Toronto Weather in December (1981–2025)

📍 43.74°N, 79.37°W •
📊

December at a Glance in Toronto

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
2.0°C
Avg Low
❄️
-2.3°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
-0.1°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
52 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
84%
Avg Wind
🌬️
5.2 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
1.1
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-8.5°C
temp difference
❄️Cold afternoons🥶Freezing mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌦️Some rain💨Breezy💦Humid air

Toronto December Weather Overview

December is one of the cooler months of the year in Toronto, with average highs near 2°C and lows around -2.3°C (mean -0.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.

Toronto December Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

December is one of the cooler months of the year in Toronto. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Toronto was 2015 — when the month averaged 4.8°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -6.9°C. Typical December days reach 2°C with nights near -2.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp-1.4°C→1.5°C+2.9°C
Max Temp0.9°C→3.5°C+2.6°C
Min Temp-3.7°C→-0.6°C+3.1°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.8°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.7°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.9°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

-7.0°C–-4.0°C2 yr (4%)
-4.0°C–-1.0°C11 yr (24%)
-1.0°C–2.0°C25 yr (56%)
2.0°C–5.0°C7 yr (16%)

Toronto December Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

December is about average for rainfall in Toronto, averaging 52 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 104 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 16 mm.

Toronto December Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Toronto during December averages 84%. The most humid December was 1983 at 91%, and the least humid was 2021 at 80%.

Toronto December Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Toronto. The sunniest December was 1995 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 0.9.

Toronto December Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Toronto during December is 5.2 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 6.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1994 at 3.9 m/s.

What December Feels Like in Toronto

🌅
Freezing
Morning
🌞
Cold
Afternoon
🌆
Freezing
Evening
Rain chanceModerate
Outdoor comfort★★★☆☆

How December Ranks in Toronto

🥶3rd coolest month of the year
🌵4th driest month of the year
☀️12th sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Toronto Weather by Month

Toronto December Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp-1.8°C-0.4°C-0.4°C0.8°C1.5°C+3.3°C
Avg High0.6°C2.1°C1.8°C2.8°C3.5°C+2.9°C
Avg Low-4.1°C-2.8°C-2.6°C-1.1°C-0.5°C+3.6°C
Avg Rain46 mm31 mm71 mm56 mm57 mm+10 mm

Extreme December Records in Toronto

🔥Warmest December14.0°C1998
🧊Coldest December-15.5°C1983
🌧️Wettest December104 mm1983
🏜️Driest December16 mm1995
🌬️Windiest December6.5 m/s2008

Key Insights for December

✅

December temperatures in Toronto have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

December has ranged from a record low of -15.5°C (1983) to a record high of 14°C (1998).

✅

Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm, with a wettest year of 104 mm.

✅

Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.7°C per decade while lows rose 0.9°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Toronto?

A quieter season to visit Toronto

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Toronto. That said, December — with days averaging 2°C and nights around -2.3°C (mean -0.1°C) and moderate rainfall (52 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Toronto's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Toronto Weather in December — In Depth

☀️ December climate overview

December is one of the cooler months of the year in Toronto, with average highs near 2°C and lows around -2.3°C (mean -0.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in December

December averages 52 mm of rainfall in Toronto, about average for rainfall compared with the rest of the year. The wettest December on record saw 104 mm (1983), and the driest just 16 mm (1995). Humidity sits around 84% and average wind speed is 5.2 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 1.1 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How December has changed

