December is one of the cooler months of the year in Vancouver, with average highs near 0.7°C and lows around -3.6°C (mean -1.5°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 290 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Vancouver. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Vancouver was 2023 — when the month averaged 2.2°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -7°C. Typical December days reach 0.7°C with nights near -3.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Vancouver, averaging 290 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1998 with 500 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 93 mm.
Relative humidity in Vancouver during December averages 94%. The most humid Decembers were 1990 and 2016 at 97%, and the least humid was 1985 at 88%.
December receives about 0.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Vancouver. The sunniest December was 2009 at 0.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2006, 2012 and 2019 at 0.5.
Average wind speed in Vancouver during December is 1 m/s. The windiest December was 1996 at 1.2 m/s, while the calmest were 1989 and 2013 at 0.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.2°C | -1.6°C | -1.3°C | -1.3°C | -0.5°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg High | 0.2°C | 0.4°C | 1.0°C | 0.8°C | 1.5°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Low | -4.5°C | -3.6°C | -3.5°C | -3.4°C | -2.4°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 235 mm | 325 mm | 283 mm | 291 mm | 324 mm | +89 mm |
December temperatures in Vancouver have risen by about 2.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -22.5°C (1990) to a record high of 9.7°C (2014).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 290 mm, with a wettest year of 500 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.3°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Vancouver
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Vancouver. That said, December — with days averaging 0.7°C and nights around -3.6°C (mean -1.5°C) and higher rainfall (290 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 | 2.2°C | 0.6°C | -0.9°C | 8.1°C | -15.2°C | 430 mm | 97% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 3.0°C | 1.4°C | -0.2°C | 5.5°C | -3.8°C | 315 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2023 🔥 | 3.8°C | 2.2°C | 0.6°C | 6.7°C | -4.8°C | 324 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2022 | -0.9°C | -3.3°C | -5.8°C | 3.8°C | -18.0°C | 283 mm | 96% | 0.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -1.7°C | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | 6.9°C | -20.8°C | 259 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 2.7°C | 0.8°C | -1.1°C | 7.1°C | -10.2°C | 335 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2019 | 2.2°C | 0.5°C | -1.2°C | 5.4°C | -8.1°C | 281 mm | 95% | 0.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2018 | 1.6°C | -0.6°C | -2.8°C | 3.9°C | -9.8°C | 439 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2017 | 0.7°C | -1.8°C | -4.3°C | 5.6°C | -13.6°C | 162 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2016 | -2.2°C | -4.8°C | -7.4°C | 2.8°C | -17.0°C | 222 mm | 97% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2015 | 1.1°C | -0.8°C | -2.7°C | 5.1°C | -11.8°C | 454 mm | 96% | 1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2014 | 2.6°C | 0.4°C | -1.7°C | 9.7°C | -14.9°C | 350 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2013 | -0.2°C | -2.5°C | -4.7°C | 5.5°C | -15.9°C | 121 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2012 | 0.6°C | -1.2°C | -3.0°C | 3.4°C | -8.8°C | 313 mm | 96% | 1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2011 | 0.9°C | -1.4°C | -3.7°C | 4.1°C | -11.4°C | 183 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | 0.8°C | -1.0°C | -2.8°C | 4.3°C | -15.0°C | 384 mm | 96% | 1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2009 | -0.8°C | -3.5°C | -6.2°C | 4.1°C | -16.3°C | 150 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2008 | -1.6°C | -4.2°C | -6.9°C | 6.9°C | -21.0°C | 215 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2007 | 0.5°C | -1.5°C | -3.5°C | 5.1°C | -10.2°C | 404 mm | 95% | 0.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2006 | 1.6°C | -0.2°C | -2.1°C | 7.3°C | -10.5°C | 344 mm | 94% | 1.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2005 | 2.3°C | -0.2°C | -2.7°C | 9.0°C | -8.8°C | 280 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2004 | 2.2°C | 0.3°C | -1.6°C | 5.6°C | -7.2°C | 303 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2003 | 1.0°C | -0.8°C | -2.6°C | 3.7°C | -13.0°C | 298 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2002 | 3.2°C | 0.9°C | -1.5°C | 7.9°C | -10.8°C | 314 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2001 | 0.9°C | -1.4°C | -3.8°C | 2.8°C | -10.4°C | 340 mm | 94% | 1.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2000 | 0.4°C | -2.0°C | -4.5°C | 4.6°C | -12.9°C | 185 mm | 93% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1999 | 2.2°C | 0.5°C | -1.1°C | 5.8°C | -5.9°C | 344 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1998 🌧️ | -0.1°C | -1.7°C | -3.4°C | 4.0°C | -21.1°C | 500 mm | 97% | 1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1997 | 2.3°C | 0.5°C | -1.2°C | 4.1°C | -7.1°C | 279 mm | 93% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1996 | -1.7°C | -3.9°C | -6.1°C | 2.7°C | -17.7°C | 344 mm | 96% | 1.2 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1995 | 1.2°C | -0.8°C | -2.7°C | 4.0°C | -14.8°C | 333 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1994 | 0.3°C | -1.6°C | -3.5°C | 4.0°C | -15.2°C | 359 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1993 | 1.7°C | -0.3°C | -2.3°C | 4.8°C | -8.0°C | 324 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1992 | -1.6°C | -4.1°C | -6.6°C | 2.2°C | -17.0°C | 182 mm | 96% | 1.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1991 | 2.5°C | 0.7°C | -1.2°C | 5.2°C | -8.7°C | 236 mm | 93% | 0.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1990 | -2.4°C | -5.2°C | -7.9°C | 3.0°C | -22.5°C | 351 mm | 97% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1989 | 3.4°C | 1.4°C | -0.6°C | 8.1°C | -5.2°C | 207 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1988 | 1.6°C | -0.3°C | -2.3°C | 6.0°C | -9.8°C | 220 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1987 | -0.2°C | -2.7°C | -5.2°C | 4.4°C | -13.5°C | 309 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1986 | 1.7°C | -0.7°C | -3.1°C | 3.7°C | -9.2°C | 279 mm | 93% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1985 | 1.0°C | -1.4°C | -3.7°C | 5.6°C | -16.4°C | 93 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1984 | -2.6°C | -5.4°C | -8.1°C | 1.6°C | -18.9°C | 215 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -3.9°C | -7.0°C | -10.1°C | 2.0°C | -21.1°C | 139 mm | 96% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 0.7°C | -1.4°C | -3.5°C | 3.6°C | -12.4°C | 312 mm | 93% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.1°C | -2.1°C | -4.3°C | 3.6°C | -11.7°C | 342 mm | 97% | 1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 0.7°C with lows near -3.6°C (mean -1.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 290 mm of rainfall in Vancouver, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 500 mm in 1998.
The hottest December reached 9.7°C in 2014. The coldest dipped to -22.5°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.8°C. Daytime highs moved from -0.9°C to 1.3°C and overnight lows from -5.9°C to -2.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Vancouver and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 0.7°C daytime highs and -3.6°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Vancouver, averaging -1.5°C.
For December in Vancouver, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.7°C and lows of -3.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.2 m/s (1996).
The wettest December on record was 1998 with 500 mm. On average, December sees 290 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 Vancouver 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.
