December is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitby, with average highs near 0.3°C and lows around -5.8°C (mean -2.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitby. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Whitby was 2015 — when the month averaged 2.9°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -9.8°C. Typical December days reach 0.3°C with nights near -5.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Whitby, averaging 52 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2008 with 112 mm, while the driest were 1989 and 1995 at 21 mm.
Relative humidity in Whitby during December averages 87%. The most humid December was 1983 at 94%, and the least humid was 1988 at 81%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Whitby. The sunniest Decembers were 2001, 2003 and 2006, among others at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984, 2007 and 2023 at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Whitby during December is 4.2 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 4.9 m/s, while the calmest were 1994, 2018 and 2023 at 3.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.9°C | -2.4°C | -3.5°C | -2.2°C | -1.3°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg High | -0.7°C | 0.7°C | -0.3°C | 0.7°C | 1.6°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -7.1°C | -5.4°C | -6.7°C | -5.0°C | -4.2°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 42 mm | 37 mm | 74 mm | 49 mm | 59 mm | +18 mm |
December temperatures in Whitby have risen by about 2.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -28.3°C (1983) to a record high of 14.9°C (1982).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm, with a wettest year of 112 mm.
A quieter season to visit Whitby
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Whitby. That said, December — with days averaging 0.3°C and nights around -5.8°C (mean -2.7°C) and moderate rainfall (52 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 | -0.9°C | -4.7°C | -8.6°C | 6.4°C | -15.0°C | 65 mm | 84% | 4.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 0.9°C | -1.8°C | -4.5°C | 9.3°C | -17.6°C | 61 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 3.7°C | 1.4°C | -1.0°C | 9.8°C | -5.8°C | 61 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | 1.2°C | -1.6°C | -4.4°C | 8.2°C | -13.1°C | 69 mm | 86% | 4.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 3.0°C | 0.0°C | -3.0°C | 13.3°C | -8.6°C | 45 mm | 84% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | 1.5°C | -1.2°C | -3.9°C | 7.4°C | -10.3°C | 54 mm | 85% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 1.0°C | -2.1°C | -5.1°C | 6.9°C | -15.4°C | 49 mm | 87% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 1.2°C | -1.8°C | -4.7°C | 7.9°C | -10.6°C | 59 mm | 89% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -2.6°C | -5.2°C | -7.8°C | 9.0°C | -20.3°C | 35 mm | 85% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 0.7°C | -2.1°C | -4.9°C | 8.0°C | -14.2°C | 51 mm | 84% | 4.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 5.7°C | 2.9°C | 0.1°C | 13.2°C | -6.6°C | 61 mm | 89% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | 1.0°C | -1.7°C | -4.3°C | 8.1°C | -11.1°C | 33 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -2.4°C | -5.3°C | -8.3°C | 8.6°C | -19.5°C | 47 mm | 88% | 4 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | 2.0°C | -0.8°C | -3.6°C | 12.1°C | -9.6°C | 50 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 2.6°C | -0.5°C | -3.7°C | 10.5°C | -14.0°C | 48 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | -2.4°C | -5.3°C | -8.2°C | 9.4°C | -15.4°C | 57 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2009 | -1.2°C | -4.2°C | -7.2°C | 7.7°C | -17.3°C | 82 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 🌧️ | -0.4°C | -4.1°C | -7.9°C | 9.3°C | -19.1°C | 112 mm | 89% | 4.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -1.3°C | -4.6°C | -7.9°C | 2.9°C | -18.1°C | 98 mm | 93% | 4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 3.0°C | -0.1°C | -3.3°C | 9.4°C | -14.1°C | 86 mm | 90% | 4.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -1.7°C | -4.4°C | -7.0°C | 2.4°C | -14.5°C | 52 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | -0.3°C | -4.4°C | -8.5°C | 8.5°C | -24.4°C | 104 mm | 91% | 4.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2003 | 0.7°C | -2.1°C | -4.9°C | 5.1°C | -11.3°C | 75 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | 4.3°C | -19.8°C | 33 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | 2.6°C | 0.1°C | -2.3°C | 12.1°C | -7.6°C | 47 mm | 90% | 3.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2000 | -3.9°C | -7.2°C | -10.6°C | 3.5°C | -17.2°C | 49 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | 1.4°C | -1.7°C | -4.8°C | 12.2°C | -13.9°C | 43 mm | 86% | 4.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 3.5°C | 0.0°C | -3.6°C | 14.3°C | -18.3°C | 53 mm | 85% | 4.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1997 | 1.0°C | -1.9°C | -4.8°C | 5.9°C | -14.6°C | 23 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 1.3°C | -1.3°C | -3.9°C | 8.1°C | -15.8°C | 37 mm | 89% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -3.1°C | -6.0°C | -8.9°C | 3.5°C | -14.8°C | 21 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 1.8°C | -1.5°C | -4.7°C | 9.5°C | -15.6°C | 22 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -0.5°C | -3.5°C | -6.4°C | 5.8°C | -18.2°C | 25 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | 0.4°C | -2.3°C | -4.9°C | 5.6°C | -11.9°C | 38 mm | 87% | 4.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | 8.7°C | -16.3°C | 36 mm | 85% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | 1.0°C | -2.4°C | -5.8°C | 6.4°C | -13.8°C | 69 mm | 86% | 4.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -6.5°C | -9.8°C | -13.2°C | 3.3°C | -19.6°C | 21 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | -0.2°C | -3.5°C | -6.9°C | 6.8°C | -16.6°C | 24 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 1.5°C | -1.4°C | -4.4°C | 7.5°C | -16.6°C | 27 mm | 85% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | 0.6°C | -2.8°C | -6.2°C | 2.8°C | -16.3°C | 39 mm | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -2.2°C | -4.9°C | -7.6°C | 7.5°C | -15.4°C | 28 mm | 88% | 4.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | 2.1°C | -1.1°C | -4.3°C | 12.1°C | -13.0°C | 52 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1983 | -4.1°C | -7.6°C | -11.1°C | 3.7°C | -28.3°C | 92 mm | 94% | 4.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 3.0°C | -0.4°C | -3.8°C | 14.9°C | -16.0°C | 62 mm | 87% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.8°C | -3.4°C | -6.1°C | 4.4°C | -14.5°C | 29 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 0.3°C with lows near -5.8°C (mean -2.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 52 mm of rainfall in Whitby, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 112 mm in 2008.
The hottest December reached 14.9°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -28.3°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.2°C. Daytime highs moved from -0.4°C to 1.6°C and overnight lows from -6.6°C to -4.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitby and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 0.3°C daytime highs and -5.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Whitby, averaging -2.7°C.
For December in Whitby, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.3°C and lows of -5.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 4.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.9 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 2008 with 112 mm. On average, December sees 52 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 Whitby 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.
