December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gatineau, with average highs near -3.3°C and lows around -11.7°C (mean -7.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 92% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gatineau. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Gatineau was 2015 — when the month averaged 0°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -19.9°C. Typical December days reach -3.3°C with nights near -11.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Gatineau, averaging 78 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 133 mm, while the driest was 2002 at 26 mm.
Relative humidity in Gatineau during December averages 92%. The most humid December was 1995 at 99%, and the least humid was 2021 at 84%.
December receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Gatineau. The sunniest December was 1989 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2015, 2020 and 2023, among others at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Gatineau during December is 0.7 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2008, 2022 and 2025 at 0.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2001, 2013 and 2023, among others at 0.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -9.4°C | -6.9°C | -8.0°C | -6.9°C | -5.4°C | +4°C |
| Avg High | -5.0°C | -2.6°C | -3.8°C | -2.9°C | -1.5°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -13.8°C | -11.2°C | -12.3°C | -11.0°C | -9.3°C | +4.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 78 mm | 70 mm | 86 mm | 76 mm | 78 mm | 0 mm |
December temperatures in Gatineau have risen by about 2.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -44.7°C (1993) to a record high of 16.6°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm, with a wettest year of 133 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Gatineau
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Gatineau. That said, December — with days averaging -3.3°C and nights around -11.7°C (mean -7.5°C) and moderate rainfall (78 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 | -4.7°C | -9.3°C | -13.8°C | 7.6°C | -25.0°C | 62 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | -2.6°C | -6.1°C | -9.7°C | 5.9°C | -25.0°C | 83 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2023 | -0.1°C | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | 6.2°C | -20.0°C | 85 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | -0.6°C | -4.5°C | -8.4°C | 6.6°C | -21.5°C | 96 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | -0.4°C | -4.3°C | -8.2°C | 13.5°C | -16.0°C | 61 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2020 | -0.7°C | -4.6°C | -8.5°C | 6.1°C | -17.9°C | 79 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2019 | -2.6°C | -7.0°C | -11.4°C | 5.4°C | -27.5°C | 58 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -4.0°C | -8.9°C | -13.8°C | 2.9°C | -24.8°C | 74 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -6.6°C | -10.0°C | -13.4°C | 8.0°C | -30.2°C | 47 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | -2.2°C | -6.5°C | -10.8°C | 6.6°C | -29.9°C | 88 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 3.5°C | 0.0°C | -3.5°C | 16.6°C | -13.7°C | 90 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | -2.5°C | -6.2°C | -10.0°C | 5.2°C | -24.0°C | 54 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | -7.0°C | -11.0°C | -15.0°C | 4.0°C | -29.6°C | 64 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | -2.5°C | -6.7°C | -11.0°C | 11.4°C | -23.8°C | 119 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | -0.8°C | -5.1°C | -9.4°C | 7.1°C | -28.3°C | 80 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2010 | -4.7°C | -8.1°C | -11.5°C | 10.2°C | -22.8°C | 85 mm | 94% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2009 | -5.1°C | -9.1°C | -13.0°C | 5.8°C | -27.0°C | 84 mm | 96% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -4.7°C | -9.5°C | -14.3°C | 8.1°C | -27.9°C | 115 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -6.0°C | -10.2°C | -14.5°C | 0.3°C | -27.7°C | 119 mm | 99% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 | 0.5°C | -3.3°C | -7.2°C | 9.4°C | -21.3°C | 79 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -3.9°C | -7.7°C | -11.4°C | 3.8°C | -24.1°C | 62 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | -4.8°C | -10.2°C | -15.7°C | 6.4°C | -35.2°C | 103 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2003 | -3.6°C | -7.6°C | -11.6°C | 2.2°C | -20.1°C | 112 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | -2.6°C | -6.6°C | -10.7°C | 3.5°C | -22.3°C | 26 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2001 | 1.0°C | -2.6°C | -6.2°C | 11.4°C | -15.5°C | 68 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | -8.5°C | -13.4°C | -18.3°C | 2.3°C | -32.4°C | 94 mm | 99% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | -0.6°C | -4.8°C | -8.9°C | 12.1°C | -20.2°C | 78 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | 1.7°C | -2.9°C | -7.6°C | 13.4°C | -25.2°C | 62 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | -4.3°C | -8.9°C | -13.4°C | 1.8°C | -29.9°C | 39 mm | 96% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | -1.0°C | -4.3°C | -7.6°C | 5.5°C | -27.8°C | 109 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1995 | -7.6°C | -11.9°C | -16.2°C | 0.1°C | -29.4°C | 54 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | -1.3°C | -5.4°C | -9.5°C | 6.5°C | -21.0°C | 43 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -4.3°C | -9.2°C | -14.1°C | 3.5°C | -44.7°C | 64 mm | 96% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | -2.0°C | -5.8°C | -9.6°C | 4.3°C | -19.0°C | 53 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | -3.7°C | -8.2°C | -12.7°C | 7.6°C | -26.3°C | 73 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | -12.4°C | 4.8°C | -25.3°C | 128 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -14.4°C | -19.9°C | -25.5°C | 0.1°C | -39.8°C | 41 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | -3.9°C | -8.3°C | -12.7°C | 4.7°C | -26.2°C | 51 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | -2.6°C | -6.4°C | -10.2°C | 4.7°C | -24.5°C | 70 mm | 97% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1986 | -4.2°C | -9.1°C | -14.1°C | 0.1°C | -25.7°C | 92 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -5.3°C | -9.8°C | -14.2°C | 4.8°C | -31.0°C | 61 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | -2.3°C | -6.2°C | -10.1°C | 6.6°C | -26.6°C | 105 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1983 🌧️ | -8.0°C | -12.9°C | -17.8°C | 0.1°C | -37.8°C | 133 mm | 98% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -1.0°C | -5.2°C | -9.5°C | 11.9°C | -25.3°C | 109 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.4°C | -6.8°C | -10.3°C | 3.0°C | -23.2°C | 43 mm | 94% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -3.3°C with lows near -11.7°C (mean -7.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 78 mm of rainfall in Gatineau, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 133 mm in 1983.
The hottest December reached 16.6°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to -44.7°C in 1993.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.7°C. Daytime highs moved from -4°C to -1.7°C and overnight lows from -12.4°C to -9.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gatineau and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -3.3°C daytime highs and -11.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Gatineau, averaging -7.5°C.
For December in Gatineau, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3.3°C and lows of -11.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 92% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.7 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.8 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1983 with 133 mm. On average, December sees 78 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 Gatineau 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.
