December is one of the warmer months of the year in Whakatane, with average highs near 21.5°C and lows around 13.9°C (mean 17.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm of rainfall and 73% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Whakatane. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Whakatane was 2021 — when the month averaged 19.7°C — while the coldest was 2004 at 14.9°C. Typical December days reach 21.5°C with nights near 13.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Whakatane, averaging 85 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1996 with 225 mm, while the driest was 1994 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Whakatane during December averages 73%. The most humid December was 2022 at 84%, and the least humid was 1982 at 64%.
December receives about 6.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Whakatane. The sunniest December was 2020 at 7.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2001 and 2011 at 5.8.
Average wind speed in Whakatane during December is 1.6 m/s. The windiest December was 2004 at 2.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 2017 and 2022, among others at 1.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.6°C | 17.2°C | 17.4°C | 17.9°C | 18.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 21.5°C | 21.3°C | 21.2°C | 21.7°C | 22.5°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 13.8°C | 13.2°C | 13.7°C | 14.1°C | 14.9°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 76 mm | 74 mm | 88 mm | 89 mm | 106 mm | +30 mm |
December temperatures in Whakatane have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 5.6°C (1992) to a record high of 29°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 85 mm, with a wettest year of 225 mm.
One of the best times to visit Whakatane
December is one of the best times to visit Whakatane. Expect days averaging 21.5°C and nights around 13.9°C (mean 17.7°C) — warmer than Whakatane's yearly average — with higher rainfall (85 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 | 22.7°C | 18.8°C | 14.8°C | 26.7°C | 11.1°C | 115 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 23.3°C | 19.3°C | 15.2°C | 27.0°C | 12.0°C | 133 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2023 | 22.0°C | 18.5°C | 15.0°C | 26.0°C | 10.7°C | 92 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 20.8°C | 17.7°C | 14.6°C | 24.9°C | 10.5°C | 136 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2021 🔥 | 23.1°C | 19.7°C | 16.3°C | 27.1°C | 12.3°C | 129 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2020 | 22.8°C | 18.2°C | 13.6°C | 25.7°C | 9.1°C | 30 mm | 67% | 1.6 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2019 | 22.9°C | 18.8°C | 14.6°C | 25.8°C | 10.8°C | 82 mm | 72% | 1.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2018 | 21.0°C | 17.8°C | 14.6°C | 25.1°C | 8.7°C | 199 mm | 81% | 1.5 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2017 | 22.4°C | 18.6°C | 14.7°C | 25.9°C | 9.9°C | 44 mm | 72% | 1.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2016 | 21.7°C | 17.5°C | 13.3°C | 26.2°C | 10.6°C | 36 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2015 | 22.7°C | 17.8°C | 12.9°C | 29.0°C | 10.4°C | 18 mm | 66% | 1.5 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2014 | 20.6°C | 17.0°C | 13.3°C | 25.1°C | 7.2°C | 133 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2013 | 21.7°C | 18.0°C | 14.3°C | 25.5°C | 11.6°C | 88 mm | 72% | 1.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2012 | 22.0°C | 18.3°C | 14.7°C | 26.6°C | 8.4°C | 59 mm | 76% | 1.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2011 | 19.7°C | 16.7°C | 13.7°C | 22.0°C | 9.7°C | 151 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2010 | 22.3°C | 18.6°C | 14.8°C | 25.6°C | 10.1°C | 79 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2009 | 22.0°C | 17.6°C | 13.3°C | 26.6°C | 9.2°C | 66 mm | 70% | 1.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2008 | 22.1°C | 18.3°C | 14.5°C | 25.0°C | 11.7°C | 72 mm | 72% | 1.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 21.0°C | 17.6°C | 14.3°C | 24.5°C | 10.4°C | 87 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 20.4°C | 16.0°C | 11.5°C | 26.4°C | 7.3°C | 69 mm | 68% | 1.6 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2005 | 21.1°C | 17.9°C | 14.7°C | 25.9°C | 10.9°C | 119 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2004 ❄️ | 18.6°C | 14.9°C | 11.2°C | 24.1°C | 7.3°C | 108 mm | 73% | 2.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2003 | 22.0°C | 18.2°C | 14.3°C | 26.3°C | 9.3°C | 106 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2002 | 21.8°C | 17.6°C | 13.4°C | 24.2°C | 10.3°C | 73 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 7 |
| 2001 | 20.8°C | 18.0°C | 15.3°C | 25.0°C | 11.8°C | 145 mm | 81% | 1.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2000 | 21.9°C | 18.2°C | 14.4°C | 26.3°C | 10.7°C | 31 mm | 73% | 1.6 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1999 | 20.9°C | 17.0°C | 13.1°C | 25.9°C | 8.5°C | 67 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1998 | 22.5°C | 18.3°C | 14.1°C | 26.8°C | 9.9°C | 76 mm | 71% | 1.6 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1997 | 22.0°C | 17.9°C | 13.7°C | 26.9°C | 8.6°C | 33 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 19.8°C | 16.2°C | 12.6°C | 23.1°C | 9.1°C | 225 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1995 | 21.9°C | 18.3°C | 14.7°C | 25.3°C | 11.3°C | 83 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1994 | 22.6°C | 18.1°C | 13.6°C | 26.0°C | 10.1°C | 15 mm | 66% | 1.6 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1993 | 20.7°C | 16.4°C | 12.1°C | 24.7°C | 8.7°C | 56 mm | 70% | 1.6 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1992 | 18.9°C | 15.6°C | 12.4°C | 22.1°C | 5.6°C | 109 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 21.0°C | 16.6°C | 12.3°C | 25.0°C | 7.4°C | 48 mm | 71% | 1.6 m/s | 7 |
| 1990 | 22.4°C | 17.8°C | 13.3°C | 27.2°C | 9.1°C | 26 mm | 68% | 1.7 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1989 | 20.5°C | 16.6°C | 12.6°C | 24.2°C | 7.5°C | 78 mm | 73% | 1.9 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1988 | 22.3°C | 18.5°C | 14.6°C | 26.3°C | 11.6°C | 105 mm | 71% | 1.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1987 | 20.9°C | 17.2°C | 13.6°C | 24.4°C | 9.5°C | 110 mm | 75% | 1.8 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1986 | 20.9°C | 16.9°C | 12.9°C | 24.1°C | 7.8°C | 49 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1985 | 20.9°C | 17.5°C | 14.2°C | 25.0°C | 10.4°C | 70 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1984 | 22.8°C | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 25.6°C | 12.6°C | 109 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1983 | 20.8°C | 16.8°C | 12.9°C | 24.2°C | 9.3°C | 69 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 21.9°C | 17.4°C | 12.9°C | 27.5°C | 7.2°C | 23 mm | 64% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.2°C | 18.6°C | 15.0°C | 26.5°C | 11.4°C | 69 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 21.5°C with lows near 13.9°C (mean 17.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 85 mm of rainfall in Whakatane, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 225 mm in 1996.
The hottest December reached 29°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 5.6°C in 1992.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 21.7°C to 22.4°C and overnight lows from 14.1°C to 15.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Whakatane and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.5°C daytime highs and 13.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 9th coolest month in Whakatane, averaging 17.7°C.
For December in Whakatane, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 21.5°C and lows of 13.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 73% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.6 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.1 m/s (2004).
The wettest December on record was 1996 with 225 mm. On average, December sees 85 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 Whakatane 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.
