December is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat, with average highs near -2.8°C and lows around -10.6°C (mean -6.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Medicine Hat was 2023 — when the month averaged 0.1°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -18.1°C. Typical December days reach -2.8°C with nights near -10.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Medicine Hat, averaging 19 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2024 with 119 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Medicine Hat during December averages 82%. The most humid December was 2024 at 94%, and the least humid was 1998 at 73%.
December receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Medicine Hat. The sunniest Decembers were 2010 and 2022 at 1.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2004 and 2016 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Medicine Hat during December is 3.9 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2006 and 2011 at 4.7 m/s, while the calmest was 1983 at 2.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -8.1°C | -7.0°C | -6.2°C | -6.2°C | -5.8°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | -4.3°C | -2.9°C | -2.4°C | -2.5°C | -1.6°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -12.0°C | -11.0°C | -10.1°C | -9.9°C | -10.1°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 15 mm | 16 mm | 17 mm | 17 mm | 36 mm | +21 mm |
December temperatures in Medicine Hat have risen by about 4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -41.6°C (1983) to a record high of 10.8°C (2021).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm, with a wettest year of 119 mm.
A quieter season to visit Medicine Hat
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Medicine Hat. That said, December — with days averaging -2.8°C and nights around -10.6°C (mean -6.7°C) and low rainfall (19 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 | 0.3°C | -5.0°C | -10.3°C | 8.8°C | -22.1°C | 35 mm | 85% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 2024 🌧️ | -2.4°C | -6.3°C | -10.1°C | 2.6°C | -24.1°C | 119 mm | 94% | 3.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2023 🔥 | 3.6°C | 0.1°C | -3.3°C | 10.7°C | -7.8°C | 7 mm | 77% | 4 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | -7.4°C | -12.2°C | -17.0°C | 3.7°C | -34.4°C | 29 mm | 89% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2021 | -4.8°C | -9.2°C | -13.7°C | 10.8°C | -27.7°C | 17 mm | 74% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2020 | 1.3°C | -2.4°C | -6.1°C | 8.3°C | -15.5°C | 11 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | -7.1°C | 7.9°C | -13.0°C | 11 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2018 | 0.4°C | -3.1°C | -6.7°C | 5.9°C | -15.7°C | 12 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2017 | -3.8°C | -7.3°C | -10.9°C | 5.7°C | -28.4°C | 27 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2016 | -6.9°C | -10.3°C | -13.7°C | 4.0°C | -26.0°C | 27 mm | 79% | 4.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | -0.8°C | -4.2°C | -7.6°C | 8.2°C | -17.4°C | 13 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | -8.6°C | 7.4°C | -21.6°C | 13 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -5.5°C | -9.8°C | -14.2°C | 5.4°C | -29.1°C | 24 mm | 83% | 3.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | -2.9°C | -6.9°C | -11.0°C | 7.0°C | -21.6°C | 21 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 0.3°C | -3.5°C | -7.4°C | 7.1°C | -14.4°C | 13 mm | 79% | 4.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2010 | -4.4°C | -8.2°C | -12.0°C | 3.7°C | -22.8°C | 9 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2009 | -8.4°C | -12.0°C | -15.6°C | 2.0°C | -26.5°C | 22 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2008 | -7.0°C | -11.0°C | -15.0°C | 7.5°C | -30.1°C | 26 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2007 | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | -10.2°C | 3.4°C | -17.9°C | 12 mm | 80% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.6°C | 5.4°C | -19.5°C | 16 mm | 77% | 4.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -1.9°C | -5.3°C | -8.8°C | 10.3°C | -21.0°C | 19 mm | 83% | 4 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | -0.4°C | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | 7.9°C | -23.2°C | 30 mm | 80% | 4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2003 | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | 7.4°C | -15.4°C | 9 mm | 77% | 3.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | 1.3°C | -2.4°C | -6.2°C | 9.8°C | -13.6°C | 10 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | -1.2°C | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | 6.4°C | -16.4°C | 6 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2000 | -5.5°C | -10.0°C | -14.5°C | 5.7°C | -27.9°C | 18 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | 2.0°C | -1.5°C | -5.1°C | 5.5°C | -16.8°C | 13 mm | 76% | 4.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1998 | -2.5°C | -6.3°C | -10.1°C | 9.4°C | -24.4°C | 22 mm | 73% | 4.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1997 | 0.9°C | -2.7°C | -6.3°C | 6.2°C | -14.4°C | 5 mm | 74% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1996 | -9.3°C | -13.7°C | -18.1°C | 1.8°C | -33.2°C | 23 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -4.6°C | -8.8°C | -12.9°C | 5.1°C | -27.5°C | 21 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | -1.3°C | -5.0°C | -8.8°C | 6.2°C | -22.8°C | 6 mm | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1993 | -0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | 4.9°C | -16.0°C | 12 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | -7.1°C | -11.9°C | -16.7°C | 1.7°C | -36.9°C | 23 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | 0.4°C | -3.5°C | -7.3°C | 5.5°C | -18.1°C | 8 mm | 80% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -7.3°C | -12.5°C | -17.7°C | 4.2°C | -41.3°C | 25 mm | 86% | 4.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1989 | -3.3°C | -7.4°C | -11.4°C | 7.8°C | -33.6°C | 26 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | -2.2°C | -6.0°C | -9.7°C | 5.4°C | -21.1°C | 14 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | -0.2°C | -3.5°C | -6.9°C | 9.2°C | -21.2°C | 11 mm | 76% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | -0.2°C | -3.9°C | -7.7°C | 4.3°C | -16.7°C | 8 mm | 83% | 4.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -4.1°C | -8.2°C | -12.3°C | 1.3°C | -28.6°C | 12 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | -9.4°C | -13.6°C | -17.8°C | 3.5°C | -33.3°C | 20 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -13.4°C | -18.1°C | -22.9°C | -2.6°C | -41.6°C | 18 mm | 90% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -2.7°C | -6.1°C | -9.5°C | 6.0°C | -19.5°C | 16 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.1°C | -6.5°C | -9.9°C | 5.0°C | -22.8°C | 13 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -2.8°C with lows near -10.6°C (mean -6.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 19 mm of rainfall in Medicine Hat, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 119 mm in 2024.
The hottest December reached 10.8°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -41.6°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4°C. Daytime highs moved from -6.5°C to -2.1°C and overnight lows from -14.5°C to -10.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat and one of the drier months, so plan for around -2.8°C daytime highs and -10.6°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Medicine Hat, averaging -6.7°C.
For December in Medicine Hat, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.8°C and lows of -10.6°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.9 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.7 m/s (2006).
The wettest December on record was 2024 with 119 mm. On average, December sees 19 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 Medicine Hat 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.
