December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 18.6°C and lows around 8.9°C (mean 13.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm of rainfall and 76% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Richmond was 2017 — when the month averaged 16.7°C — while the coldest was 2004 at 10.9°C. Typical December days reach 18.6°C with nights near 8.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Richmond, averaging 95 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2011 with 273 mm, while the driest was 2017 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during December averages 76%. The most humid December was 2021 at 84%, and the least humid was 2017 at 67%.
December receives about 6.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest December was 2017 at 7.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2001 at 5.4.
Average wind speed in Richmond during December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1990 and 2025 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2011, 2018 and 2022, among others at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 13.6°C | 13.1°C | 13.7°C | 14.4°C | 14.3°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | 18.3°C | 18.0°C | 18.6°C | 19.4°C | 18.9°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 8.9°C | 8.2°C | 8.7°C | 9.4°C | 9.6°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 109 mm | 86 mm | 80 mm | 106 mm | 99 mm | -10 mm |
December temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 0.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of 0.4°C (2006) to a record high of 27.7°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm, with a wettest year of 273 mm.
One of the best times to visit Richmond
December is one of the best times to visit Richmond. Expect days averaging 18.6°C and nights around 8.9°C (mean 13.8°C) — warmer than Richmond's yearly average — with higher rainfall (95 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 | 18.0°C | 13.5°C | 8.9°C | 23.1°C | 5.3°C | 86 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 20.1°C | 15.1°C | 10.0°C | 25.3°C | 3.2°C | 76 mm | 76% | 1.5 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2023 | 19.9°C | 15.1°C | 10.3°C | 26.5°C | 6.0°C | 95 mm | 77% | 1.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2022 | 18.4°C | 14.0°C | 9.6°C | 22.8°C | 6.5°C | 79 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2021 | 18.4°C | 14.4°C | 10.4°C | 20.8°C | 6.8°C | 159 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 18.4°C | 13.4°C | 8.5°C | 23.5°C | 3.6°C | 98 mm | 77% | 1.4 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2019 | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 8.7°C | 23.2°C | 4.7°C | 141 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2018 | 20.0°C | 15.1°C | 10.2°C | 25.9°C | 4.4°C | 78 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 6 |
| 2017 🔥 | 22.6°C | 16.7°C | 10.8°C | 26.9°C | 5.5°C | 29 mm | 67% | 1.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2016 | 17.2°C | 12.4°C | 7.7°C | 20.8°C | 4.8°C | 89 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2015 | 19.6°C | 14.0°C | 8.5°C | 27.7°C | 4.4°C | 57 mm | 70% | 1.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2014 | 19.6°C | 14.5°C | 9.5°C | 24.6°C | 2.2°C | 120 mm | 75% | 1.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2013 | 19.4°C | 14.5°C | 9.7°C | 24.5°C | 6.1°C | 76 mm | 73% | 1.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2012 | 20.6°C | 15.1°C | 9.6°C | 25.8°C | 4.7°C | 56 mm | 72% | 1.3 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2011 🌧️ | 17.6°C | 13.5°C | 9.4°C | 20.7°C | 4.6°C | 273 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2010 | 19.6°C | 14.7°C | 9.9°C | 23.2°C | 6.0°C | 144 mm | 75% | 1.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2009 | 18.4°C | 13.2°C | 8.0°C | 23.7°C | 3.5°C | 71 mm | 74% | 1.5 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2008 | 18.7°C | 13.7°C | 8.8°C | 24.0°C | 5.0°C | 85 mm | 75% | 1.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2007 | 19.4°C | 14.4°C | 9.4°C | 25.0°C | 4.5°C | 73 mm | 73% | 1.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2006 | 17.4°C | 11.8°C | 6.2°C | 23.8°C | 0.4°C | 64 mm | 70% | 1.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2005 | 20.3°C | 15.5°C | 10.8°C | 23.4°C | 7.9°C | 86 mm | 74% | 1.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2004 ❄️ | 15.3°C | 10.9°C | 6.6°C | 18.9°C | 2.4°C | 125 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2003 | 19.9°C | 14.2°C | 8.5°C | 25.8°C | 4.6°C | 54 mm | 72% | 1.5 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2002 | 18.1°C | 13.5°C | 9.0°C | 25.6°C | 4.3°C | 97 mm | 74% | 1.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2001 | 18.3°C | 14.1°C | 9.8°C | 22.0°C | 4.5°C | 93 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2000 | 20.4°C | 15.2°C | 9.9°C | 25.8°C | 6.0°C | 51 mm | 69% | 1.5 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1999 | 19.1°C | 13.6°C | 8.1°C | 23.7°C | 3.1°C | 45 mm | 69% | 1.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1998 | 18.7°C | 13.9°C | 9.1°C | 24.4°C | 5.6°C | 71 mm | 75% | 1.5 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1997 | 18.8°C | 13.3°C | 7.7°C | 23.8°C | 3.6°C | 55 mm | 67% | 1.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1996 | 17.7°C | 12.6°C | 7.4°C | 22.8°C | 1.7°C | 64 mm | 75% | 1.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1995 | 18.1°C | 13.9°C | 9.6°C | 22.8°C | 5.2°C | 119 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1994 | 18.9°C | 13.8°C | 8.6°C | 22.7°C | 4.5°C | 36 mm | 73% | 1.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1993 | 16.6°C | 11.9°C | 7.1°C | 21.6°C | 2.5°C | 133 mm | 80% | 1.2 m/s | 6 |
| 1992 | 16.3°C | 12.1°C | 8.0°C | 21.4°C | 2.0°C | 142 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 5.6 |
| 1991 | 17.8°C | 12.8°C | 7.9°C | 22.5°C | 3.3°C | 134 mm | 76% | 1.1 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1990 | 17.9°C | 13.1°C | 8.3°C | 21.7°C | 5.0°C | 56 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1989 | 17.7°C | 12.8°C | 7.9°C | 21.5°C | 3.9°C | 82 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1988 | 20.5°C | 15.3°C | 10.1°C | 25.1°C | 5.7°C | 37 mm | 72% | 1.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1987 | 17.1°C | 12.9°C | 8.6°C | 21.8°C | 4.7°C | 145 mm | 81% | 1.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1986 | 18.6°C | 13.5°C | 8.4°C | 22.0°C | 1.9°C | 98 mm | 75% | 1.2 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1985 | 17.9°C | 13.7°C | 9.5°C | 21.3°C | 4.2°C | 184 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1984 | 19.0°C | 14.4°C | 9.8°C | 24.6°C | 7.4°C | 154 mm | 77% | 1.4 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1983 | 16.5°C | 12.2°C | 7.8°C | 20.2°C | 4.1°C | 130 mm | 78% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 25.7°C | 3.1°C | 75 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 19.4°C | 15.1°C | 10.8°C | 24.0°C | 6.8°C | 75 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 18.6°C with lows near 8.9°C (mean 13.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 95 mm of rainfall in Richmond, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 273 mm in 2011.
The hottest December reached 27.7°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to 0.4°C in 2006.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 18.1°C to 19°C and overnight lows from 9.1°C to 9.8°C over the same span.
December is one of the warmer months of the year in Richmond and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 18.6°C daytime highs and 8.9°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 9th coolest month in Richmond, averaging 13.8°C.
For December in Richmond, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 18.6°C and lows of 8.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 76% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.7 m/s (1990).
The wettest December on record was 2011 with 273 mm. On average, December sees 95 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 Richmond 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.
