December is one of the cooler months of the year in Birmingham, with average highs near 13°C and lows around 2°C (mean 7.5°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 126 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Birmingham. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Birmingham was 2015 — when the month averaged 12.9°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 1.7°C. Typical December days reach 13°C with nights near 2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Birmingham, averaging 126 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 314 mm, while the driest was 2025 at 35 mm.
Relative humidity in Birmingham during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 1992 at 89%, and the least humid was 2023 at 73%.
December receives about 2.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Birmingham. The sunniest December was 1985 at 2.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1986 and 1992 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Birmingham during December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 6.2°C | 7.6°C | 6.7°C | 8.4°C | 8.9°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | 11.5°C | 13.0°C | 12.3°C | 13.8°C | 14.9°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg Low | 0.9°C | 2.2°C | 1.0°C | 3.1°C | 2.9°C | +2°C |
| Avg Rain | 132 mm | 120 mm | 115 mm | 159 mm | 89 mm | -42 mm |
December temperatures in Birmingham have risen by about 2.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -16.2°C (1983) to a record high of 25.5°C (2007).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 126 mm, with a wettest year of 314 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Birmingham
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Birmingham. That said, December — with days averaging 13°C and nights around 2°C (mean 7.5°C) and higher rainfall (126 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 | 14.3°C | 7.9°C | 1.6°C | 24.2°C | -7.4°C | 35 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 14.1°C | 8.2°C | 2.4°C | 22.1°C | -6.1°C | 100 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2023 | 15.5°C | 9.0°C | 2.5°C | 23.7°C | -4.1°C | 84 mm | 73% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 13.6°C | 8.6°C | 3.6°C | 24.6°C | -12.5°C | 100 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 18.7°C | 12.8°C | 6.9°C | 24.7°C | -3.0°C | 114 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 13.0°C | 6.7°C | 0.4°C | 19.7°C | -6.2°C | 102 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 15.0°C | 9.8°C | 4.6°C | 23.2°C | -4.3°C | 161 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 12.6°C | 8.0°C | 3.5°C | 21.6°C | -4.4°C | 264 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2017 | 12.6°C | 7.0°C | 1.4°C | 23.5°C | -7.0°C | 86 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2016 | 14.6°C | 8.7°C | 2.8°C | 24.4°C | -5.7°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2015 🔥 | 17.9°C | 12.9°C | 7.9°C | 25.2°C | -2.0°C | 260 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2014 | 14.2°C | 9.0°C | 3.7°C | 22.5°C | -2.9°C | 183 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2013 | 12.9°C | 7.6°C | 2.2°C | 24.8°C | -6.1°C | 211 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2012 | 15.4°C | 9.6°C | 3.8°C | 22.7°C | -5.8°C | 184 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 13.9°C | 8.4°C | 3.0°C | 20.4°C | -4.7°C | 126 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 8.7°C | 3.2°C | -2.3°C | 17.6°C | -7.1°C | 45 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 10.5°C | 5.4°C | 0.4°C | 21.1°C | -5.2°C | 184 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 13.1°C | 7.9°C | 2.6°C | 21.8°C | -8.2°C | 176 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2007 | 16.3°C | 10.3°C | 4.3°C | 25.5°C | -5.8°C | 71 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2006 | 15.0°C | 8.8°C | 2.6°C | 23.9°C | -7.5°C | 95 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 10.7°C | 4.8°C | -1.1°C | 19.3°C | -6.3°C | 101 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | 11.8°C | 6.2°C | 0.5°C | 21.7°C | -7.3°C | 92 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 11.6°C | 5.3°C | -1.0°C | 16.5°C | -5.5°C | 71 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 11.7°C | 6.5°C | 1.2°C | 19.8°C | -5.2°C | 178 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2001 | 14.4°C | 8.9°C | 3.5°C | 22.4°C | -6.5°C | 122 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 8.2°C | 2.7°C | -2.7°C | 22.0°C | -9.6°C | 63 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 | 14.4°C | 7.8°C | 1.3°C | 21.7°C | -6.1°C | 74 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1998 | 14.7°C | 9.4°C | 4.0°C | 25.4°C | -5.1°C | 138 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 0.6°C | 17.0°C | -5.5°C | 114 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1996 | 13.6°C | 8.1°C | 2.5°C | 22.3°C | -6.3°C | 115 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 10.6°C | 5.5°C | 0.4°C | 20.3°C | -8.5°C | 113 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1994 | 13.9°C | 8.7°C | 3.6°C | 20.2°C | -4.4°C | 122 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1993 | 11.3°C | 6.2°C | 1.0°C | 19.6°C | -5.6°C | 97 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1992 | 11.4°C | 6.7°C | 2.1°C | 17.9°C | -3.8°C | 152 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1991 | 14.2°C | 8.5°C | 2.8°C | 24.1°C | -5.1°C | 119 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 15.1°C | 9.4°C | 3.7°C | 23.2°C | -7.3°C | 155 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 6.9°C | 1.7°C | -3.5°C | 18.2°C | -16.2°C | 114 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 12.4°C | 6.4°C | 0.4°C | 20.4°C | -5.5°C | 88 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 14.6°C | 8.9°C | 3.2°C | 23.6°C | -5.5°C | 93 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 1.0°C | 19.4°C | -4.1°C | 79 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1985 | 9.7°C | 4.0°C | -1.8°C | 20.3°C | -7.9°C | 87 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 17.0°C | 11.6°C | 6.2°C | 23.1°C | -6.8°C | 76 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1983 🌧️ | 8.9°C | 3.6°C | -1.7°C | 21.6°C | -16.2°C | 314 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.9°C | 9.4°C | 4.9°C | 22.6°C | -5.6°C | 191 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 9.4°C | 4.3°C | -0.7°C | 18.2°C | -12.0°C | 143 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 13°C with lows near 2°C (mean 7.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 126 mm of rainfall in Birmingham, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 314 mm in 1983.
The hottest December reached 25.5°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -16.2°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 11.8°C to 15.2°C and overnight lows from 1.4°C to 3.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Birmingham and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 13°C daytime highs and 2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Birmingham, averaging 7.5°C.
For December in Birmingham, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1981).
The wettest December on record was 1983 with 314 mm. On average, December sees 126 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 Birmingham 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.
