December is one of the cooler months of the year in Hot Springs National Park, with average highs near 10.9°C and lows around 0.5°C (mean 5.7°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 128 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Hot Springs National Park. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Hot Springs National Park was 2021 — when the month averaged 12.4°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -1.4°C. Typical December days reach 10.9°C with nights near 0.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Hot Springs National Park, averaging 128 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1982 with 326 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Hot Springs National Park during December averages 84%. The most humid December was 1984 at 91%, and the least humid was 1989 at 67%.
December receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Hot Springs National Park. The sunniest December was 1989 at 2.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in Hot Springs National Park during December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2013, 2018 and 2019, among others at 0.3 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 | 4.4°C | 5.8°C | 4.9°C | 6.3°C | 7.8°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg High | 9.4°C | 10.7°C | 10.2°C | 11.5°C | 13.4°C | +4°C |
| Avg Low | -0.6°C | 0.8°C | -0.5°C | 1.1°C | 2.3°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 143 mm | 130 mm | 125 mm | 126 mm | 110 mm | -34 mm |
December temperatures in Hot Springs National Park have risen by about 3.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -20.3°C (1983) to a record high of 25.2°C (2021).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 128 mm, with a wettest year of 326 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.6°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Hot Springs National Park
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Hot Springs National Park. That said, December — with days averaging 10.9°C and nights around 0.5°C (mean 5.7°C) and higher rainfall (128 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 | 12.6°C | 7.0°C | 1.4°C | 24.2°C | -6.4°C | 24 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 3.0°C | 19.8°C | -5.5°C | 176 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2023 | 13.1°C | 7.3°C | 1.5°C | 19.8°C | -4.0°C | 43 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 11.5°C | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | 21.8°C | -15.3°C | 146 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2021 🔥 | 18.5°C | 12.4°C | 6.3°C | 25.2°C | -2.6°C | 100 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2020 | 11.2°C | 5.6°C | 0.1°C | 19.9°C | -5.9°C | 169 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 12.9°C | 7.6°C | 2.4°C | 19.4°C | -4.1°C | 44 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 10.2°C | 6.0°C | 1.9°C | 18.1°C | -6.2°C | 209 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2017 | 12.0°C | 6.3°C | 0.6°C | 23.6°C | -7.1°C | 172 mm | 71% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 11.1°C | 5.8°C | 0.5°C | 23.0°C | -7.5°C | 96 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2015 | 15.2°C | 9.5°C | 3.9°C | 22.2°C | -2.4°C | 163 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 10.9°C | 6.2°C | 1.5°C | 20.4°C | -3.8°C | 72 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 9.0°C | 3.9°C | -1.2°C | 19.5°C | -13.3°C | 149 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 13.0°C | 7.6°C | 2.1°C | 23.3°C | -10.2°C | 114 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2011 | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 0.8°C | 17.5°C | -5.5°C | 188 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 10.2°C | 4.4°C | -1.4°C | 20.4°C | -6.1°C | 55 mm | 76% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 7.6°C | 3.1°C | -1.4°C | 17.7°C | -5.9°C | 235 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2008 | 11.0°C | 5.0°C | -0.9°C | 20.9°C | -8.0°C | 90 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2007 | 13.1°C | 7.1°C | 1.2°C | 22.8°C | -5.9°C | 147 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2006 | 11.5°C | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | 21.3°C | -7.4°C | 139 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | -1.3°C | 21.1°C | -7.8°C | 13 mm | 75% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2004 | 10.9°C | 5.4°C | -0.1°C | 18.9°C | -10.5°C | 60 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 11.2°C | 5.3°C | -0.7°C | 16.9°C | -5.3°C | 81 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 9.5°C | 4.9°C | 0.4°C | 19.9°C | -10.3°C | 209 mm | 91% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2001 | 12.2°C | 7.0°C | 1.9°C | 21.8°C | -5.3°C | 193 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 4.1°C | -0.7°C | -5.5°C | 14.7°C | -15.1°C | 85 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1999 | 12.1°C | 6.2°C | 0.4°C | 22.8°C | -4.9°C | 124 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1998 | 10.7°C | 6.2°C | 1.6°C | 24.1°C | -6.1°C | 122 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 8.5°C | 4.0°C | -0.6°C | 16.6°C | -5.7°C | 104 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 11.4°C | 6.3°C | 1.1°C | 21.8°C | -9.8°C | 87 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1995 | 10.3°C | 5.2°C | 0.1°C | 24.1°C | -10.0°C | 106 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1994 | 11.8°C | 7.0°C | 2.1°C | 19.8°C | -6.2°C | 120 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 10.7°C | 5.5°C | 0.3°C | 17.4°C | -6.1°C | 160 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1992 | 10.0°C | 5.4°C | 0.8°C | 20.6°C | -4.5°C | 143 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 11.2°C | 6.9°C | 2.6°C | 19.4°C | -4.4°C | 147 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 10.3°C | 4.9°C | -0.5°C | 19.6°C | -12.4°C | 191 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 | 7.4°C | 1.3°C | -4.7°C | 19.6°C | -17.5°C | 47 mm | 67% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1988 | 10.6°C | 5.2°C | -0.1°C | 19.8°C | -7.2°C | 85 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1987 | 10.6°C | 5.9°C | 1.1°C | 19.3°C | -5.6°C | 316 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1986 | 9.4°C | 4.9°C | 0.3°C | 15.9°C | -4.1°C | 93 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 8.2°C | 2.7°C | -2.8°C | 17.9°C | -9.1°C | 98 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1984 | 14.1°C | 9.9°C | 5.6°C | 21.9°C | -9.1°C | 128 mm | 91% | 0.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1983 ❄️ | 3.1°C | -1.4°C | -6.0°C | 16.9°C | -20.3°C | 181 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 🌧️ | 11.4°C | 7.1°C | 2.9°C | 22.2°C | -6.4°C | 326 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 10.0°C | 4.3°C | -1.3°C | 20.0°C | -8.7°C | 17 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 10.9°C with lows near 0.5°C (mean 5.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 128 mm of rainfall in Hot Springs National Park, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 326 mm in 1982.
The hottest December reached 25.2°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -20.3°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 9.4°C to 13.8°C and overnight lows from -0.3°C to 2.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Hot Springs National Park and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.9°C daytime highs and 0.5°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Hot Springs National Park, averaging 5.7°C.
For December in Hot Springs National Park, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.9°C and lows of 0.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.3 m/s (1986).
The wettest December on record was 1982 with 326 mm. On average, December sees 128 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 Hot Springs National Park 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.
