December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster, with average highs near 15.3°C and lows around 3°C (mean 9.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 55 mm of rainfall and 57% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Lancaster was 2025 — when the month averaged 13.3°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 5.8°C. Typical December days reach 15.3°C with nights near 3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Lancaster, averaging 55 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2010 with 232 mm, while the driest were 2000 and 2017 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Lancaster during December averages 57%. The most humid December was 1983 at 74%, and the least humid was 2017 at 24%.
December receives about 2.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Lancaster. The sunniest December was 2017 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1987 at 2.4.
Average wind speed in Lancaster during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1982 and 1999 at 3 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 1.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.4°C | 8.5°C | 8.9°C | 9.6°C | 11.3°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg High | 14.4°C | 14.6°C | 15.0°C | 15.8°C | 17.5°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg Low | 2.4°C | 2.3°C | 2.9°C | 3.4°C | 5.0°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 49 mm | 47 mm | 42 mm | 65 mm | 79 mm | +30 mm |
December temperatures in Lancaster have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -7.1°C (1990) to a record high of 26.3°C (2017).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 55 mm, with a wettest year of 232 mm.
A quieter season to visit Lancaster
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Lancaster. That said, December — with days averaging 15.3°C and nights around 3°C (mean 9.2°C) and moderate rainfall (55 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 🔥 | 19.6°C | 13.3°C | 7.0°C | 25.9°C | 1.8°C | 135 mm | 62% | 2.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 20.5°C | 13.2°C | 5.8°C | 25.0°C | 0.4°C | 1 mm | 45% | 1.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 18.2°C | 12.0°C | 5.7°C | 23.8°C | 2.1°C | 53 mm | 57% | 1.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2022 | 14.6°C | 9.1°C | 3.6°C | 24.4°C | -2.4°C | 86 mm | 69% | 1.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 15.0°C | 9.3°C | 3.7°C | 26.0°C | -1.0°C | 173 mm | 64% | 2.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 17.3°C | 10.6°C | 3.9°C | 23.9°C | -0.1°C | 26 mm | 39% | 2.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 14.0°C | 8.7°C | 3.4°C | 22.1°C | -2.1°C | 105 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 16.1°C | 9.7°C | 3.4°C | 22.0°C | -2.3°C | 47 mm | 60% | 2.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2017 | 20.3°C | 12.9°C | 5.5°C | 26.3°C | -1.3°C | 0 mm | 24% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 15.4°C | 9.4°C | 3.4°C | 22.1°C | -3.9°C | 92 mm | 60% | 2.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 15.1°C | 8.5°C | 1.9°C | 25.7°C | -3.1°C | 20 mm | 54% | 2.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2014 | 15.6°C | 10.2°C | 4.7°C | 24.0°C | -3.2°C | 92 mm | 69% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2013 | 16.5°C | 9.6°C | 2.7°C | 22.8°C | -4.6°C | 6 mm | 43% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2012 | 14.2°C | 8.5°C | 2.7°C | 22.6°C | -3.0°C | 42 mm | 67% | 2.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 15.2°C | 8.4°C | 1.7°C | 22.9°C | -2.3°C | 13 mm | 44% | 2.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2010 🌧️ | 15.2°C | 9.9°C | 4.5°C | 23.8°C | -3.6°C | 232 mm | 70% | 2.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 13.6°C | 7.8°C | 2.1°C | 19.8°C | -4.9°C | 63 mm | 58% | 2.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 13.7°C | 7.7°C | 1.8°C | 26.2°C | -4.5°C | 57 mm | 63% | 2.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2007 | 13.4°C | 7.6°C | 1.8°C | 25.1°C | -3.3°C | 30 mm | 59% | 2.7 m/s | 3 |
| 2006 | 16.1°C | 9.4°C | 2.8°C | 23.0°C | -2.1°C | 19 mm | 48% | 2.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2005 | 16.7°C | 10.5°C | 4.3°C | 24.4°C | 0.0°C | 16 mm | 57% | 2.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2004 | 14.9°C | 9.3°C | 3.6°C | 24.8°C | -2.2°C | 118 mm | 62% | 2.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 14.8°C | 8.7°C | 2.7°C | 22.2°C | -4.0°C | 36 mm | 60% | 2.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2002 | 14.3°C | 8.5°C | 2.7°C | 19.4°C | -2.4°C | 59 mm | 67% | 1.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 13.8°C | 8.0°C | 2.1°C | 19.9°C | -2.0°C | 24 mm | 62% | 2.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 18.2°C | 11.5°C | 4.7°C | 23.4°C | 0.3°C | 0 mm | 41% | 2.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 16.9°C | 10.3°C | 3.6°C | 22.4°C | -0.1°C | 4 mm | 37% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1998 | 15.0°C | 8.4°C | 1.8°C | 23.2°C | -4.2°C | 11 mm | 48% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1997 | 13.1°C | 7.4°C | 1.8°C | 22.2°C | -2.2°C | 80 mm | 56% | 2.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1996 | 14.8°C | 9.3°C | 3.9°C | 22.1°C | -0.4°C | 97 mm | 67% | 2.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1995 | 17.0°C | 10.5°C | 4.0°C | 24.4°C | -1.3°C | 34 mm | 60% | 2.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 14.6°C | 8.6°C | 2.5°C | 21.0°C | -2.3°C | 26 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1993 | 15.1°C | 8.5°C | 1.9°C | 21.9°C | -2.0°C | 24 mm | 50% | 2.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1992 | 11.8°C | 6.4°C | 1.0°C | 18.4°C | -3.6°C | 126 mm | 66% | 2.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 14.9°C | 9.0°C | 3.1°C | 20.4°C | -1.2°C | 70 mm | 53% | 2.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 12.9°C | 6.3°C | -0.3°C | 22.2°C | -7.1°C | 3 mm | 41% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1989 | 17.7°C | 10.6°C | 3.5°C | 25.2°C | -1.2°C | 1 mm | 33% | 2.7 m/s | 3 |
| 1988 | 13.2°C | 7.4°C | 1.7°C | 23.7°C | -4.5°C | 89 mm | 59% | 2.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 ❄️ | 11.0°C | 5.8°C | 0.6°C | 21.1°C | -5.0°C | 65 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1986 | 15.9°C | 9.4°C | 3.0°C | 22.6°C | -0.9°C | 16 mm | 52% | 2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 | 15.3°C | 9.4°C | 3.5°C | 20.7°C | -2.8°C | 14 mm | 57% | 2.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 | 11.9°C | 6.3°C | 0.7°C | 17.3°C | -4.2°C | 132 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1983 | 13.7°C | 8.1°C | 2.6°C | 20.4°C | -3.0°C | 68 mm | 74% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 13.5°C | 7.7°C | 1.8°C | 19.9°C | -2.2°C | 44 mm | 61% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.4°C | 10.8°C | 4.1°C | 22.3°C | -0.6°C | 12 mm | 59% | 2.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 15.3°C with lows near 3°C (mean 9.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 55 mm of rainfall in Lancaster, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 232 mm in 2010.
The hottest December reached 26.3°C in 2017. The coldest dipped to -7.1°C in 1990.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.4°C to 17.6°C and overnight lows from 2.5°C to 5.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 15.3°C daytime highs and 3°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Lancaster, averaging 9.2°C.
For December in Lancaster, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 15.3°C and lows of 3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 57% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 2010 with 232 mm. On average, December sees 55 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 Lancaster 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.
