December is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem, with average highs near 29.3°C and lows around 17.8°C (mean 23.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Salem was 2018 — when the month averaged 25.9°C — while the coldest was 2004 at 21.7°C. Typical December days reach 29.3°C with nights near 17.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Salem, averaging 59 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1996 with 210 mm, while the driest was 1990 at 2 mm.
Relative humidity in Salem during December averages 78%. The most humid December was 1997 at 88%, and the least humid was 2016 at 62%.
December receives about 4.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Salem. The sunniest December was 1995 at 5.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 3.6.
Average wind speed in Salem during December is 2.1 m/s. The windiest December was 1990 at 2.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2010, 2021 and 2024, among others at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 23.9°C | 22.8°C | 22.9°C | 24.3°C | 24.1°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg High | 29.8°C | 28.5°C | 28.7°C | 30.1°C | 29.3°C | -0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 18.0°C | 17.2°C | 17.1°C | 18.4°C | 19.0°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 68 mm | 76 mm | 51 mm | 39 mm | 62 mm | -5 mm |
December temperatures in Salem have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 11.8°C (1994) to a record high of 35.5°C (2016).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 59 mm, with a wettest year of 210 mm.
One of the best times to visit Salem
December is one of the best times to visit Salem. Expect days averaging 29.3°C and nights around 17.8°C (mean 23.6°C) — cooler than Salem's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (59 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30.7°C | 24.1°C | 17.5°C | 33.1°C | 13.8°C | 12 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 28.5°C | 24.5°C | 20.5°C | 30.3°C | 16.7°C | 160 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 31.1°C | 25.6°C | 20.1°C | 33.0°C | 16.5°C | 31 mm | 78% | 2.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2022 | 29.3°C | 24.3°C | 19.3°C | 31.2°C | 16.0°C | 70 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2021 | 27.7°C | 22.9°C | 18.0°C | 30.2°C | 13.7°C | 24 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 28.6°C | 23.4°C | 18.3°C | 30.7°C | 15.0°C | 74 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2019 | 29.4°C | 24.3°C | 19.1°C | 31.5°C | 16.9°C | 44 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2018 🔥 | 32.4°C | 25.9°C | 19.4°C | 34.5°C | 16.9°C | 6 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 29.5°C | 23.8°C | 18.1°C | 31.6°C | 15.3°C | 38 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2016 | 33.0°C | 25.7°C | 18.4°C | 35.5°C | 14.8°C | 45 mm | 62% | 2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2015 | 29.2°C | 24.1°C | 19.0°C | 30.7°C | 15.6°C | 43 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2014 | 30.3°C | 24.6°C | 18.9°C | 33.3°C | 15.6°C | 28 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2013 | 30.6°C | 23.9°C | 17.2°C | 33.2°C | 13.7°C | 27 mm | 72% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2012 | 31.3°C | 25.1°C | 18.9°C | 33.0°C | 16.3°C | 16 mm | 75% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 28.7°C | 22.9°C | 17.1°C | 32.4°C | 13.1°C | 38 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2010 | 26.9°C | 22.6°C | 18.2°C | 29.1°C | 13.4°C | 102 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 29.2°C | 24.1°C | 18.9°C | 31.5°C | 15.1°C | 54 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 | 26.9°C | 21.8°C | 16.7°C | 28.1°C | 12.2°C | 27 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 28.1°C | 22.9°C | 17.6°C | 29.8°C | 12.9°C | 176 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 4 |
| 2006 | 28.8°C | 22.6°C | 16.5°C | 30.0°C | 13.9°C | 24 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2005 | 27.0°C | 22.6°C | 18.1°C | 29.1°C | 13.9°C | 94 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2004 ❄️ | 27.6°C | 21.7°C | 15.8°C | 29.2°C | 13.8°C | 12 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2003 | 30.1°C | 23.6°C | 17.1°C | 32.9°C | 13.4°C | 5 mm | 75% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 2002 | 31.2°C | 24.1°C | 16.9°C | 32.9°C | 13.6°C | 24 mm | 70% | 2.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2001 | 29.3°C | 23.4°C | 17.5°C | 30.7°C | 13.3°C | 36 mm | 76% | 2.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 28.8°C | 22.4°C | 16.1°C | 31.6°C | 12.8°C | 62 mm | 78% | 2.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1999 | 28.4°C | 22.5°C | 16.6°C | 29.8°C | 13.4°C | 43 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1998 | 27.1°C | 22.4°C | 17.7°C | 29.8°C | 13.1°C | 164 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 28.1°C | 24.0°C | 20.0°C | 29.3°C | 15.8°C | 112 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 27.4°C | 22.2°C | 17.0°C | 33.5°C | 12.0°C | 210 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1995 | 30.4°C | 23.1°C | 15.7°C | 31.6°C | 14.0°C | 5 mm | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 29.6°C | 22.7°C | 15.8°C | 32.2°C | 11.8°C | 36 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1993 | 26.5°C | 22.0°C | 17.4°C | 28.3°C | 13.7°C | 144 mm | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 | 27.9°C | 21.9°C | 15.9°C | 29.0°C | 12.5°C | 32 mm | 80% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1991 | 27.7°C | 22.3°C | 16.9°C | 30.5°C | 13.6°C | 16 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 31.5°C | 25.1°C | 18.8°C | 33.5°C | 14.8°C | 2 mm | 71% | 2.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 30.0°C | 23.7°C | 17.4°C | 32.7°C | 14.6°C | 38 mm | 75% | 2.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 31.4°C | 24.6°C | 17.7°C | 33.8°C | 13.8°C | 27 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1987 | 28.5°C | 23.8°C | 19.2°C | 32.8°C | 13.9°C | 159 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1986 | 30.8°C | 24.8°C | 18.8°C | 32.2°C | 14.0°C | 47 mm | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1985 | 30.0°C | 24.0°C | 17.9°C | 32.3°C | 14.4°C | 26 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1984 | 31.1°C | 23.9°C | 16.7°C | 34.1°C | 13.7°C | 41 mm | 71% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1983 | 28.5°C | 23.9°C | 19.4°C | 30.9°C | 16.5°C | 202 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 30.4°C | 24.0°C | 17.5°C | 31.9°C | 15.2°C | 15 mm | 73% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 27.1°C | 22.2°C | 17.3°C | 28.6°C | 12.9°C | 53 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 29.3°C with lows near 17.8°C (mean 23.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 59 mm of rainfall in Salem, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 210 mm in 1996.
The hottest December reached 35.5°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to 11.8°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 29.4°C to 29.5°C and overnight lows from 17.8°C to 19.1°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 29.3°C daytime highs and 17.8°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Salem, averaging 23.6°C.
For December in Salem, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 29.3°C and lows of 17.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.5 m/s (1990).
The wettest December on record was 1996 with 210 mm. On average, December sees 59 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 Salem 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.