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.9°C to 3.5°C and overnight lows from -3.7°C to -0.6°C over the same span.
December Weather in Toronto, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20251.5°C-1.2°C-3.9°C9.2°C-7.1°C63 mm80%6.3 m/s—
20243.2°C1.2°C-0.7°C10.6°C-11.0°C60 mm82%5.3 m/s1.1
20235.1°C3.5°C2.0°C10.7°C-2.0°C64 mm84%4.1 m/s1
20222.9°C1.1°C-0.7°C9.4°C-10.9°C60 mm81%6 m/s1.1
20214.9°C2.7°C0.5°C12.9°C-3.2°C44 mm80%5.3 m/s1.2
20203.5°C1.6°C-0.3°C9.7°C-3.8°C51 mm81%5.7 m/s1.2
20193.1°C1.1°C-0.9°C8.0°C-9.1°C66 mm83%5.3 m/s1.1
20183.0°C1.2°C-0.6°C10.0°C-4.5°C61 mm84%4.4 m/s1.1
20170.1°C-1.7°C-3.5°C9.6°C-12.3°C41 mm83%5.6 m/s1.3
20162.5°C0.6°C-1.2°C8.9°C-7.6°C59 mm82%6.4 m/s1.1
2015 🔥7.0°C4.8°C2.6°C13.0°C-2.7°C64 mm87%4.7 m/s1.1
20143.0°C1.2°C-0.5°C9.0°C-5.7°C41 mm81%4.7 m/s1.2
20130.2°C-1.8°C-3.9°C9.3°C-11.2°C61 mm85%5.3 m/s1.1
20124.5°C2.5°C0.4°C11.7°C-3.8°C63 mm85%5 m/s1.1
20114.4°C2.1°C-0.1°C10.2°C-7.2°C60 mm83%4.7 m/s1.3
2010-0.3°C-1.9°C-3.5°C7.0°C-9.3°C47 mm86%5.9 m/s1.1
20091.7°C-0.2°C-2.0°C8.2°C-9.5°C69 mm82%5.6 m/s1.3
20082.0°C-0.8°C-3.5°C11.3°C-10.8°C102 mm83%6.5 m/s1.1
20071.5°C-0.4°C-2.2°C6.1°C-7.7°C100 mm85%5.4 m/s1
20065.0°C2.8°C0.6°C9.5°C-7.2°C77 mm85%5.7 m/s1.3
20050.6°C-1.0°C-2.5°C4.1°C-7.7°C45 mm83%5.7 m/s1.1
20042.4°C-0.2°C-2.8°C12.1°C-14.0°C92 mm85%6.1 m/s1.2
20031.8°C-0.4°C-2.7°C6.1°C-8.2°C68 mm85%4.4 m/s1.3
20020.7°C-1.8°C-4.4°C5.4°C-14.0°C39 mm86%5 m/s1.1
20013.1°C1.2°C-0.8°C11.2°C-5.8°C52 mm87%4.6 m/s1.3
2000-1.1°C-3.2°C-5.3°C4.5°C-10.1°C64 mm86%5.8 m/s1.3
19993.1°C0.9°C-1.3°C11.8°C-8.2°C44 mm81%5.4 m/s1.1
19985.2°C2.6°C0.1°C14.0°C-10.4°C44 mm81%5.6 m/s1.3
19973.0°C1.1°C-0.8°C6.8°C-9.4°C25 mm80%5.3 m/s1.2
19962.2°C-0.1°C-2.4°C8.6°C-9.5°C32 mm87%4.4 m/s1
1995-1.4°C-3.6°C-5.8°C5.5°C-10.9°C16 mm84%5.1 m/s1.4
19942.7°C0.2°C-2.3°C9.7°C-10.8°C18 mm86%3.9 m/s1
19930.3°C-2.1°C-4.4°C6.5°C-14.4°C18 mm84%4.5 m/s1.1
19921.4°C-0.8°C-2.9°C6.3°C-8.9°C31 mm85%4.7 m/s1
19911.8°C-1.1°C-4.0°C8.9°C-11.4°C27 mm83%4.9 m/s1.1
19902.2°C-0.8°C-3.8°C7.3°C-11.1°C56 mm84%4.9 m/s1.1
1989 ❄️-4.5°C-6.9°C-9.2°C4.1°C-14.3°C16 mm83%4.7 m/s1.2
19880.9°C-1.8°C-4.6°C7.3°C-13.2°C22 mm80%5.4 m/s1.1
19872.6°C0.2°C-2.1°C8.0°C-11.9°C28 mm83%5.1 m/s1.1
19861.8°C-0.3°C-2.3°C3.6°C-9.2°C41 mm85%5.1 m/s1.1
1985-0.8°C-2.9°C-4.9°C8.5°C-11.0°C26 mm85%6 m/s1
19843.2°C0.5°C-2.2°C10.5°C-9.3°C71 mm83%5.2 m/s0.9
1983 🌧️-2.4°C-4.7°C-6.9°C4.2°C-15.5°C104 mm91%6 m/s—
19823.6°C0.9°C-1.8°C12.7°C-11.5°C85 mm86%4.5 m/s—
19810.9°C-0.9°C-2.8°C5.3°C-8.5°C25 mm83%4.9 m/s—

Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

Other Cities in Ontario

Toronto December Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Toronto in December?▼

The average high in December is around 2°C with lows near -2.3°C (mean -0.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Toronto in December?▼

December averages 52 mm of rainfall in Toronto, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 104 mm in 1983.

What was the hottest December on record in Toronto?▼

The hottest December reached 14°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -15.5°C in 1983.

Has December in Toronto gotten warmer over time?▼

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.9°C to 3.5°C and overnight lows from -3.7°C to -0.6°C over the same span.

Is December a good time to visit Toronto?▼

December is one of the cooler months of the year in Toronto and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 2°C daytime highs and -2.3°C at night.

Is December the coldest month in Toronto?▼

Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Toronto, averaging -0.1°C.

What should I pack for Toronto in December?▼

For December in Toronto, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2°C and lows of -2.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Toronto humid in December?▼

Relative humidity in December averages 84% — quite humid.

How windy is Toronto in December?▼

Average wind speed in December is 5.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 6.5 m/s (2008).

Which December had the most rainfall in Toronto?▼

The wettest December on record was 1983 with 104 mm. On average, December sees 52 mm.

Where does this December weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other Ontario cities

Explore how the weather in Toronto 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.