December is one of the cooler months of the year in Darjeeling, with average highs near 18.4°C and lows around 8.6°C (mean 13.5°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 4 mm of rainfall and 56% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Darjeeling. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Darjeeling was 2016 — when the month averaged 15.4°C — while the coldest was 2019 at 12.4°C. Typical December days reach 18.4°C with nights near 8.6°C. The long-term December temperature trend is broadly flat.
December is one of the drier months in Darjeeling, averaging 4 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1985 with 19 mm, while the driest were 2012, 2017 and 2025, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Darjeeling during December averages 56%. The most humid December was 2021 at 77%, and the least humid was 1994 at 36%.
December receives about 3.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Darjeeling. The sunniest December was 2005 at 4.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1995 and 1997 at 2.9.
Average wind speed in Darjeeling during December is 1 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1994 and 2012 at 1.1 m/s, while the calmest were 2024 and 2025 at 0.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.2°C | 13.5°C | 13.6°C | 13.7°C | 13.6°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 18.3°C | 18.7°C | 18.4°C | 18.4°C | 17.8°C | -0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 8.1°C | 8.3°C | 8.7°C | 9.0°C | 9.4°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 7 mm | 3 mm | 2 mm | 3 mm | 5 mm | -2 mm |
December temperatures in Darjeeling have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 1.2°C (2003) to a record high of 23.8°C (1988).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 4 mm, with a wettest year of 19 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Darjeeling
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of April and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Darjeeling. That said, December — with days averaging 18.4°C and nights around 8.6°C (mean 13.5°C) and low rainfall (4 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 | 17.8°C | 13.6°C | 9.4°C | 19.1°C | 5.8°C | 0 mm | 71% | 0.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 17.3°C | 13.1°C | 8.9°C | 19.6°C | 6.5°C | 1 mm | 74% | 0.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 18.7°C | 14.4°C | 10.2°C | 21.2°C | 7.3°C | 5 mm | 69% | 0.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2022 | 18.2°C | 14.0°C | 9.9°C | 20.0°C | 5.5°C | 1 mm | 73% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 16.7°C | 12.8°C | 8.9°C | 20.3°C | 5.7°C | 17 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2020 | 17.9°C | 13.6°C | 9.3°C | 20.0°C | 5.4°C | 4 mm | 67% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2019 ❄️ | 16.8°C | 12.4°C | 7.9°C | 20.3°C | 3.2°C | 11 mm | 61% | 1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2018 | 18.2°C | 13.1°C | 8.0°C | 20.6°C | 2.5°C | 7 mm | 57% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 19.9°C | 15.3°C | 10.7°C | 21.7°C | 8.6°C | 0 mm | 60% | 0.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2016 🔥 | 19.8°C | 15.4°C | 11.0°C | 22.3°C | 8.4°C | 0 mm | 64% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2015 | 17.9°C | 13.2°C | 8.6°C | 20.6°C | 5.5°C | 1 mm | 59% | 1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2014 | 19.6°C | 14.6°C | 9.5°C | 22.6°C | 4.8°C | 3 mm | 53% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2013 | 17.3°C | 12.9°C | 8.6°C | 19.9°C | 5.9°C | 1 mm | 68% | 0.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 19.4°C | 14.1°C | 8.8°C | 22.4°C | 4.8°C | 0 mm | 44% | 1.1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2011 | 17.5°C | 13.0°C | 8.5°C | 21.1°C | 5.4°C | 4 mm | 64% | 0.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2010 | 17.9°C | 13.1°C | 8.2°C | 21.5°C | 4.1°C | 0 mm | 54% | 0.9 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2009 | 17.4°C | 12.9°C | 8.3°C | 19.7°C | 5.8°C | 1 mm | 61% | 0.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2008 | 18.8°C | 14.3°C | 9.8°C | 20.9°C | 6.9°C | 0 mm | 71% | 0.