December is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch, with average highs near 21.5°C and lows around 10.1°C (mean 15.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 81 mm of rainfall and 70% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Christchurch was 2017 — when the month averaged 18.5°C — while the coldest were 2004 and 2006 at 13.1°C. Typical December days reach 21.5°C with nights near 10.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Christchurch, averaging 81 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2021 with 155 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 27 mm.
Relative humidity in Christchurch during December averages 70%. The most humid December was 2018 at 80%, and the least humid was 1997 at 60%.
December receives about 6.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Christchurch. The sunniest Decembers were 2003 and 2017 at 7.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1993, 2018 and 2021, among others at 5.6.
Average wind speed in Christchurch during December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1995, 1997 and 2004, among others at 3.7 m/s, while the calmest was 2022 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 15.8°C | 15.2°C | 15.7°C | 16.3°C | 16.2°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 21.5°C | 21.0°C | 21.5°C | 22.0°C | 21.6°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 10.2°C | 9.4°C | 10.0°C | 10.4°C | 10.7°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 88 mm | 74 mm | 73 mm | 76 mm | 103 mm | +16 mm |
December temperatures in Christchurch have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 2.7°C (2006) to a record high of 33.6°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 81 mm, with a wettest year of 155 mm.
One of the best times to visit Christchurch
December is one of the best times to visit Christchurch. Expect days averaging 21.5°C and nights around 10.1°C (mean 15.8°C) — warmer than Christchurch's yearly average — with higher rainfall (81 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 | 21.6°C | 15.9°C | 10.1°C | 28.7°C | 6.4°C | 87 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 22.9°C | 17.1°C | 11.3°C | 29.4°C | 6.2°C | 129 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2023 | 22.7°C | 16.7°C | 10.8°C | 30.7°C | 6.5°C | 86 mm | 71% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2022 | 20.6°C | 15.7°C | 10.8°C | 29.8°C | 6.3°C | 69 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2021 🌧️ | 20.4°C | 15.8°C | 11.1°C | 26.1°C | 7.7°C | 155 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2020 | 21.3°C | 15.7°C | 10.0°C | 30.6°C | 5.8°C | 95 mm | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2019 | 20.9°C | 15.3°C | 9.6°C | 26.8°C | 7.1°C | 85 mm | 70% | 3.6 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2018 | 20.6°C | 15.8°C | 10.9°C | 30.6°C | 6.5°C | 79 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2017 🔥 | 24.6°C | 18.5°C | 12.3°C | 31.9°C | 8.7°C | 58 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2016 | 20.3°C | 14.9°C | 9.5°C | 26.5°C | 6.2°C | 103 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2015 | 22.0°C | 15.4°C | 8.7°C | 33.6°C | 5.5°C | 74 mm | 69% | 3 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2014 | 22.0°C | 16.0°C | 10.0°C | 29.8°C | 5.0°C | 59 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2013 | 22.8°C | 16.9°C | 10.9°C | 28.9°C | 6.4°C | 90 mm | 70% | 2.7 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2012 | 23.1°C | 16.8°C | 10.4°C | 31.0°C | 4.4°C | 52 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2011 | 20.7°C | 15.5°C | 10.2°C | 29.8°C | 6.2°C | 76 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2010 | 23.3°C | 17.4°C | 11.5°C | 30.2°C | 5.0°C | 83 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2009 | 21.0°C | 15.0°C | 9.0°C | 28.9°C | 5.6°C | 76 mm | 68% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2008 | 21.8°C | 15.8°C | 9.9°C | 30.5°C | 5.4°C | 86 mm | 70% | 3.1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 22.3°C | 16.3°C | 10.4°C | 30.6°C | 6.3°C | 81 mm | 68% | 3.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2006 | 18.6°C | 13.1°C | 7.6°C | 25.0°C | 2.7°C | 117 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2005 | 23.1°C | 17.7°C | 12.3°C | 29.7°C | 8.5°C | 58 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2004 ❄️ | 18.3°C | 13.1°C | 7.8°C | 25.0°C | 5.0°C | 135 mm | 70% | 3.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2003 | 23.2°C | 16.8°C | 10.3°C | 29.9°C | 6.5°C | 27 mm | 61% | 3.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2002 | 21.8°C | 15.8°C | 9.8°C | 29.3°C | 5.0°C | 44 mm | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 21.9°C | 16.7°C | 11.5°C | 28.8°C | 7.5°C | 62 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 23.2°C | 17.1°C | 10.9°C | 29.2°C | 6.9°C | 44 mm | 63% | 3.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1999 | 20.8°C | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 30.7°C | 4.5°C | 36 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1998 | 22.8°C | 16.8°C | 10.9°C | 30.6°C | 7.3°C | 55 mm | 64% | 3.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1997 | 21.8°C | 15.4°C | 9.0°C | 28.8°C | 4.6°C | 63 mm | 60% | 3.7 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1996 | 21.3°C | 15.2°C | 9.0°C | 29.2°C | 5.8°C | 51 mm | 66% | 3.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1995 | 22.1°C | 16.4°C | 10.6°C | 27.5°C | 5.6°C | 74 mm | 72% | 3.7 m/s | 6 |
| 1994 | 22.3°C | 15.7°C | 9.2°C | 29.9°C | 6.1°C | 60 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 7 |
| 1993 | 19.3°C | 14.1°C | 8.9°C | 26.8°C | 4.2°C | 107 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1992 | 18.4°C | 13.5°C | 8.7°C | 24.6°C | 5.3°C | 76 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1991 | 19.5°C | 14.4°C | 9.3°C | 27.3°C | 4.8°C | 116 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1990 | 21.9°C | 15.9°C | 9.9°C | 27.7°C | 5.7°C | 104 mm | 66% | 3.7 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1989 | 20.8°C | 15.1°C | 9.3°C | 26.7°C | 5.3°C | 116 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1988 | 24.6°C | 18.0°C | 11.4°C | 31.8°C | 6.9°C | 32 mm | 62% | 3.3 m/s | 7 |
| 1987 | 21.0°C | 15.5°C | 10.0°C | 27.8°C | 6.6°C | 73 mm | 70% | 3.1 m/s | 6 |
| 1986 | 20.2°C | 14.9°C | 9.5°C | 25.7°C | 5.3°C | 89 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1985 | 21.2°C | 15.9°C | 10.7°C | 27.3°C | 4.7°C | 108 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1984 | 22.1°C | 16.5°C | 10.9°C | 27.5°C | 7.0°C | 101 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1983 | 20.0°C | 14.6°C | 9.1°C | 28.8°C | 5.6°C | 118 mm | 72% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.8°C | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 30.7°C | 3.7°C | 83 mm | 63% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 22.5°C | 17.2°C | 11.9°C | 28.5°C | 6.9°C | 69 mm | 72% | 3.2 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 10.1°C (mean 15.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 81 mm of rainfall in Christchurch, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 155 mm in 2021.
The hottest December reached 33.6°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 2.7°C in 2006.
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 21.3°C to 21.6°C and overnight lows from 10.3°C to 10.8°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Christchurch and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 21.5°C daytime highs and 10.1°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 10th coolest month in Christchurch, averaging 15.8°C.
For December in Christchurch, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 21.5°C and lows of 10.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 70% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.7 m/s (1990).
The wettest December on record was 2021 with 155 mm. On average, December sees 81 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 Christchurch 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.
