December is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem, with average highs near 31.5°C and lows around 14.3°C (mean 22.9°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 25.7°C — while the coldest was 2008 at 20.1°C. Typical December days reach 31.5°C with nights near 14.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 23.2°C | 22.1°C | 22.0°C | 23.8°C | 23.3°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg High | 32.1°C | 30.8°C | 30.6°C | 32.5°C | 31.4°C | -0.7°C |
| Avg Low | 14.3°C | 13.5°C | 13.5°C | 15.2°C | 15.3°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 0.4°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.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
One of the best times to visit Salem
December is one of the best times to visit Salem. Expect days averaging 31.5°C and nights around 14.3°C (mean 22.9°C) — cooler than Salem's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (59 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | High | Low | Avg | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33.1°C | 13.8°C | 23.4°C | 12 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 30.3°C | 16.7°C | 23.5°C | 160 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2023 | 33.0°C | 16.5°C | 24.8°C | 31 mm | 78% | 2.2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2022 | 31.2°C | 16.0°C | 23.6°C | 70 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2021 | 30.2°C | 13.7°C | 21.9°C | 24 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2020 | 30.7°C | 15.0°C | 22.8°C | 74 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2019 | 31.5°C | 16.9°C | 24.2°C | 44 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2018 🔥 | 34.5°C | 16.9°C | 25.7°C | 6 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 31.6°C | 15.3°C | 23.5°C | 38 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2016 | 35.5°C | 14.8°C | 25.2°C | 45 mm | 62% | 2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2015 | 30.7°C | 15.6°C | 23.1°C | 43 mm | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2014 | 33.3°C | 15.6°C | 24.5°C | 28 mm | 76% | 2.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2013 | 33.2°C | 13.7°C | 23.4°C | 27 mm | 72% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2012 | 33.0°C | 16.3°C | 24.6°C | 16 mm | 75% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 32.4°C | 13.1°C | 22.7°C | 38 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2010 | 29.1°C | 13.4°C | 21.2°C | 102 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 31.5°C | 15.1°C | 23.3°C | 54 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2008 ❄️ | 28.1°C | 12.2°C | 20.1°C | 27 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 29.8°C | 12.9°C | 21.3°C | 176 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 4 |
| 2006 | 30.0°C | 13.9°C | 21.9°C | 24 mm | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2005 | 29.1°C | 13.9°C | 21.5°C | 94 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2004 | 29.2°C | 13.8°C | 21.5°C | 12 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2003 | 32.9°C | 13.4°C | 23.1°C | 5 mm | 75% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 2002 | 32.9°C | 13.6°C | 23.3°C | 24 mm | 70% | 2.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2001 | 30.7°C | 13.3°C | 22.0°C | 36 mm | 76% | 2.4 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 31.6°C | 12.8°C | 22.2°C | 62 mm | 78% | 2.2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1999 | 29.8°C | 13.4°C | 21.6°C | 43 mm | 79% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1998 | 29.8°C | 13.1°C | 21.4°C | 164 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1997 | 29.3°C | 15.8°C | 22.6°C | 112 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 33.5°C | 12.0°C | 22.8°C | 210 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1995 | 31.6°C | 14.0°C | 22.8°C | 5 mm | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1994 | 32.2°C | 11.8°C | 22.0°C | 36 mm | 74% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1993 | 28.3°C | 13.7°C | 21.0°C | 144 mm | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 | 29.0°C | 12.5°C | 20.7°C | 32 mm | 80% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1991 | 30.5°C | 13.6°C | 22.1°C | 16 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1990 | 33.5°C | 14.8°C | 24.1°C | 2 mm | 71% | 2.5 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1989 | 32.7°C | 14.6°C | 23.6°C | 38 mm | 75% | 2.3 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 33.8°C | 13.8°C | 23.8°C | 27 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1987 | 32.8°C | 13.9°C | 23.4°C | 159 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1986 | 32.2°C | 14.0°C | 23.1°C | 47 mm | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1985 | 32.3°C | 14.4°C | 23.4°C | 26 mm | 77% | 1.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1984 | 34.1°C | 13.7°C | 23.9°C | 41 mm | 71% | 1.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1983 | 30.9°C | 16.5°C | 23.7°C | 202 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 31.9°C | 15.2°C | 23.5°C | 15 mm | 73% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 28.6°C | 12.9°C | 20.7°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 31.5°C with lows near 14.3°C (mean 22.9°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 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 31.6°C to 31.6°C and overnight lows from 14.5°C to 15.3°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 31.5°C daytime highs and 14.3°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Salem, averaging 22.9°C.
For December in Salem, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.5°C and lows of 14.3°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.
