December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bolton, with average highs near 6.2°C and lows around 2.2°C (mean 4.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 102 mm of rainfall and 95% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bolton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Bolton was 2015 — when the month averaged 7.8°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -0.9°C. Typical December days reach 6.2°C with nights near 2.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Bolton, averaging 102 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 174 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 41 mm.
Relative humidity in Bolton during December averages 95%. The most humid December was 2010 at 97%, and the least humid was 2011 at 92%.
December receives about 0.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Bolton. The sunniest Decembers were 2008, 2010 and 2022, among others at 0.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2011, 2015 and 2021, among others at 0.4.
Average wind speed in Bolton during December is 3.8 m/s. The windiest December was 2015 at 5.2 m/s, while the calmest was 2010 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.8°C | 3.6°C | 4.0°C | 4.7°C | 5.1°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 5.8°C | 5.6°C | 6.0°C | 6.7°C | 7.0°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 1.9°C | 1.5°C | 2.1°C | 2.6°C | 3.2°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 96 mm | 101 mm | 91 mm | 103 mm | 127 mm | +31 mm |
December temperatures in Bolton have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -10.1°C (1981) to a record high of 13.2°C (1994).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 102 mm, with a wettest year of 174 mm.
A quieter season to visit Bolton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Bolton. That said, December — with days averaging 6.2°C and nights around 2.2°C (mean 4.2°C) and higher rainfall (102 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 | 7.7°C | 5.8°C | 3.8°C | 13.2°C | -1.1°C | 140 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 8.1°C | 6.2°C | 4.3°C | 12.4°C | -0.6°C | 108 mm | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2023 | 7.7°C | 5.8°C | 4.0°C | 11.9°C | -2.3°C | 155 mm | 94% | 4.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2022 | 5.1°C | 3.0°C | 1.0°C | 10.6°C | -5.1°C | 97 mm | 97% | 3 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2021 | 7.2°C | 5.3°C | 3.4°C | 12.6°C | -1.9°C | 118 mm | 95% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2020 | 6.2°C | 4.3°C | 2.5°C | 11.4°C | -1.8°C | 145 mm | 96% | 3.5 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2019 | 6.9°C | 4.9°C | 3.0°C | 11.8°C | -1.5°C | 94 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2018 | 7.7°C | 5.8°C | 3.9°C | 11.6°C | -2.3°C | 130 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2017 | 6.2°C | 4.2°C | 2.3°C | 11.5°C | -3.4°C | 87 mm | 95% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2016 | 7.5°C | 5.6°C | 3.6°C | 11.7°C | -1.0°C | 47 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2015 🔥 🌧️ | 10.1°C | 7.8°C | 5.5°C | 13.0°C | 0.7°C | 174 mm | 93% | 5.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2014 | 6.7°C | 4.6°C | 2.5°C | 11.4°C | -1.4°C | 87 mm | 94% | 4.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2013 | 8.0°C | 5.7°C | 3.4°C | 11.6°C | 0.9°C | 84 mm | 93% | 4.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2012 | 5.5°C | 3.5°C | 1.5°C | 10.8°C | -2.9°C | 155 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2011 | 7.2°C | 5.3°C | 3.4°C | 11.3°C | -0.8°C | 128 mm | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2010 | 1.5°C | -0.7°C | -2.8°C | 6.4°C | -7.6°C | 41 mm | 97% | 2.4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2009 | 4.1°C | 2.4°C | 0.7°C | 10.1°C | -3.3°C | 87 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2008 | 5.0°C | 2.9°C | 0.9°C | 10.3°C | -3.5°C | 78 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2007 | 6.2°C | 4.1°C | 2.1°C | 12.3°C | -2.9°C | 106 mm | 95% | 4.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2006 | 8.0°C | 6.0°C | 4.0°C | 12.4°C | 0.7°C | 125 mm | 94% | 4.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2005 | 6.4°C | 4.3°C | 2.2°C | 10.0°C | -2.7°C | 65 mm | 96% | 3.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2004 | 7.2°C | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 10.4°C | -2.1°C | 62 mm | 95% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2003 | 6.0°C | 3.8°C | 1.5°C | 11.2°C | -3.3°C | 100 mm | 96% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2002 | 5.6°C | 4.0°C | 2.5°C | 10.6°C | -2.2°C | 129 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2001 | 5.6°C | 3.1°C | 0.6°C | 12.0°C | -2.5°C | 59 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2000 | 6.0°C | 4.6°C | 3.1°C | 12.1°C | -2.5°C | 101 mm | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1999 | 5.9°C | 4.0°C | 2.1°C | 10.9°C | -3.6°C | 141 mm | 93% | 4.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1998 | 6.8°C | 4.7°C | 2.5°C | 12.9°C | -2.5°C | 87 mm | 95% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1997 | 6.7°C | 5.0°C | 3.2°C | 11.7°C | -1.9°C | 125 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1996 | 3.7°C | 1.9°C | 0.0°C | 9.2°C | -3.6°C | 62 mm | 96% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1995 | 3.0°C | 1.0°C | -1.0°C | 10.2°C | -7.2°C | 53 mm | 95% | 3.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1994 | 7.4°C | 5.3°C | 3.2°C | 13.2°C | -1.7°C | 137 mm | 95% | 4.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1993 | 6.1°C | 3.9°C | 1.8°C | 11.5°C | -3.0°C | 154 mm | 94% | 4.8 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1992 | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 0.7°C | 11.4°C | -5.6°C | 85 mm | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 3.8°C | 1.8°C | 11.2°C | -4.3°C | 61 mm | 95% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1990 | 5.4°C | 3.3°C | 1.1°C | 10.6°C | -1.9°C | 105 mm | 94% | 4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1989 | 4.9°C | 3.1°C | 1.2°C | 10.5°C | -2.4°C | 105 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1988 | 8.1°C | 6.3°C | 4.4°C | 11.1°C | -1.2°C | 65 mm | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1987 | 6.1°C | 4.4°C | 2.7°C | 11.6°C | -2.8°C | 56 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1986 | 6.9°C | 4.6°C | 2.4°C | 12.4°C | -1.3°C | 158 mm | 94% | 4.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1985 | 6.8°C | 5.1°C | 3.4°C | 12.5°C | -5.2°C | 109 mm | 95% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1984 | 6.0°C | 4.2°C | 2.4°C | 11.1°C | -2.6°C | 78 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1983 | 6.6°C | 4.5°C | 2.4°C | 11.8°C | -2.2°C | 127 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.3°C | 3.2°C | 1.1°C | 10.4°C | -2.8°C | 99 mm | 94% | 4 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 1.4°C | -0.9°C | -3.2°C | 9.1°C | -10.1°C | 69 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 6.2°C with lows near 2.2°C (mean 4.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 102 mm of rainfall in Bolton, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 174 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 13.2°C in 1994. The coldest dipped to -10.1°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.2°C to 7.2°C and overnight lows from 1.2°C to 3.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Bolton and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 6.2°C daytime highs and 2.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Bolton, averaging 4.2°C.
For December in Bolton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.2°C and lows of 2.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 95% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 5.2 m/s (2015).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 174 mm. On average, December sees 102 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 Bolton 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.
