December is one of the warmer months of the year in Kaikoura, with average highs near 17.4°C and lows around 12.1°C (mean 14.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Kaikoura. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Kaikoura was 2017 — when the month averaged 17.1°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 12.3°C. Typical December days reach 17.4°C with nights near 12.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Kaikoura, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2021 with 144 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 23 mm.
Relative humidity in Kaikoura during December averages 75%. The most humid December was 2018 at 82%, and the least humid was 1982 at 67%.
December receives about 6.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kaikoura. The sunniest December was 1988 at 7.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992 and 2001 at 5.6.
Average wind speed in Kaikoura during December is 3 m/s. The windiest December was 2004 at 4 m/s, while the calmest was 1985 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 14.9°C | 14.2°C | 14.6°C | 15.1°C | 15.2°C | +0.3°C |
| Avg High | 17.5°C | 17.0°C | 17.3°C | 17.8°C | 17.7°C | +0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 12.3°C | 11.5°C | 11.9°C | 12.4°C | 12.7°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 64 mm | 64 mm | 53 mm | 58 mm | 87 mm | +23 mm |
December temperatures in Kaikoura have risen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 5.8°C (2006) to a record high of 27.1°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 144 mm.
One of the best times to visit Kaikoura
December is one of the best times to visit Kaikoura. Expect days averaging 17.4°C and nights around 12.1°C (mean 14.8°C) — warmer than Kaikoura's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (63 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 | 17.5°C | 14.9°C | 12.3°C | 23.3°C | 8.1°C | 67 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 18.6°C | 16.0°C | 13.4°C | 22.8°C | 9.2°C | 102 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2023 | 18.2°C | 15.4°C | 12.5°C | 23.8°C | 8.6°C | 53 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2022 | 16.9°C | 14.9°C | 12.9°C | 24.1°C | 8.5°C | 96 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2021 🌧️ | 18.0°C | 15.6°C | 13.3°C | 22.4°C | 10.5°C | 144 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 17.1°C | 14.5°C | 11.8°C | 23.9°C | 9.0°C | 59 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2019 | 17.5°C | 14.9°C | 12.2°C | 23.1°C | 8.1°C | 55 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2018 | 17.3°C | 15.2°C | 13.0°C | 23.9°C | 10.1°C | 103 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2017 🔥 | 20.1°C | 17.1°C | 14.1°C | 25.7°C | 10.6°C | 42 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2016 | 16.7°C | 14.1°C | 11.5°C | 23.0°C | 8.8°C | 66 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2015 | 16.8°C | 13.8°C | 10.9°C | 27.1°C | 7.8°C | 38 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2014 | 17.7°C | 14.8°C | 11.9°C | 24.1°C | 6.4°C | 56 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2013 | 18.4°C | 15.7°C | 13.0°C | 23.1°C | 9.3°C | 58 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2012 | 19.0°C | 15.9°C | 12.7°C | 24.9°C | 8.6°C | 29 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2011 | 16.2°C | 14.2°C | 12.1°C | 21.4°C | 9.0°C | 92 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2010 | 18.5°C | 15.7°C | 12.9°C | 24.8°C | 8.8°C | 42 mm | 73% | 3.2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2009 | 17.2°C | 14.2°C | 11.1°C | 23.2°C | 7.5°C | 43 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2008 | 17.9°C | 15.2°C | 12.4°C | 23.8°C | 9.2°C | 39 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2007 | 17.9°C | 15.1°C | 12.2°C | 25.3°C | 9.5°C | 46 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 15.0°C | 12.3°C | 9.6°C | 22.4°C | 5.8°C | 71 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2005 | 18.3°C | 15.9°C | 13.5°C | 24.1°C | 10.4°C | 37 mm | 78% | 2.7 m/s | 6 |
| 2004 | 15.2°C | 12.6°C | 10.0°C | 20.1°C | 6.8°C | 90 mm | 73% | 4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2003 | 18.4°C | 15.3°C | 12.2°C | 24.6°C | 9.9°C | 43 mm | 71% | 2.9 m/s | 7 |
| 2002 | 17.3°C | 14.7°C | 12.1°C | 21.7°C | 8.9°C | 66 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 17.6°C | 15.3°C | 13.0°C | 22.4°C | 8.5°C | 68 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 18.6°C | 15.7°C | 12.8°C | 23.7°C | 8.9°C | 27 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1999 | 16.3°C | 13.4°C | 10.6°C | 23.6°C | 7.7°C | 35 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1998 | 17.9°C | 15.2°C | 12.6°C | 25.0°C | 9.9°C | 65 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1997 | 17.3°C | 14.1°C | 11.0°C | 21.8°C | 6.7°C | 38 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1996 | 17.2°C | 14.3°C | 11.3°C | 24.0°C | 8.0°C | 62 mm | 72% | 3 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1995 | 18.2°C | 15.6°C | 12.9°C | 22.2°C | 8.8°C | 62 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1994 | 18.0°C | 14.9°C | 11.8°C | 23.7°C | 9.2°C | 42 mm | 73% | 2.7 m/s | 7 |
| 1993 | 15.5°C | 13.2°C | 10.9°C | 21.9°C | 8.2°C | 119 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 5.8 |
| 1992 | 15.0°C | 13.0°C | 10.9°C | 20.4°C | 7.3°C | 80 mm | 81% | 3.9 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1991 | 16.1°C | 13.6°C | 11.2°C | 21.9°C | 7.8°C | 98 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1990 | 18.0°C | 15.0°C | 12.0°C | 23.1°C | 8.3°C | 40 mm | 71% | 3.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1989 | 16.8°C | 14.2°C | 11.6°C | 22.8°C | 7.7°C | 74 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1988 | 19.1°C | 16.2°C | 13.4°C | 25.6°C | 9.9°C | 30 mm | 71% | 2.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1987 | 17.5°C | 14.9°C | 12.3°C | 23.2°C | 9.8°C | 61 mm | 74% | 2.9 m/s | 6 |
| 1986 | 17.0°C | 14.5°C | 12.0°C | 23.2°C | 8.0°C | 55 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1985 | 17.3°C | 15.0°C | 12.6°C | 22.8°C | 7.4°C | 100 mm | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1984 | 18.0°C | 15.5°C | 12.9°C | 21.1°C | 11.1°C | 82 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 6 |
| 1983 | 16.3°C | 13.7°C | 11.1°C | 20.6°C | 8.0°C | 85 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.9°C | 14.0°C | 11.1°C | 24.9°C | 7.2°C | 63 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 18.7°C | 16.1°C | 13.6°C | 24.6°C | 11.0°C | 23 mm | 76% | 2.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 17.4°C with lows near 12.1°C (mean 14.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 63 mm of rainfall in Kaikoura, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 144 mm in 2021.
The hottest December reached 27.1°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 5.8°C in 2006.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.4°C to 17.8°C and overnight lows from 12.3°C to 12.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Kaikoura and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.4°C daytime highs and 12.1°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 9th coolest month in Kaikoura, averaging 14.8°C.
For December in Kaikoura, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 17.4°C and lows of 12.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 75% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4 m/s (2004).
The wettest December on record was 2021 with 144 mm. On average, December sees 63 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 Kaikoura 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.
