December is one of the cooler months of the year in Anchorage, with average highs near -8.5°C and lows around -14.2°C (mean -11.3°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 164 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Anchorage. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Anchorage was 2024 — when the month averaged -6.1°C — while the coldest was 2001 at -15.5°C. Typical December days reach -8.5°C with nights near -14.2°C. The long-term trend is cooling, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Anchorage, averaging 164 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1985 with 314 mm, while the driest was 2025 at 28 mm.
Relative humidity in Anchorage during December averages 90%. The most humid December was 1986 at 95%, and the least humid was 2025 at 82%.
December receives about 0.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Anchorage. The sunniest Decembers were 2016, 2022 and 2023, among others at 0.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2020, 2021 and 2024, among others at 0.1.
Average wind speed in Anchorage during December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest December was 2025 at 6.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1985 at 1.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -10.0°C | -12.8°C | -10.9°C | -11.1°C | -12.1°C | -2.1°C |
| Avg High | -7.1°C | -9.6°C | -8.1°C | -8.5°C | -9.4°C | -2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -12.9°C | -15.9°C | -13.7°C | -13.8°C | -14.8°C | -1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 197 mm | 151 mm | 166 mm | 165 mm | 129 mm | -68 mm |
December temperatures in Anchorage have fallen by about 2.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -31°C (2011) to a record high of 3.4°C (2024).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 164 mm, with a wettest year of 314 mm.
A quieter season to visit Anchorage
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Anchorage. That said, December — with days averaging -8.5°C and nights around -14.2°C (mean -11.3°C) and higher rainfall (164 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 | -12.9°C | -14.9°C | -17.0°C | 1.8°C | -23.6°C | 28 mm | 82% | 6.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 🔥 | -4.1°C | -6.1°C | -8.0°C | 3.4°C | -16.3°C | 191 mm | 93% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2023 | -11.1°C | -14.5°C | -18.0°C | -2.2°C | -28.9°C | 155 mm | 90% | 3.3 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2022 | -10.3°C | -12.7°C | -15.2°C | -3.8°C | -23.8°C | 97 mm | 87% | 3.9 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2021 | -11.0°C | -14.3°C | -17.6°C | 0.3°C | -25.8°C | 134 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2020 | -6.8°C | -9.9°C | -13.0°C | 0.8°C | -19.4°C | 169 mm | 92% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2019 | -7.5°C | -10.2°C | -13.0°C | 0.9°C | -25.6°C | 220 mm | 91% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2018 | -6.5°C | -9.3°C | -12.1°C | 1.3°C | -19.0°C | 222 mm | 92% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2017 | -5.2°C | -7.8°C | -10.4°C | 1.6°C | -21.3°C | 240 mm | 93% | 2.3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2016 | -11.2°C | -13.7°C | -16.1°C | -5.1°C | -26.0°C | 70 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2015 | -7.3°C | -9.8°C | -12.3°C | 1.7°C | -19.8°C | 129 mm | 92% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2014 | -4.8°C | -6.7°C | -8.6°C | 1.0°C | -15.5°C | 237 mm | 94% | 2.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2013 | -10.7°C | -13.5°C | -16.2°C | -1.3°C | -27.5°C | 82 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2012 | -11.7°C | -14.4°C | -17.1°C | 1.0°C | -26.3°C | 130 mm | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2011 | -8.1°C | -11.6°C | -15.1°C | 0.9°C | -31.0°C | 239 mm | 92% | 2.