December is one of the cooler months of the year in Durham, with average highs near 5.7°C and lows around 2°C (mean 3.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 75 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Durham. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Durham was 2015 — when the month averaged 6.7°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -0.4°C. Typical December days reach 5.7°C with nights near 2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Durham, averaging 75 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 148 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 39 mm.
Relative humidity in Durham during December averages 94%. The most humid December was 2018 at 96%, and the least humid was 1995 at 92%.
December receives about 0.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Durham. The sunniest Decembers were 2020, 2022 and 2024, among others at 0.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2015, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.4.
Average wind speed in Durham during December is 4.4 m/s. The windiest December was 2013 at 5.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2010 at 3.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.6°C | 3.3°C | 3.8°C | 4.1°C | 4.8°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 5.5°C | 5.2°C | 5.7°C | 6.1°C | 6.6°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Low | 1.8°C | 1.5°C | 1.8°C | 2.1°C | 3.1°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 69 mm | 75 mm | 71 mm | 71 mm | 101 mm | +32 mm |
December temperatures in Durham have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -10°C (1995) to a record high of 13°C (2015).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 75 mm, with a wettest year of 148 mm.
A quieter season to visit Durham
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Durham. That said, December — with days averaging 5.7°C and nights around 2°C (mean 3.9°C) and moderate rainfall (75 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 | 7.5°C | 5.9°C | 4.2°C | 12.6°C | -1.9°C | 91 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 7.9°C | 6.1°C | 4.3°C | 11.6°C | 0.5°C | 83 mm | 93% | 5.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 7.1°C | 5.2°C | 3.4°C | 11.2°C | -1.7°C | 148 mm | 94% | 5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2022 | 4.9°C | 3.1°C | 1.2°C | 10.2°C | -3.3°C | 65 mm | 95% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2021 | 6.3°C | 4.5°C | 2.7°C | 11.6°C | -1.7°C | 106 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2020 | 5.8°C | 4.2°C | 2.7°C | 11.2°C | -2.2°C | 110 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2019 | 6.3°C | 4.6°C | 2.9°C | 11.3°C | -1.2°C | 55 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2018 | 6.7°C | 4.8°C | 2.9°C | 10.5°C | -1.1°C | 65 mm | 96% | 4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2017 | 5.4°C | 3.4°C | 1.4°C | 11.8°C | -3.5°C | 53 mm | 95% | 4.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2016 | 7.2°C | 5.4°C | 3.6°C | 11.2°C | -0.6°C | 41 mm | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2015 🔥 | 9.1°C | 6.7°C | 4.4°C | 13.0°C | -1.2°C | 136 mm | 93% | 5.7 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2014 | 5.7°C | 3.7°C | 1.8°C | 11.3°C | -1.4°C | 50 mm | 95% | 4.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2013 | 7.5°C | 5.2°C | 2.9°C | 10.9°C | -0.8°C | 59 mm | 92% | 5.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2012 | 4.9°C | 3.2°C | 1.4°C | 10.1°C | -2.5°C | 133 mm | 95% | 4.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2011 | 6.3°C | 4.2°C | 2.2°C | 10.9°C | -2.0°C | 77 mm | 93% | 5.7 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2010 | 1.6°C | -0.3°C | -2.2°C | 5.6°C | -6.4°C | 39 mm | 95% | 3.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2009 | 4.0°C | 2.4°C | 0.8°C | 8.9°C | -2.7°C | 76 mm | 94% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2008 | 5.0°C | 3.0°C | 0.9°C | 10.4°C | -2.4°C | 64 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2007 | 5.8°C | 3.6°C | 1.5°C | 11.7°C | -3.4°C | 72 mm | 95% | 4.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2006 | 7.0°C | 5.0°C | 3.1°C | 11.7°C | -0.8°C | 74 mm | 94% | 4.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2005 | 6.1°C | 4.2°C | 2.2°C | 10.8°C | -2.5°C | 50 mm | 95% | 3.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2004 | 6.7°C | 4.5°C | 2.4°C | 10.4°C | -2.3°C | 46 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2003 | 6.0°C | 3.7°C | 1.4°C | 10.5°C | -3.3°C | 87 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2002 | 5.5°C | 4.2°C | 2.8°C | 9.7°C | -1.5°C | 103 mm | 93% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2001 | 5.2°C | 3.0°C | 0.7°C | 11.2°C | -3.4°C | 61 mm | 94% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2000 | 5.4°C | 4.1°C | 2.7°C | 11.5°C | -2.7°C | 74 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1999 | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 0.7°C | 10.2°C | -4.4°C | 76 mm | 94% | 5.4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1998 | 6.3°C | 4.4°C | 2.5°C | 12.2°C | -2.6°C | 54 mm | 95% | 4.8 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1997 | 6.4°C | 4.9°C | 3.3°C | 10.9°C | -1.2°C | 104 mm | 95% | 4.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1996 | 4.0°C | 2.3°C | 0.7°C | 8.2°C | -2.4°C | 72 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1995 | 3.5°C | 1.8°C | 0.2°C | 8.4°C | -10.0°C | 69 mm | 92% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1994 | 6.7°C | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 12.6°C | -2.1°C | 69 mm | 93% | 5.3 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1993 | 5.0°C | 3.2°C | 1.4°C | 11.0°C | -2.9°C | 94 mm | 94% | 5.1 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1992 | 4.3°C | 2.3°C | 0.3°C | 10.4°C | -6.8°C | 57 mm | 95% | 3.9 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 3.6°C | 1.4°C | 11.2°C | -4.1°C | 47 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1990 | 5.2°C | 3.3°C | 1.3°C | 10.1°C | -1.4°C | 108 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1989 | 5.0°C | 3.3°C | 1.5°C | 9.4°C | -2.5°C | 54 mm | 93% | 3.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1988 | 7.7°C | 5.9°C | 4.1°C | 10.2°C | -0.7°C | 40 mm | 94% | 5.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1987 | 6.3°C | 4.7°C | 3.1°C | 11.5°C | -2.0°C | 61 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1986 | 6.2°C | 4.0°C | 1.7°C | 12.3°C | -1.8°C | 105 mm | 94% | 5.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1985 | 6.2°C | 4.4°C | 2.7°C | 12.1°C | -4.3°C | 76 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1984 | 5.9°C | 4.2°C | 2.4°C | 10.6°C | -1.6°C | 45 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1983 | 6.5°C | 4.4°C | 2.4°C | 10.9°C | -1.6°C | 105 mm | 94% | 4.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.4°C | 2.3°C | 0.3°C | 10.4°C | -3.0°C | 72 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 1.5°C | -0.4°C | -2.4°C | 9.1°C | -7.5°C | 59 mm | 94% | 3.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 5.7°C with lows near 2°C (mean 3.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 75 mm of rainfall in Durham, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 148 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 13°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to -10°C in 1995.
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 4.9°C to 6.7°C and overnight lows from 1.1°C to 3.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Durham and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 5.7°C daytime highs and 2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Durham, averaging 3.9°C.
For December in Durham, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.7°C and lows of 2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 4.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 5.9 m/s (2013).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 148 mm. On average, December sees 75 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 Durham 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.
