2.2°C | -40.4°C | 28 mm | 92% | 3.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1989 | -4.9°C | -8.4°C | -11.9°C | 4.1°C | -37.6°C | 25 mm | 92% | 3.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1988 | -4.6°C | -7.9°C | -11.3°C | 4.4°C | -28.1°C | 20 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1987 | -3.0°C | -5.9°C | -8.9°C | 2.6°C | -22.0°C | 12 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1986 | -3.1°C | -7.1°C | -11.0°C | 1.4°C | -19.1°C | 13 mm | 92% | 3.2 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1985 | -4.2°C | -7.7°C | -11.3°C | 2.6°C | -27.4°C | 30 mm | 93% | 3.4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1984 | -13.9°C | -18.5°C | -23.1°C | 2.3°C | -38.1°C | 27 mm | 94% | 2.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -16.0°C | -19.7°C | -23.5°C | -0.2°C | -41.1°C | 18 mm | 94% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -6.2°C | -10.1°C | -14.0°C | -0.4°C | -25.1°C | 14 mm | 94% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -8.3°C | -12.0°C | -15.8°C | 2.1°C | -32.6°C | 21 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -6.8°C with lows near -14.3°C (mean -10.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 21 mm of rainfall in Edmonton, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 64 mm in 2025.
The hottest December reached 7°C in 1999. The coldest dipped to -41.1°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from -9.7°C to -8.1°C and overnight lows from -17.5°C to -15.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Edmonton and one of the drier months, so plan for around -6.8°C daytime highs and -14.3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Edmonton, averaging -10.5°C.
For December in Edmonton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -6.8°C and lows of -14.3°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.9 m/s (2004).
The wettest December on record was 2025 with 64 mm. On average, December sees 21 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 Edmonton 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.