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 18.2°C | 13.1°C | 8.0°C | 20.1°C | 4.9°C | 0 mm | 56% | 0.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2006 | 18.4°C | 13.7°C | 9.0°C | 20.9°C | 6.8°C | 5 mm | 61% | 0.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2005 | 19.0°C | 14.1°C | 9.1°C | 20.9°C | 5.3°C | 0 mm | 51% | 0.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2004 | 18.1°C | 13.4°C | 8.8°C | 20.8°C | 2.5°C | 0 mm | 62% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 18.0°C | 13.2°C | 8.3°C | 21.2°C | 1.2°C | 16 mm | 60% | 0.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2002 | 18.8°C | 13.7°C | 8.5°C | 22.5°C | 4.7°C | 2 mm | 52% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2001 | 17.9°C | 13.3°C | 8.6°C | 22.0°C | 6.8°C | 0 mm | 54% | 0.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2000 | 19.4°C | 14.0°C | 8.5°C | 22.5°C | 6.6°C | 0 mm | 46% | 1 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1999 | 18.4°C | 13.5°C | 8.5°C | 20.8°C | 6.7°C | 1 mm | 56% | 1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1998 | 19.4°C | 14.3°C | 9.2°C | 21.7°C | 6.9°C | 0 mm | 48% | 1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1997 | 17.4°C | 12.5°C | 7.5°C | 20.3°C | 5.3°C | 17 mm | 55% | 0.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1996 | 19.8°C | 14.2°C | 8.6°C | 21.7°C | 6.8°C | 0 mm | 37% | 1 m/s | 4 |
| 1995 | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 19.0°C | 4.9°C | 8 mm | 53% | 1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 19.1°C | 13.3°C | 7.4°C | 21.6°C | 4.9°C | 1 mm | 36% | 1.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1993 | 20.1°C | 14.8°C | 9.4°C | 22.4°C | 6.2°C | 0 mm | 39% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1992 | 18.1°C | 12.8°C | 7.6°C | 20.5°C | 5.3°C | 1 mm | 45% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1991 | 17.7°C | 12.9°C | 8.0°C | 21.6°C | 3.4°C | 6 mm | 54% | 0.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1990 | 19.3°C | 14.1°C | 8.9°C | 21.3°C | 7.1°C | 0 mm | 49% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1989 | 17.9°C | 12.6°C | 7.3°C | 21.3°C | 3.1°C | 2 mm | 45% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1988 | 19.8°C | 14.7°C | 9.5°C | 23.8°C | 6.5°C | 8 mm | 48% | 1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1987 | 19.7°C | 14.4°C | 9.2°C | 21.3°C | 5.2°C | 0 mm | 51% | 1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1986 | 18.0°C | 12.9°C | 7.8°C | 21.6°C | 4.4°C | 12 mm | 54% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1985 🌧️ | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 8.6°C | 19.9°C | 5.3°C | 19 mm | 62% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1984 | 18.1°C | 12.8°C | 7.5°C | 20.9°C | 5.1°C | 1 mm | 52% | 1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1983 | 17.7°C | 12.5°C | 7.4°C | 20.3°C | 2.6°C | 8 mm | 48% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.6°C | 12.5°C | 7.4°C | 19.3°C | 4.3°C | 0 mm | 54% | 1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.1°C | 12.9°C | 7.8°C | 20.8°C | 5.5°C | 13 mm | 54% | 1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 18.4°C with lows near 8.6°C (mean 13.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 4 mm of rainfall in Darjeeling, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 19 mm in 1985.
The hottest December reached 23.8°C in 1988. The coldest dipped to 1.2°C in 2003.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 7.7°C to 9.5°C while daytime highs eased from 17.9°C to 17.7°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Darjeeling and one of the drier months, so plan for around 18.4°C daytime highs and 8.6°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Darjeeling, averaging 13.5°C.
For December in Darjeeling, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 18.4°C and lows of 8.6°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 56% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.1 m/s (1994).
The wettest December on record was 1985 with 19 mm. On average, December sees 4 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 Darjeeling 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.
