December is one of the cooler months of the year in Halifax, with average highs near 3.1°C and lows around -2.6°C (mean 0.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 125 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Halifax. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Halifax was 2020 — when the month averaged 3.3°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -6.3°C. Typical December days reach 3.1°C with nights near -2.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Halifax, averaging 125 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 199 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Halifax during December averages 86%. The most humid December was 2013 at 90%, and the least humid was 1986 at 82%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Halifax. The sunniest December was 1989 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992, 1993 and 2013 at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Halifax during December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest December was 1989 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2015 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -1.0°C | 0.2°C | 0.2°C | 0.9°C | 1.4°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 2.1°C | 3.1°C | 3.0°C | 3.7°C | 4.0°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Low | -4.0°C | -2.7°C | -2.6°C | -1.9°C | -1.3°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 81 mm | 113 mm | 132 mm | 152 mm | 155 mm | +74 mm |
December temperatures in Halifax have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -16.3°C (1984) to a record high of 14.1°C (2011).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 125 mm, with a wettest year of 199 mm.
A quieter season to visit Halifax
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Halifax. That said, December — with days averaging 3.1°C and nights around -2.6°C (mean 0.3°C) and higher rainfall (125 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 | 2.0°C | -1.1°C | -4.2°C | 11.8°C | -9.2°C | 135 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 2.9°C | 0.4°C | -2.1°C | 11.6°C | -8.3°C | 162 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | 4.1°C | 1.9°C | -0.3°C | 12.1°C | -6.2°C | 137 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2022 | 4.6°C | 2.3°C | -0.1°C | 12.2°C | -5.2°C | 184 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 4.6°C | 1.4°C | -1.7°C | 13.7°C | -8.7°C | 141 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2020 🔥 | 6.0°C | 3.3°C | 0.6°C | 13.8°C | -7.4°C | 169 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 3.3°C | 0.4°C | -2.4°C | 11.4°C | -7.9°C | 142 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2018 | 1.0°C | -1.7°C | -4.5°C | 9.3°C | -10.7°C | 105 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2017 | 2.9°C | 0.0°C | -2.8°C | 12.8°C | -11.4°C | 147 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2016 | 2.8°C | -0.5°C | -3.7°C | 11.0°C | -14.0°C | 179 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2015 🌧️ | 5.6°C | 3.1°C | 0.7°C | 10.7°C | -8.7°C | 199 mm | 90% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2014 | 5.0°C | 2.1°C | -0.7°C | 10.9°C | -9.8°C | 181 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | 1.1°C | -1.9°C | -4.8°C | 9.7°C | -13.1°C | 162 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 5.0°C | 1.9°C | -1.3°C | 11.9°C | -8.3°C | 148 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2011 | 5.7°C | 2.6°C | -0.4°C | 14.1°C | -8.4°C | 112 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 0.7°C | 12.7°C | -5.5°C | 151 mm | 88% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | 2.7°C | 0.2°C | -2.4°C | 13.0°C | -10.0°C | 120 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2008 | 4.8°C | 1.3°C | -2.2°C | 13.0°C | -8.5°C | 179 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | 1.2°C | -1.9°C | -5.0°C | 8.3°C | -9.9°C | 116 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2006 | 4.3°C | 1.5°C | -1.3°C | 12.2°C | -9.1°C | 127 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | 3.1°C | 0.7°C | -1.6°C | 9.9°C | -6.2°C | 124 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | 2.8°C | -0.1°C | -3.0°C | 10.1°C | -13.6°C | 153 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2003 | 3.3°C | 0.8°C | -1.7°C | 9.4°C | -8.4°C | 166 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2002 | 2.0°C | -0.9°C | -3.7°C | 8.5°C | -11.0°C | 90 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 4.0°C | 1.9°C | -0.3°C | 12.7°C | -4.6°C | 59 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | 1.6°C | -1.4°C | -4.4°C | 10.6°C | -11.8°C | 188 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | 4.5°C | 1.5°C | -1.4°C | 11.0°C | -9.7°C | 109 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 3.7°C | 0.8°C | -2.2°C | 10.7°C | -10.6°C | 67 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | 2.1°C | -0.7°C | -3.5°C | 8.1°C | -13.3°C | 78 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 4.6°C | 2.0°C | -0.6°C | 10.9°C | -14.7°C | 92 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | 0.9°C | -1.7°C | -4.3°C | 8.9°C | -11.1°C | 95 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 2.1°C | -0.8°C | -3.7°C | 9.0°C | -11.5°C | 170 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1993 | 3.7°C | 0.9°C | -1.9°C | 11.9°C | -16.2°C | 187 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1992 | 2.6°C | -0.3°C | -3.1°C | 9.1°C | -13.2°C | 98 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | 2.4°C | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | 11.4°C | -12.3°C | 74 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | 4.8°C | 1.5°C | -1.8°C | 10.6°C | -10.1°C | 157 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -3.0°C | -6.3°C | -9.5°C | 6.5°C | -16.2°C | 30 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | 1.5°C | -1.6°C | -4.7°C | 7.1°C | -12.7°C | 29 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1987 | 1.3°C | -1.1°C | -3.6°C | 10.6°C | -12.4°C | 72 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | 2.8°C | -0.6°C | -3.9°C | 10.1°C | -13.2°C | 44 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1985 | 1.1°C | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | 9.8°C | -11.4°C | 61 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | 4.1°C | 0.7°C | -2.8°C | 10.3°C | -16.3°C | 124 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1983 | 2.4°C | -0.6°C | -3.6°C | 10.6°C | -14.1°C | 149 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.4°C | 1.0°C | -2.3°C | 11.6°C | -14.7°C | 105 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 4.0°C | 1.8°C | -0.4°C | 11.9°C | -7.4°C | 120 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 3.1°C with lows near -2.6°C (mean 0.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 125 mm of rainfall in Halifax, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 199 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 14.1°C in 2011. The coldest dipped to -16.3°C in 1984.
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 3.2°C to 3.6°C and overnight lows from -2.9°C to -1.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Halifax and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 3.1°C daytime highs and -2.6°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 4th coolest month in Halifax, averaging 0.3°C.
For December in Halifax, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 3.1°C and lows of -2.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.9 m/s (1989).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 199 mm. On average, December sees 125 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 Halifax 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.