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2010 | -11.9°C | -14.3°C | -16.7°C | -2.2°C | -22.8°C | 78 mm | 85% | 5 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2009 | -7.1°C | -9.8°C | -12.6°C | 0.6°C | -27.4°C | 137 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2008 | -11.2°C | -13.6°C | -16.0°C | -1.1°C | -23.9°C | 83 mm | 88% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2007 | -9.1°C | -12.5°C | -15.8°C | 1.5°C | -28.5°C | 160 mm | 89% | 4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2006 | -7.7°C | -10.9°C | -14.1°C | 0.2°C | -27.3°C | 182 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2005 | -4.5°C | -7.0°C | -9.5°C | 2.3°C | -23.6°C | 253 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2004 | -7.5°C | -10.6°C | -13.7°C | 1.0°C | -24.3°C | 198 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2003 | -9.2°C | -12.0°C | -14.8°C | 0.2°C | -30.7°C | 166 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2002 | -6.9°C | -8.9°C | -10.9°C | 2.4°C | -24.8°C | 154 mm | 92% | 2.8 m/s | 0.1 |
| 2001 ❄️ | -12.4°C | -15.5°C | -18.5°C | 1.8°C | -28.0°C | 150 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 0.2 |
| 2000 | -5.0°C | -8.1°C | -11.1°C | 1.2°C | -23.2°C | 180 mm | 92% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1999 | -11.4°C | -15.0°C | -18.6°C | 0.9°C | -29.6°C | 213 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1998 | -11.1°C | -13.9°C | -16.7°C | -3.9°C | -23.7°C | 95 mm | 84% | 4.2 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1997 | -9.2°C | -13.1°C | -17.0°C | -0.7°C | -25.7°C | 130 mm | 90% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1996 | -9.7°C | -12.9°C | -16.1°C | -3.6°C | -25.7°C | 82 mm | 83% | 4.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1995 | -8.9°C | -11.1°C | -13.2°C | 1.5°C | -28.2°C | 142 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 0.2 |
| 1994 | -9.9°C | -13.0°C | -16.1°C | -0.9°C | -22.9°C | 193 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1993 | -6.1°C | -9.3°C | -12.4°C | 0.4°C | -22.3°C | 209 mm | 94% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1992 | -11.2°C | -14.6°C | -18.0°C | 1.1°C | -26.7°C | 101 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1991 | -8.5°C | -11.6°C | -14.6°C | -2.2°C | -23.3°C | 170 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1990 | -9.9°C | -13.3°C | -16.8°C | -1.6°C | -27.6°C | 176 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1989 | -5.4°C | -8.9°C | -12.4°C | 0.8°C | -24.9°C | 206 mm | 91% | 2.7 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1988 | -6.8°C | -10.7°C | -14.6°C | 0.3°C | -28.0°C | 226 mm | 93% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1987 | -9.8°C | -12.8°C | -15.9°C | 0.4°C | -24.3°C | 145 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1986 | -4.3°C | -7.1°C | -9.9°C | 0.6°C | -23.1°C | 276 mm | 95% | 2.5 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1985 🌧️ | -3.8°C | -6.2°C | -8.6°C | 1.1°C | -22.8°C | 314 mm | 93% | 1.9 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1984 | -7.5°C | -10.5°C | -13.5°C | 0.3°C | -24.9°C | 195 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 0.1 |
| 1983 | -8.7°C | -11.3°C | -13.9°C | 0.3°C | -23.3°C | 52 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -6.9°C | -9.3°C | -11.7°C | 1.3°C | -25.4°C | 238 mm | 93% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -10.5°C | -13.2°C | -16.0°C | -0.7°C | -25.4°C | 127 mm | 89% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around -8.5°C with lows near -14.2°C (mean -11.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 164 mm of rainfall in Anchorage, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 314 mm in 1985.
The hottest December reached 3.4°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -31°C in 2011.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have fallen by about 2.4°C. Daytime highs moved from -7.5°C to -9.9°C and overnight lows from -12.7°C to -15.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Anchorage and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around -8.5°C daytime highs and -14.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Anchorage, averaging -11.3°C.
For December in Anchorage, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -8.5°C and lows of -14.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 6.5 m/s (2025).
The wettest December on record was 1985 with 314 mm. On average, December sees 164 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 Anchorage 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.
