December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sylvan Lake, with average highs near -5°C and lows around -13.2°C (mean -9.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sylvan Lake. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Sylvan Lake was 1999 — when the month averaged -2.5°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -18.3°C. Typical December days reach -5°C with nights near -13.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Sylvan Lake, averaging 19 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2013 with 51 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 4 mm.
Relative humidity in Sylvan Lake during December averages 86%. The most humid Decembers were 1996 and 2013 at 94%, and the least humid was 1997 at 74%.
December receives about 0.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Sylvan Lake. The sunniest Decembers were 2001, 2003 and 2006, among others at 0.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2013, 2021 and 2024, among others at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Sylvan Lake during December is 2.3 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2004 and 2016 at 2.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2010 and 2019 at 1.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -9.4°C | -9.3°C | -8.6°C | -9.1°C | -8.7°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | -5.4°C | -5.0°C | -4.6°C | -5.0°C | -4.7°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | -13.4°C | -13.6°C | -12.6°C | -13.2°C | -12.8°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 16 mm | 18 mm | 18 mm | 21 mm | 22 mm | +6 mm |
December temperatures in Sylvan Lake have risen by about 2.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -39.8°C (1984) to a record high of 8.3°C (1999).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm, with a wettest year of 51 mm.
A quieter season to visit Sylvan Lake
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Sylvan Lake. That said, December — with days averaging -5°C and nights around -13.2°C (mean -9.1°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 | -5.2°C | -10.3°C | -15.4°C | 5.4°C | -27.3°C | 41 mm | 91% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | -2.8°C | -6.5°C | -10.2°C | 3.9°C | -20.7°C | 19 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2023 | 0.8°C | -2.9°C | -6.5°C | 5.3°C | -12.3°C | 16 mm | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2022 | -9.4°C | -13.7°C | -17.9°C | 1.4°C | -32.8°C | 16 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -10.4°C | -14.3°C | -18.3°C | 2.5°C | -36.3°C | 25 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2020 | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | -8.7°C | 4.5°C | -19.4°C | 16 mm | 84% | 2.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2019 | -3.5°C | -7.3°C | -11.0°C | 2.9°C | -17.7°C | 21 mm | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | -2.1°C | -6.0°C | -10.0°C | 3.4°C | -19.1°C | 18 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2017 | -4.4°C | -7.9°C | -11.4°C | 7.1°C | -30.0°C | 16 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2016 | -8.7°C | -12.2°C | -15.7°C | 0.5°C | -24.7°C | 28 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | -4.4°C | -8.4°C | -12.4°C | 2.9°C | -21.6°C | 16 mm | 91% | 1.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2014 | -2.3°C | -6.6°C | -10.8°C | 4.4°C | -22.8°C | 11 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2013 🌧️ | -7.6°C | -12.8°C | -18.0°C | 1.9°C | -34.8°C | 51 mm | 94% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2012 | -9.0°C | -13.7°C | -18.4°C | 0.7°C | -29.2°C | 23 mm | 93% | 2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | -0.9°C | -5.3°C | -9.6°C | 2.9°C | -17.3°C | 20 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | -7.1°C | -11.2°C | -15.2°C | 1.1°C | -24.7°C | 8 mm | 92% | 1.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2009 | -9.6°C | -14.0°C | -18.3°C | 1.4°C | -34.8°C | 30 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2008 | -9.1°C | -13.3°C | -17.5°C | 5.6°C | -29.7°C | 31 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2007 | -6.0°C | -9.9°C | -13.8°C | -0.2°C | -19.4°C | 16 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2006 | -1.7°C | -6.1°C | -10.5°C | 2.3°C | -21.1°C | 15 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -2.6°C | -5.7°C | -8.9°C | 7.7°C | -20.7°C | 8 mm | 86% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2004 | -3.3°C | -7.2°C | -11.0°C | 6.5°C | -23.3°C | 34 mm | 87% | 2.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2003 | -2.3°C | -6.2°C | -10.1°C | 3.4°C | -17.9°C | 4 mm | 84% | 2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | -0.5°C | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | 6.2°C | -15.0°C | 15 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2001 | -4.6°C | -9.1°C | -13.6°C | 2.3°C | -22.5°C | 9 mm | 85% | 2.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2000 | -6.6°C | -10.4°C | -14.1°C | 5.1°C | -26.4°C | 19 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1999 🔥 | 1.3°C | -2.5°C | -6.2°C | 8.3°C | -16.3°C | 10 mm | 76% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1998 | -6.0°C | -10.2°C | -14.3°C | 4.7°C | -27.1°C | 23 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1997 | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 4.2°C | -15.4°C | 5 mm | 74% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1996 | -11.4°C | -16.3°C | -21.1°C | -1.1°C | -37.9°C | 27 mm | 94% | 2.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1995 | -7.9°C | -12.3°C | -16.7°C | 0.3°C | -31.6°C | 22 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1994 | -4.3°C | -8.3°C | -12.3°C | 3.3°C | -24.0°C | 12 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1993 | -1.3°C | -5.5°C | -9.7°C | 5.0°C | -17.5°C | 13 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1992 | -9.2°C | -13.7°C | -18.2°C | 1.6°C | -37.3°C | 29 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1991 | -1.7°C | -6.1°C | -10.5°C | 2.2°C | -18.0°C | 11 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1990 | -8.9°C | -14.4°C | -19.8°C | 2.3°C | -38.7°C | 25 mm | 90% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1989 | -3.5°C | -7.1°C | -10.8°C | 4.1°C | -33.1°C | 15 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1988 | -3.3°C | -7.1°C | -10.8°C | 5.4°C | -25.0°C | 18 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1987 | -1.6°C | -5.2°C | -8.7°C | 4.2°C | -17.6°C | 8 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1986 | -1.5°C | -5.7°C | -9.9°C | 1.8°C | -15.8°C | 8 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1985 | -2.9°C | -6.7°C | -10.5°C | 3.6°C | -28.2°C | 18 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1984 | -11.8°C | -16.8°C | -21.8°C | 1.4°C | -39.8°C | 26 mm | 92% | 2.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -14.1°C | -18.3°C | -22.6°C | -1.3°C | -39.3°C | 21 mm | 90% | 2.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -4.5°C | -8.4°C | -12.4°C | 1.0°C | -21.2°C | 12 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -5.8°C | -9.5°C | -13.1°C | 2.9°C | -29.7°C | 18 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -5°C with lows near -13.2°C (mean -9.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 19 mm of rainfall in Sylvan Lake, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 51 mm in 2013.
The hottest December reached 8.3°C in 1999. The coldest dipped to -39.8°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.4°C. Daytime highs moved from -7.8°C to -5.4°C and overnight lows from -16.1°C to -13.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sylvan Lake and one of the drier months, so plan for around -5°C daytime highs and -13.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Sylvan Lake, averaging -9.1°C.
For December in Sylvan Lake, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -5°C and lows of -13.2°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.8 m/s (2004).
The wettest December on record was 2013 with 51 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 Sylvan Lake 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.
