December is one of the cooler months of the year in Kawartha Lakes, with average highs near -1°C and lows around -8°C (mean -4.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 45 mm of rainfall and 89% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Kawartha Lakes. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Kawartha Lakes was 2015 — when the month averaged 1.7°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -12.1°C. Typical December days reach -1°C with nights near -8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Kawartha Lakes, averaging 45 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 108 mm, while the driest were 1994 and 1995 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Kawartha Lakes during December averages 89%. The most humid December was 1983 at 98%, and the least humid was 2021 at 82%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kawartha Lakes. The sunniest December was 2003 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Kawartha Lakes during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 2.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1994, 2018 and 2023 at 1.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -5.8°C | -3.9°C | -5.5°C | -3.9°C | -2.8°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | -2.1°C | -0.4°C | -1.8°C | -0.6°C | 0.5°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | -9.5°C | -7.5°C | -9.3°C | -7.2°C | -6.2°C | +3.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 49 mm | 32 mm | 63 mm | 36 mm | 45 mm | -3 mm |
December temperatures in Kawartha Lakes have risen by about 2.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -36.2°C (2004) to a record high of 15°C (1982).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 45 mm, with a wettest year of 108 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kawartha Lakes
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kawartha Lakes. That said, December — with days averaging -1°C and nights around -8°C (mean -4.5°C) and moderate rainfall (45 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 | -2.3°C | -6.5°C | -10.8°C | 4.7°C | -16.5°C | 47 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 0.0°C | -3.2°C | -6.4°C | 8.3°C | -18.9°C | 45 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 2.7°C | 0.0°C | -2.7°C | 7.8°C | -9.8°C | 46 mm | 85% | 1.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 0.4°C | -2.9°C | -6.2°C | 7.3°C | -13.3°C | 56 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 1.6°C | -1.8°C | -5.2°C | 13.8°C | -11.1°C | 36 mm | 82% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | 0.5°C | -2.6°C | -5.7°C | 5.8°C | -12.6°C | 41 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | -7.0°C | 5.5°C | -19.3°C | 37 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -0.1°C | -3.8°C | -7.5°C | 6.1°C | -13.9°C | 41 mm | 89% | 1.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -3.8°C | -7.0°C | -10.1°C | 8.9°C | -24.0°C | 26 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | -0.5°C | -3.8°C | -7.0°C | 7.1°C | -17.0°C | 40 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 4.7°C | 1.7°C | -1.2°C | 13.3°C | -9.0°C | 45 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | 0.1°C | -3.3°C | -6.6°C | 6.1°C | -13.8°C | 29 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -4.0°C | -7.1°C | -10.2°C | 7.4°C | -21.9°C | 27 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | 0.4°C | -2.8°C | -6.0°C | 11.7°C | -14.5°C | 43 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 1.4°C | -2.2°C | -5.7°C | 9.8°C | -16.9°C | 29 mm | 85% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2010 | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | -10.5°C | 7.4°C | -19.0°C | 44 mm | 92% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | -2.4°C | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | 7.3°C | -19.2°C | 51 mm | 90% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -2.2°C | -6.5°C | -10.8°C | 8.6°C | -24.1°C | 83 mm | 91% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -3.0°C | -6.9°C | -10.9°C | 2.3°C | -23.0°C | 67 mm | 96% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 1.6°C | -1.6°C | -4.9°C | 7.7°C | -18.5°C | 61 mm | 93% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -2.9°C | -6.1°C | -9.3°C | 1.7°C | -19.6°C | 50 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | -2.5°C | -7.5°C | -12.6°C | 5.6°C | -36.2°C | 93 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | -0.2°C | -3.5°C | -6.8°C | 4.3°C | -12.8°C | 60 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | -1.7°C | -6.1°C | -10.4°C | 2.7°C | -25.4°C | 45 mm | 94% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | 1.5°C | -1.2°C | -4.0°C | 12.5°C | -12.4°C | 66 mm | 93% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | -6.0°C | -10.1°C | -14.2°C | 1.9°C | -22.7°C | 49 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | 0.1°C | -3.7°C | -7.4°C | 11.0°C | -19.0°C | 54 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | 2.0°C | -1.8°C | -5.6°C | 13.6°C | -22.3°C | 59 mm | 88% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | -0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | 5.2°C | -18.0°C | 16 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 0.3°C | -2.6°C | -5.4°C | 7.5°C | -19.1°C | 36 mm | 90% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1995 | -4.2°C | -7.8°C | -11.4°C | 2.0°C | -18.3°C | 13 mm | 90% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | -6.4°C | 8.5°C | -16.5°C | 13 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -1.4°C | -4.9°C | -8.5°C | 5.0°C | -21.4°C | 21 mm | 90% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | -0.4°C | -3.5°C | -6.7°C | 5.5°C | -14.1°C | 26 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | -8.5°C | 7.5°C | -20.6°C | 37 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -0.2°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 5.6°C | -17.6°C | 44 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -8.0°C | -12.1°C | -16.3°C | 1.3°C | -25.3°C | 17 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1988 | -1.5°C | -5.3°C | -9.2°C | 6.1°C | -19.0°C | 33 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 0.7°C | -2.6°C | -5.9°C | 6.4°C | -20.1°C | 22 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | -0.6°C | -4.7°C | -8.8°C | 2.1°C | -20.5°C | 27 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -3.5°C | -6.5°C | -9.6°C | 5.7°C | -18.3°C | 29 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1984 | 0.4°C | -3.1°C | -6.6°C | 10.8°C | -21.0°C | 86 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1983 🌧️ | -5.9°C | -10.3°C | -14.6°C | 2.0°C | -31.2°C | 108 mm | 98% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 1.8°C | -2.3°C | -6.4°C | 15.0°C | -20.6°C | 94 mm | 91% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.0°C | -4.9°C | -7.9°C | 3.5°C | -16.9°C | 22 mm | 91% | 2.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -1°C with lows near -8°C (mean -4.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 45 mm of rainfall in Kawartha Lakes, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 108 mm in 1983.
The hottest December reached 15°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -36.2°C in 2004.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.5°C. Daytime highs moved from -1.8°C to 0.5°C and overnight lows from -9°C to -6.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Kawartha Lakes and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -1°C daytime highs and -8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Kawartha Lakes, averaging -4.5°C.
For December in Kawartha Lakes, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1°C and lows of -8°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 89% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.8 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1983 with 108 mm. On average, December sees 45 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 Kawartha Lakes 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.
