December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie, with average highs near -2.6°C and lows around -8.8°C (mean -5.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Sault Ste. Marie was 2015 — when the month averaged -0.2°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -14.1°C. Typical December days reach -2.6°C with nights near -8.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging 69 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 136 mm, while the driest was 1994 at 11 mm.
Relative humidity in Sault Ste. Marie during December averages 94%. The most humid December was 1989 at 99%, and the least humid were 2011 and 2020 at 90%.
December receives about 0.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Sault Ste. Marie. The sunniest Decembers were 1997, 2001 and 2002, among others at 1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1999, 2015 and 2019 at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Sault Ste. Marie during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December was 2025 at 3.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1989 and 1994 at 2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.8°C | -5.2°C | -5.7°C | -5.5°C | -3.6°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg High | -4.4°C | -1.9°C | -2.7°C | -2.5°C | -0.9°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -11.2°C | -8.5°C | -8.6°C | -8.5°C | -6.3°C | +4.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 72 mm | 60 mm | 67 mm | 75 mm | 75 mm | +3 mm |
December temperatures in Sault Ste. Marie have risen by about 4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -28.5°C (1993) to a record high of 13.1°C (1982).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm, with a wettest year of 136 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.9°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Sault Ste. Marie
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Sault Ste. Marie. That said, December — with days averaging -2.6°C and nights around -8.8°C (mean -5.7°C) and moderate rainfall (69 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 | -2.9°C | -6.1°C | -9.2°C | 2.2°C | -13.7°C | 114 mm | 95% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 2024 | -1.7°C | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | 3.5°C | -21.4°C | 85 mm | 96% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2023 | 1.5°C | -1.0°C | -3.4°C | 6.5°C | -8.7°C | 39 mm | 90% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | -1.3°C | -3.8°C | -6.3°C | 3.0°C | -11.1°C | 96 mm | 91% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -0.4°C | -3.2°C | -6.0°C | 10.6°C | -12.9°C | 83 mm | 90% | 2.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2020 | -0.6°C | -3.1°C | -5.6°C | 4.5°C | -11.7°C | 35 mm | 90% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2019 | -2.5°C | -5.9°C | -9.4°C | 1.8°C | -19.5°C | 76 mm | 97% | 2.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2018 | -1.2°C | -4.4°C | -7.6°C | 2.8°C | -19.1°C | 48 mm | 95% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2017 | -5.7°C | -9.1°C | -12.4°C | 10.1°C | -26.2°C | 98 mm | 95% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2016 | -2.4°C | -5.1°C | -7.7°C | 3.6°C | -17.9°C | 100 mm | 94% | 2.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2015 🔥 🌧️ | 2.5°C | -0.2°C | -2.8°C | 9.6°C | -12.2°C | 136 mm | 92% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2014 | -2.1°C | -4.7°C | -7.4°C | 2.7°C | -15.8°C | 69 mm | 95% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2013 | -7.6°C | -11.3°C | -15.0°C | 2.7°C | -24.8°C | 70 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | -1.4°C | -4.1°C | -6.9°C | 10.4°C | -17.1°C | 69 mm | 93% | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | -0.4°C | -3.4°C | -6.5°C | 4.6°C | -19.2°C | 47 mm | 90% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2010 | -4.1°C | -6.9°C | -9.7°C | 3.3°C | -19.6°C | 39 mm | 95% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | -3.6°C | -6.8°C | -9.9°C | 3.7°C | -20.4°C | 68 mm | 95% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2008 | -5.2°C | -8.5°C | -11.8°C | 1.6°C | -24.8°C | 117 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2007 | -2.7°C | -5.6°C | -8.6°C | 3.5°C | -20.5°C | 65 mm | 96% | 2.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2006 | 0.2°C | -1.8°C | -3.8°C | 3.7°C | -11.4°C | 76 mm | 91% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -3.4°C | -5.8°C | -8.3°C | 0.6°C | -14.9°C | 39 mm | 93% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2004 | -3.7°C | -7.7°C | -11.7°C | 2.6°C | -25.5°C | 79 mm | 96% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2003 | -1.3°C | -4.1°C | -7.0°C | 2.6°C | -14.4°C | 69 mm | 95% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | -1.7°C | -4.4°C | -7.1°C | 3.9°C | -16.6°C | 43 mm | 93% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | 0.7°C | -1.7°C | -4.1°C | 12.8°C | -14.3°C | 66 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2000 | -6.7°C | -10.3°C | -13.9°C | 1.5°C | -21.2°C | 49 mm | 96% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1999 | -0.9°C | -4.2°C | -7.4°C | 5.4°C | -18.0°C | 60 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1998 | 0.5°C | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | 8.7°C | -20.5°C | 61 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1997 | -0.8°C | -4.0°C | -7.1°C | 3.7°C | -21.1°C | 27 mm | 92% | 2.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 | -3.6°C | -6.7°C | -9.7°C | 1.1°C | -20.3°C | 92 mm | 97% | 2.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1995 | -5.9°C | -9.7°C | -13.5°C | 0.7°C | -21.1°C | 98 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | 1.1°C | -1.5°C | -4.1°C | 5.1°C | -12.3°C | 11 mm | 90% | 2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1993 | -2.4°C | -5.6°C | -8.8°C | 4.0°C | -28.5°C | 56 mm | 94% | 2.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1992 | -2.1°C | -5.2°C | -8.3°C | 2.5°C | -16.7°C | 77 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1991 | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | -10.0°C | 2.3°C | -20.2°C | 58 mm | 93% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1990 | -2.3°C | -5.9°C | -9.6°C | 4.5°C | -26.0°C | 59 mm | 90% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -10.1°C | -14.1°C | -18.1°C | -0.5°C | -24.7°C | 51 mm | 99% | 2 m/s | 1 |
| 1988 | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | -11.2°C | 3.9°C | -23.1°C | 71 mm | 93% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1987 | -1.8°C | -5.1°C | -8.4°C | 3.4°C | -20.9°C | 69 mm | 95% | 2.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1986 | -1.9°C | -5.3°C | -8.7°C | 1.4°C | -20.9°C | 40 mm | 95% | 2.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1985 | -6.8°C | -9.9°C | -13.1°C | -1.1°C | -23.3°C | 77 mm | 98% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1984 | -2.6°C | -6.2°C | -9.7°C | 7.1°C | -20.8°C | 102 mm | 93% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1983 | -8.3°C | -11.9°C | -15.5°C | 0.3°C | -28.1°C | 76 mm | 98% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.9°C | -4.2°C | -7.4°C | 13.1°C | -19.9°C | 108 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.3°C | -6.1°C | -8.9°C | 2.1°C | -17.0°C | 57 mm | 95% | 2.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -2.6°C with lows near -8.8°C (mean -5.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 69 mm of rainfall in Sault Ste. Marie, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 136 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 13.1°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -28.5°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.4°C to -1°C and overnight lows from -10.9°C to -6.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -2.6°C daytime highs and -8.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging -5.7°C.
For December in Sault Ste. Marie, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.6°C and lows of -8.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.1 m/s (2025).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 136 mm. On average, December sees 69 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 Sault Ste. Marie 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.
