December is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough, with average highs near -1°C and lows around -8.5°C (mean -4.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 50 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Peterborough was 2015 — when the month averaged 1.8°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -13.3°C. Typical December days reach -1°C with nights near -8.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Peterborough, averaging 50 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 105 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 18 mm.
Relative humidity in Peterborough during December averages 88%. The most humid December was 1983 at 97%, and the least humid was 2021 at 80%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Peterborough. The sunniest December was 2003 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Peterborough during December is 0.9 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2016, 2022 and 2025, among others at 1 m/s, while the calmest were 1994, 2018 and 2023 at 0.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -6.1°C | -4.2°C | -6.0°C | -4.1°C | -2.9°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg High | -2.2°C | -0.5°C | -2.0°C | -0.5°C | 0.5°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -10.0°C | -8.0°C | -10.0°C | -7.6°C | -6.5°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 49 mm | 41 mm | 74 mm | 38 mm | 47 mm | -2 mm |
December temperatures in Peterborough have risen by about 2.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -34.9°C (1983) to a record high of 15.4°C (1982).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 50 mm, with a wettest year of 105 mm.
A quieter season to visit Peterborough
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Peterborough. That said, December — with days averaging -1°C and nights around -8.5°C (mean -4.7°C) and moderate rainfall (50 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 | -6.7°C | -11.1°C | 5.0°C | -17.6°C | 49 mm | 82% | 1 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 0.0°C | -3.3°C | -6.7°C | 8.7°C | -19.3°C | 46 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 2.7°C | -0.2°C | -3.2°C | 8.4°C | -10.2°C | 46 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 0.4°C | -3.0°C | -6.4°C | 8.0°C | -13.8°C | 60 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 1.8°C | -1.8°C | -5.5°C | 14.0°C | -12.4°C | 37 mm | 80% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | 0.6°C | -2.7°C | -6.0°C | 6.4°C | -13.4°C | 43 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | -0.4°C | -4.0°C | -7.6°C | 5.9°C | -21.2°C | 39 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -0.2°C | -4.0°C | -7.9°C | 5.3°C | -15.1°C | 45 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -4.0°C | -7.4°C | -10.7°C | 8.7°C | -27.1°C | 28 mm | 82% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | -0.3°C | -3.8°C | -7.3°C | 8.1°C | -19.1°C | 41 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 5.0°C | 1.8°C | -1.4°C | 13.6°C | -9.7°C | 46 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | 0.2°C | -3.3°C | -6.8°C | 7.0°C | -14.3°C | 24 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -4.4°C | -7.8°C | -11.2°C | 7.8°C | -25.0°C | 37 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | 12.5°C | -15.1°C | 40 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 1.5°C | -2.3°C | -6.1°C | 10.2°C | -18.6°C | 36 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2010 | -3.4°C | -7.0°C | -10.5°C | 9.6°C | -19.9°C | 44 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | -3.1°C | -7.0°C | -10.8°C | 7.1°C | -22.8°C | 79 mm | 94% | 0.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -2.2°C | -6.9°C | -11.5°C | 10.3°C | -25.9°C | 104 mm | 91% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -3.5°C | -7.6°C | -11.8°C | 2.0°C | -23.2°C | 85 mm | 97% | 0.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 1.6°C | -1.8°C | -5.2°C | 8.6°C | -19.5°C | 72 mm | 93% | 0.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -3.2°C | -6.6°C | -10.0°C | 2.1°C | -19.9°C | 49 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | -2.7°C | -7.9°C | -13.1°C | 5.2°C | -34.9°C | 105 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | -0.7°C | -4.3°C | -7.9°C | 4.2°C | -15.7°C | 88 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | -1.4°C | -5.5°C | -9.6°C | 3.3°C | -22.8°C | 31 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | 1.7°C | -1.2°C | -4.2°C | 12.6°C | -11.7°C | 56 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | -6.4°C | -10.9°C | -15.5°C | 1.6°C | -27.0°C | 70 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | 0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.7°C | 12.2°C | -19.2°C | 53 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | 2.3°C | -1.8°C | -5.9°C | 14.4°C | -24.0°C | 58 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | -0.5°C | -4.3°C | -8.1°C | 4.4°C | -19.6°C | 20 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 0.5°C | -2.4°C | -5.3°C | 7.3°C | -19.9°C | 38 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1995 | -4.7°C | -8.5°C | -12.4°C | 1.8°C | -19.9°C | 18 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 1.2°C | -2.7°C | -6.6°C | 9.2°C | -17.4°C | 24 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -1.6°C | -5.4°C | -9.1°C | 4.8°C | -25.8°C | 34 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | -0.7°C | -4.1°C | -7.6°C | 4.0°C | -16.6°C | 42 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | -1.4°C | -5.2°C | -9.1°C | 8.0°C | -21.0°C | 45 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -0.4°C | -4.2°C | -8.1°C | 5.2°C | -19.3°C | 74 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -8.6°C | -13.3°C | -18.1°C | 0.7°C | -28.8°C | 27 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1988 | -1.6°C | -5.6°C | -9.6°C | 6.0°C | -19.8°C | 35 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 0.4°C | -2.9°C | -6.3°C | 5.8°C | -20.7°C | 30 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | -1.2°C | -5.5°C | -9.7°C | 1.4°C | -22.2°C | 46 mm | 94% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -3.4°C | -6.8°C | -10.2°C | 6.2°C | -20.0°C | 37 mm | 91% | 1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1984 | 0.8°C | -2.8°C | -6.3°C | 11.8°C | -18.4°C | 60 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1983 🌧️ | -6.2°C | -10.6°C | -15.0°C | 2.4°C | -34.9°C | 105 mm | 97% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 1.9°C | -2.2°C | -6.4°C | 15.4°C | -19.7°C | 66 mm | 89% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.0°C | -5.2°C | -8.4°C | 3.8°C | -17.4°C | 30 mm | 91% | 0.8 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 -8.5°C (mean -4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 50 mm of rainfall in Peterborough, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 105 mm in 1983.
The hottest December reached 15.4°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -34.9°C in 1983.
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 -9.3°C to -6.6°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Peterborough and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -1°C daytime highs and -8.5°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Peterborough, averaging -4.7°C.
For December in Peterborough, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1°C and lows of -8.5°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.9 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 1983 with 105 mm. On average, December sees 50 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 Peterborough 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.
