December is one of the cooler months of the year in Fresno, with average highs near 14.8°C and lows around 5.3°C (mean 10.1°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 72 mm of rainfall and 65% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Fresno. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Fresno was 2023 — when the month averaged 13.2°C — while the coldest was 1990 at 7.9°C. Typical December days reach 14.8°C with nights near 5.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Fresno, averaging 72 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2010 with 211 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Fresno during December averages 65%. The most humid December was 1983 at 79%, and the least humid was 2017 at 46%.
December receives about 2.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fresno. The sunniest Decembers were 2011 and 2013 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Fresno during December is 1.5 m/s. The windiest December was 1987 at 1.9 m/s, while the calmest were 2000, 2013 and 2017, among others at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 10.0°C | 9.7°C | 9.8°C | 10.2°C | 11.0°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 14.9°C | 14.8°C | 14.2°C | 14.9°C | 15.4°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Low | 5.0°C | 4.6°C | 5.3°C | 5.5°C | 6.7°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 55 mm | 64 mm | 81 mm | 75 mm | 92 mm | +37 mm |
December temperatures in Fresno have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -5.7°C (1990) to a record high of 26°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 72 mm, with a wettest year of 211 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Fresno
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and October tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Fresno. That said, December — with days averaging 14.8°C and nights around 5.3°C (mean 10.1°C) and moderate rainfall (72 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 | 15.1°C | 11.3°C | 7.5°C | 21.3°C | 2.7°C | 83 mm | 73% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 17.4°C | 12.6°C | 7.8°C | 21.9°C | 4.2°C | 40 mm | 67% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 🔥 | 17.8°C | 13.2°C | 8.5°C | 24.9°C | 4.6°C | 40 mm | 65% | 1.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 12.9°C | 9.1°C | 5.4°C | 18.9°C | 0.5°C | 203 mm | 76% | 1.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2021 | 12.8°C | 8.9°C | 5.1°C | 24.1°C | 0.6°C | 154 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 16.5°C | 11.1°C | 5.7°C | 25.5°C | 2.2°C | 34 mm | 56% | 1.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 14.9°C | 10.7°C | 6.6°C | 20.6°C | 2.5°C | 93 mm | 73% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 15.1°C | 10.5°C | 5.8°C | 19.3°C | 0.2°C | 32 mm | 68% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 17.3°C | 11.7°C | 6.1°C | 22.4°C | 1.0°C | 2 mm | 46% | 1.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2016 | 13.8°C | 9.3°C | 4.8°C | 19.3°C | -0.8°C | 96 mm | 71% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 12.9°C | 8.3°C | 3.7°C | 22.1°C | -2.4°C | 94 mm | 70% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 16.3°C | 11.8°C | 7.3°C | 22.7°C | -1.5°C | 87 mm | 74% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 16.0°C | 10.5°C | 5.0°C | 23.6°C | -2.9°C | 11 mm | 47% | 1.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2012 | 12.9°C | 8.9°C | 4.9°C | 18.4°C | -2.5°C | 120 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2011 | 15.6°C | 9.9°C | 4.2°C | 19.2°C | 0.2°C | 1 mm | 47% | 1.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 14.1°C | 10.3°C | 6.6°C | 20.5°C | -4.4°C | 211 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2009 | 12.9°C | 8.6°C | 4.4°C | 18.1°C | -2.9°C | 95 mm | 68% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 12.6°C | 8.1°C | 3.6°C | 21.1°C | -2.6°C | 56 mm | 69% | 1.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2007 | 13.0°C | 8.2°C | 3.4°C | 23.7°C | -2.4°C | 64 mm | 64% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2006 | 15.1°C | 10.1°C | 5.0°C | 22.3°C | -1.3°C | 47 mm | 57% | 1.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 15.6°C | 11.5°C | 7.4°C | 23.0°C | 1.4°C | 123 mm | 67% | 1.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2004 | 15.1°C | 10.6°C | 6.0°C | 22.1°C | 1.0°C | 107 mm | 65% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2003 | 14.0°C | 10.0°C | 6.0°C | 20.6°C | -0.6°C | 99 mm | 69% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2002 | 14.4°C | 10.1°C | 5.9°C | 18.9°C | -0.5°C | 108 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2001 | 12.7°C | 8.7°C | 4.6°C | 18.5°C | -2.1°C | 102 mm | 74% | 1.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 16.9°C | 11.8°C | 6.7°C | 21.6°C | 2.2°C | 6 mm | 56% | 1.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1999 | 16.7°C | 11.0°C | 5.2°C | 21.0°C | 0.6°C | 7 mm | 54% | 1.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1998 | 13.6°C | 8.3°C | 2.9°C | 26.0°C | -5.0°C | 22 mm | 64% | 1.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | 14.5°C | 9.1°C | 3.7°C | 20.1°C | -1.2°C | 57 mm | 63% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1996 | 14.5°C | 10.5°C | 6.4°C | 19.0°C | 1.8°C | 182 mm | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1995 | 16.7°C | 11.8°C | 6.9°C | 24.9°C | 1.5°C | 98 mm | 67% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1994 | 14.1°C | 9.3°C | 4.6°C | 20.7°C | -1.4°C | 49 mm | 69% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 15.7°C | 10.3°C | 4.8°C | 21.1°C | 0.2°C | 39 mm | 58% | 1.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 13.1°C | 8.2°C | 3.2°C | 18.2°C | -2.1°C | 117 mm | 68% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1991 | 16.2°C | 10.9°C | 5.7°C | 20.7°C | 1.0°C | 50 mm | 57% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1990 ❄️ | 13.3°C | 7.9°C | 2.6°C | 21.8°C | -5.7°C | 24 mm | 51% | 1.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 18.1°C | 12.1°C | 6.2°C | 23.1°C | 2.3°C | 0 mm | 48% | 1.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 14.1°C | 9.3°C | 4.6°C | 21.8°C | -2.9°C | 78 mm | 64% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1987 | 12.9°C | 8.0°C | 3.1°C | 21.8°C | -4.4°C | 61 mm | 65% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 16.9°C | 11.6°C | 6.3°C | 22.9°C | 3.6°C | 23 mm | 52% | 1.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1985 | 16.0°C | 11.0°C | 6.0°C | 21.8°C | -1.5°C | 36 mm | 61% | 1.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1984 | 13.4°C | 8.3°C | 3.2°C | 20.7°C | -2.5°C | 51 mm | 70% | 1.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1983 | 13.5°C | 9.5°C | 5.6°C | 20.0°C | -0.2°C | 114 mm | 79% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.4°C | 8.6°C | 3.8°C | 18.8°C | -2.0°C | 79 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 15.9°C | 11.2°C | 6.6°C | 20.8°C | 1.9°C | 54 mm | 71% | 1.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 14.8°C with lows near 5.3°C (mean 10.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 72 mm of rainfall in Fresno, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 211 mm in 2010.
The hottest December reached 26°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -5.7°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.4°C to 15.2°C and overnight lows from 5°C to 6.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Fresno and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 14.8°C daytime highs and 5.3°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Fresno, averaging 10.1°C.
For December in Fresno, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.8°C and lows of 5.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 65% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.5 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.9 m/s (1987).
The wettest December on record was 2010 with 211 mm. On average, December sees 72 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 Fresno 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.
