December is one of the cooler months of the year in Elgin, with average highs near 4.5°C and lows around 1°C (mean 2.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 65 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Elgin. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Elgin was 1988 — when the month averaged 5°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -1.1°C. Typical December days reach 4.5°C with nights near 1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Elgin, averaging 65 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2020 with 128 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 31 mm.
Relative humidity in Elgin during December averages 94%. The most humid December was 2002 at 97%, and the least humid was 2013 at 90%.
December receives about 0.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Elgin. The sunniest Decembers were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1985 and 2002 at 0.2.
Average wind speed in Elgin during December is 4.1 m/s. The windiest December was 2013 at 5.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2002, 2009 and 2010, among others at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 2.5°C | 2.2°C | 2.9°C | 3.1°C | 3.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 4.2°C | 3.9°C | 4.7°C | 4.9°C | 5.1°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 0.6°C | 0.5°C | 1.1°C | 1.2°C | 1.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 62 mm | 63 mm | 63 mm | 59 mm | 89 mm | +27 mm |
December temperatures in Elgin have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -11.7°C (1995) to a record high of 12.2°C (1994).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 65 mm, with a wettest year of 128 mm.
A quieter season to visit Elgin
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Elgin. That said, December — with days averaging 4.5°C and nights around 1°C (mean 2.8°C) and moderate rainfall (65 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 | 6.1°C | 4.4°C | 2.7°C | 11.1°C | -1.2°C | 55 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 6.7°C | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 11.5°C | -2.4°C | 119 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2023 | 5.0°C | 3.4°C | 1.8°C | 11.2°C | -3.5°C | 95 mm | 94% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2022 | 3.5°C | 1.9°C | 0.3°C | 8.5°C | -2.7°C | 66 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2021 | 4.6°C | 2.7°C | 0.8°C | 10.0°C | -1.9°C | 72 mm | 94% | 3.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2020 🌧️ | 4.9°C | 3.4°C | 1.9°C | 9.7°C | -2.7°C | 128 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2019 | 5.6°C | 3.8°C | 1.9°C | 11.0°C | -1.5°C | 61 mm | 95% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2018 | 5.3°C | 3.5°C | 1.7°C | 10.1°C | -2.5°C | 39 mm | 94% | 4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2017 | 4.9°C | 3.2°C | 1.5°C | 10.9°C | -2.7°C | 58 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2016 | 6.6°C | 4.5°C | 2.4°C | 11.8°C | -1.9°C | 48 mm | 93% | 4.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2015 | 7.0°C | 4.8°C | 2.5°C | 12.2°C | -1.4°C | 67 mm | 92% | 5.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2014 | 4.2°C | 2.4°C | 0.7°C | 7.9°C | -1.5°C | 54 mm | 93% | 4.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2013 | 6.3°C | 4.3°C | 2.2°C | 10.6°C | -2.3°C | 43 mm | 90% | 5.8 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2012 | 3.5°C | 1.8°C | 0.2°C | 9.5°C | -4.3°C | 97 mm | 94% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2011 | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 0.8°C | 11.8°C | -2.0°C | 69 mm | 92% | 5.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2010 | 1.4°C | -0.3°C | -2.0°C | 6.3°C | -8.7°C | 52 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2009 | 3.0°C | 1.3°C | -0.4°C | 6.7°C | -3.9°C | 67 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2008 | 4.0°C | 2.2°C | 0.3°C | 10.1°C | -5.7°C | 64 mm | 94% | 3.9 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2007 | 4.4°C | 2.5°C | 0.7°C | 10.7°C | -3.4°C | 55 mm | 94% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2006 | 6.1°C | 3.9°C | 1.7°C | 11.0°C | -1.7°C | 40 mm | 93% | 4.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2005 | 5.5°C | 3.8°C | 2.2°C | 10.0°C | -2.1°C | 52 mm | 95% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2004 | 5.8°C | 3.7°C | 1.7°C | 10.6°C | -2.5°C | 53 mm | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2003 | 5.2°C | 3.2°C | 1.2°C | 9.8°C | -2.6°C | 81 mm | 94% | 4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2002 | 4.3°C | 2.9°C | 1.5°C | 8.3°C | -3.0°C | 51 mm | 97% | 3 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2001 | 4.2°C | 2.3°C | 0.4°C | 9.3°C | -3.8°C | 87 mm | 93% | 3.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2000 | 4.5°C | 3.1°C | 1.8°C | 10.4°C | -3.0°C | 83 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1999 | 3.1°C | 1.5°C | -0.2°C | 9.7°C | -4.1°C | 96 mm | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1998 | 5.3°C | 3.2°C | 1.2°C | 11.4°C | -2.4°C | 47 mm | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1997 | 5.4°C | 3.8°C | 2.1°C | 11.2°C | -0.4°C | 74 mm | 95% | 4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1996 | 2.8°C | 1.3°C | -0.3°C | 8.3°C | -4.1°C | 73 mm | 95% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1995 | 2.4°C | 0.6°C | -1.1°C | 8.7°C | -11.7°C | 46 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1994 | 5.1°C | 3.4°C | 1.7°C | 12.2°C | -1.8°C | 59 mm | 93% | 5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1993 | 2.5°C | 1.0°C | -0.5°C | 7.6°C | -4.3°C | 87 mm | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1992 | 2.9°C | 1.4°C | 0.0°C | 9.0°C | -6.8°C | 56 mm | 94% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1991 | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 1.0°C | 9.8°C | -1.5°C | 37 mm | 93% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1990 | 4.2°C | 2.4°C | 0.6°C | 10.2°C | -2.0°C | 53 mm | 92% | 4.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1989 | 3.2°C | 1.7°C | 0.1°C | 7.9°C | -4.9°C | 31 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1988 🔥 | 6.7°C | 5.0°C | 3.3°C | 11.5°C | -1.5°C | 42 mm | 92% | 5.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1987 | 4.9°C | 3.2°C | 1.5°C | 10.6°C | -3.0°C | 47 mm | 94% | 3.5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1986 | 4.0°C | 2.3°C | 0.5°C | 10.3°C | -2.8°C | 102 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1985 | 4.7°C | 2.7°C | 0.8°C | 11.0°C | -7.2°C | 84 mm | 93% | 4 m/s | 0.2 |
| 1984 | 5.1°C | 3.4°C | 1.7°C | 10.2°C | -2.5°C | 60 mm | 95% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1983 | 5.7°C | 3.6°C | 1.5°C | 11.3°C | -2.7°C | 67 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 3.1°C | 1.3°C | -0.6°C | 7.7°C | -2.8°C | 77 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 0.8°C | -1.1°C | -3.0°C | 9.5°C | -7.8°C | 49 mm | 93% | 3.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 4.5°C with lows near 1°C (mean 2.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 65 mm of rainfall in Elgin, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 128 mm in 2020.
The hottest December reached 12.2°C in 1994. The coldest dipped to -11.7°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.9°C to 5.2°C and overnight lows from 0.1°C to 1.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Elgin and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 4.5°C daytime highs and 1°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Elgin, averaging 2.8°C.
For December in Elgin, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.5°C and lows of 1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 4.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 5.8 m/s (2013).
The wettest December on record was 2020 with 128 mm. On average, December sees 65 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 Elgin 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.
