December is one of the cooler months of the year in Glasgow, with average highs near 5°C and lows around 1.5°C (mean 3.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 136 mm of rainfall and 95% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Glasgow. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Glasgow was 1988 — when the month averaged 5.8°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -1.5°C. Typical December days reach 5°C with nights near 1.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Glasgow, averaging 136 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 286 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 42 mm.
Relative humidity in Glasgow during December averages 95%. The most humid December was 2010 at 97%, and the least humid was 2013 at 94%.
December receives about 0.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Glasgow. The sunniest December was 2010 at 0.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2019, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.3.
Average wind speed in Glasgow during December is 4 m/s. The windiest December was 2013 at 5.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2010 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.0°C | 2.8°C | 3.3°C | 3.6°C | 3.9°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 4.7°C | 4.5°C | 5.1°C | 5.4°C | 5.6°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 1.2°C | 1.1°C | 1.6°C | 1.8°C | 2.2°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 134 mm | 140 mm | 115 mm | 151 mm | 140 mm | +6 mm |
December temperatures in Glasgow have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -10°C (1995) to a record high of 12.1°C (2025).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 136 mm, with a wettest year of 286 mm.
A quieter season to visit Glasgow
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Glasgow. That said, December — with days averaging 5°C and nights around 1.5°C (mean 3.3°C) and higher rainfall (136 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 | 6.5°C | 5.0°C | 3.4°C | 12.1°C | -1.5°C | 136 mm | 96% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 7.1°C | 5.3°C | 3.5°C | 11.4°C | -1.8°C | 148 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2023 | 5.6°C | 4.1°C | 2.5°C | 10.6°C | -2.8°C | 170 mm | 96% | 4.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2022 | 4.0°C | 2.1°C | 0.3°C | 10.8°C | -5.0°C | 116 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2021 | 5.2°C | 3.5°C | 1.8°C | 10.2°C | -0.8°C | 126 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2020 | 5.1°C | 3.4°C | 1.8°C | 10.4°C | -2.1°C | 145 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2019 | 6.0°C | 4.5°C | 3.0°C | 10.9°C | -1.5°C | 150 mm | 96% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2018 | 5.8°C | 4.2°C | 2.5°C | 9.9°C | -1.2°C | 135 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2017 | 4.9°C | 3.1°C | 1.3°C | 10.8°C | -2.9°C | 111 mm | 96% | 3.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2016 | 7.0°C | 5.3°C | 3.6°C | 11.6°C | -1.5°C | 105 mm | 96% | 4.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2015 🌧️ | 7.7°C | 5.6°C | 3.6°C | 11.8°C | -0.8°C | 286 mm | 94% | 5.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2014 | 5.2°C | 3.5°C | 1.7°C | 9.9°C | -1.3°C | 122 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2013 | 7.0°C | 5.1°C | 3.2°C | 10.7°C | -2.2°C | 192 mm | 94% | 5.9 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2012 | 3.9°C | 2.1°C | 0.3°C | 9.6°C | -3.5°C | 190 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2011 | 5.6°C | 3.7°C | 1.8°C | 10.2°C | -2.0°C | 182 mm | 94% | 5.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2010 | 0.7°C | -1.3°C | -3.4°C | 6.2°C | -7.5°C | 43 mm | 97% | 2.3 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2009 | 2.6°C | 0.8°C | -1.0°C | 8.1°C | -5.7°C | 71 mm | 96% | 2.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2008 | 4.3°C | 2.5°C | 0.6°C | 9.5°C | -3.1°C | 93 mm | 95% | 3.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2007 | 5.6°C | 3.7°C | 1.8°C | 11.0°C | -2.3°C | 110 mm | 95% | 3.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2006 | 6.8°C | 4.9°C | 3.0°C | 11.3°C | -0.6°C | 214 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2005 | 5.5°C | 3.7°C | 2.0°C | 9.9°C | -2.0°C | 88 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2004 | 6.6°C | 4.8°C | 3.0°C | 10.1°C | -2.7°C | 121 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2003 | 5.6°C | 3.6°C | 1.6°C | 9.7°C | -4.0°C | 124 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2002 | 4.5°C | 3.1°C | 1.8°C | 9.3°C | -1.9°C | 82 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2001 | 4.6°C | 2.4°C | 0.3°C | 10.2°C | -3.5°C | 66 mm | 94% | 3.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2000 | 4.7°C | 3.5°C | 2.4°C | 10.5°C | -5.1°C | 181 mm | 96% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1999 | 3.9°C | 2.1°C | 0.3°C | 9.9°C | -5.9°C | 216 mm | 95% | 4.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1998 | 6.2°C | 4.3°C | 2.4°C | 11.2°C | -2.3°C | 129 mm | 95% | 4.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1997 | 5.8°C | 4.2°C | 2.5°C | 9.9°C | -2.3°C | 152 mm | 96% | 4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1996 | 3.0°C | 1.6°C | 0.1°C | 7.7°C | -3.7°C | 88 mm | 96% | 3.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1995 | 1.9°C | 0.2°C | -1.5°C | 10.1°C | -10.0°C | 42 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1994 | 5.9°C | 4.2°C | 2.5°C | 11.7°C | -2.0°C | 211 mm | 95% | 4.9 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1993 | 3.9°C | 2.1°C | 0.3°C | 9.7°C | -5.2°C | 186 mm | 95% | 4.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1992 | 4.0°C | 2.6°C | 1.1°C | 8.3°C | -2.1°C | 127 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1991 | 5.9°C | 4.1°C | 2.3°C | 9.9°C | -1.9°C | 113 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1990 | 4.3°C | 2.6°C | 0.8°C | 9.5°C | -2.3°C | 136 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1989 | 3.0°C | 1.5°C | 0.0°C | 9.4°C | -4.6°C | 82 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1988 🔥 | 7.4°C | 5.8°C | 4.1°C | 10.4°C | -0.8°C | 93 mm | 95% | 5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1987 | 5.4°C | 3.7°C | 2.0°C | 10.4°C | -2.8°C | 115 mm | 96% | 3.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1986 | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 1.2°C | 10.1°C | -3.0°C | 226 mm | 95% | 4.7 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1985 | 5.5°C | 3.8°C | 2.2°C | 11.3°C | -6.5°C | 189 mm | 95% | 4.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1984 | 5.6°C | 3.8°C | 2.0°C | 9.8°C | -2.4°C | 131 mm | 96% | 3.8 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1983 | 6.1°C | 4.2°C | 2.2°C | 10.2°C | -2.1°C | 161 mm | 95% | 4.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.0°C | 2.2°C | 0.3°C | 8.5°C | -3.5°C | 152 mm | 95% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 0.3°C | -1.5°C | -3.3°C | 9.0°C | -9.6°C | 58 mm | 96% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 5°C with lows near 1.5°C (mean 3.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 136 mm of rainfall in Glasgow, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 286 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 12.1°C in 2025. 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 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.3°C to 5.7°C and overnight lows from 0.7°C to 2.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Glasgow and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 5°C daytime highs and 1.5°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Glasgow, averaging 3.3°C.
For December in Glasgow, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5°C and lows of 1.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 95% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 5.9 m/s (2013).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 286 mm. On average, December sees 136 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 Glasgow 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.
