December is one of the cooler months of the year in Chester, with average highs near 2.5°C and lows around -3.9°C (mean -0.7°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 119 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Chester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Chester was 2015 — when the month averaged 2.4°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -7.5°C. Typical December days reach 2.5°C with nights near -3.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Chester, averaging 119 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1993 with 201 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 30 mm.
Relative humidity in Chester during December averages 87%. The most humid December was 2013 at 92%, and the least humid was 1988 at 82%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Chester. The sunniest December was 1989 at 1.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1993, 1999 and 2013, among others at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Chester during December is 1.7 m/s. The windiest December was 1989 at 2 m/s, while the calmest were 2015 and 2018 at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.0°C | -0.7°C | -0.8°C | -0.1°C | 0.4°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 1.4°C | 2.6°C | 2.4°C | 3.1°C | 3.5°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Low | -5.4°C | -4.0°C | -3.9°C | -3.2°C | -2.7°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 73 mm | 109 mm | 130 mm | 149 mm | 136 mm | +63 mm |
December temperatures in Chester have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -18.9°C (1993) to a record high of 14.4°C (2020).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 119 mm, with a wettest year of 201 mm.
A quieter season to visit Chester
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Chester. That said, December — with days averaging 2.5°C and nights around -3.9°C (mean -0.7°C) and higher rainfall (119 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 | 1.1°C | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | 12.4°C | -11.1°C | 121 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 2.3°C | -0.7°C | -3.6°C | 12.5°C | -11.6°C | 134 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | 3.9°C | 1.2°C | -1.6°C | 13.1°C | -8.1°C | 120 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2022 | 4.0°C | 1.3°C | -1.5°C | 12.0°C | -6.8°C | 150 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 4.1°C | 0.5°C | -3.1°C | 13.9°C | -9.4°C | 131 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2020 | 5.4°C | 2.3°C | -0.7°C | 14.4°C | -9.2°C | 162 mm | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 2.6°C | -0.5°C | -3.6°C | 12.6°C | -9.4°C | 130 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2018 | 0.7°C | -2.6°C | -5.8°C | 10.3°C | -12.4°C | 93 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2017 | 1.9°C | -1.2°C | -4.3°C | 12.6°C | -14.0°C | 129 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.3°C | 11.7°C | -15.5°C | 147 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 5.4°C | 2.4°C | -0.5°C | 11.8°C | -9.8°C | 173 mm | 91% | 1.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2014 | 4.8°C | 1.5°C | -1.8°C | 12.0°C | -9.5°C | 189 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | 0.1°C | -3.0°C | -6.0°C | 10.5°C | -14.4°C | 181 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 4.2°C | 0.8°C | -2.7°C | 11.7°C | -9.9°C | 166 mm | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2011 | 5.2°C | 1.7°C | -1.8°C | 14.3°C | -10.7°C | 117 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | 3.7°C | 1.5°C | -0.7°C | 13.1°C | -7.3°C | 166 mm | 91% | 1.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | 2.1°C | -0.8°C | -3.6°C | 13.9°C | -11.4°C | 118 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2008 | 4.4°C | 0.4°C | -3.5°C | 14.0°C | -10.7°C | 197 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | 0.5°C | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | 8.0°C | -11.8°C | 122 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2006 | 3.6°C | 0.6°C | -2.5°C | 12.8°C | -10.2°C | 132 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | 2.3°C | -0.4°C | -3.1°C | 10.5°C | -8.1°C | 119 mm | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | 2.2°C | -1.2°C | -4.6°C | 10.3°C | -15.1°C | 152 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2003 | 2.8°C | -0.1°C | -3.0°C | 10.7°C | -9.7°C | 159 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | 1.5°C | -1.8°C | -5.0°C | 9.2°C | -12.8°C | 65 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | 3.6°C | 1.0°C | -1.6°C | 13.4°C | -5.4°C | 48 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | 0.8°C | -2.6°C | -5.9°C | 11.5°C | -12.8°C | 188 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | 3.8°C | 0.6°C | -2.6°C | 12.2°C | -11.0°C | 79 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | 3.3°C | -0.1°C | -3.5°C | 12.8°C | -12.4°C | 75 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | 1.3°C | -1.8°C | -5.0°C | 7.3°C | -14.4°C | 88 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | 4.3°C | 1.5°C | -1.4°C | 11.7°C | -15.9°C | 118 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -0.1°C | -2.9°C | -5.7°C | 8.7°C | -14.1°C | 92 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 1.7°C | -1.7°C | -5.1°C | 9.0°C | -12.7°C | 172 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1993 🌧️ | 3.0°C | -0.1°C | -3.1°C | 12.6°C | -18.9°C | 201 mm | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1992 | 1.8°C | -1.5°C | -4.7°C | 9.3°C | -13.9°C | 100 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | 1.8°C | -2.2°C | -6.3°C | 11.9°C | -14.2°C | 51 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1990 | 4.6°C | 1.0°C | -2.6°C | 12.1°C | -11.3°C | 117 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -4.1°C | -7.5°C | -10.9°C | 5.2°C | -17.3°C | 31 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | 0.8°C | -2.6°C | -6.0°C | 7.5°C | -14.1°C | 30 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1987 | 0.7°C | -2.1°C | -4.9°C | 11.0°C | -13.3°C | 62 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1986 | 2.2°C | -1.6°C | -5.3°C | 10.5°C | -14.7°C | 42 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1985 | 0.3°C | -3.4°C | -7.0°C | 10.5°C | -13.4°C | 59 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | 3.7°C | -0.2°C | -4.0°C | 9.9°C | -17.4°C | 114 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1983 | 1.7°C | -1.6°C | -5.0°C | 11.6°C | -15.3°C | 125 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 3.7°C | 0.0°C | -3.7°C | 12.6°C | -17.6°C | 95 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.5°C | 0.9°C | -1.7°C | 11.0°C | -9.2°C | 100 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 2.5°C with lows near -3.9°C (mean -0.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 119 mm of rainfall in Chester, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 201 mm in 1993.
The hottest December reached 14.4°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to -18.9°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 2.6°C to 3.1°C and overnight lows from -4.3°C to -3.1°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Chester and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 2.5°C daytime highs and -3.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Chester, averaging -0.7°C.
For December in Chester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.5°C and lows of -3.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.7 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2 m/s (1989).
The wettest December on record was 1993 with 201 mm. On average, December sees 119 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 Chester 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.
