December is one of the cooler months of the year in Manchester, with average highs near 2.9°C and lows around -5.1°C (mean -1.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 105 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Manchester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Manchester was 2015 — when the month averaged 5.5°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -8.8°C. Typical December days reach 2.9°C with nights near -5.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Manchester, averaging 105 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 234 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 34 mm.
Relative humidity in Manchester during December averages 87%. The most humid December was 1981 at 95%, and the least humid was 2000 at 78%.
December receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Manchester. The sunniest Decembers were 1989, 2000 and 2024 at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984 and 2014 at 1.3.
Average wind speed in Manchester during December is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2017, 2020 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.7°C | -0.7°C | -1.2°C | -0.4°C | -0.1°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg High | 1.4°C | 3.3°C | 2.9°C | 3.4°C | 4.0°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | -6.7°C | -4.7°C | -5.3°C | -4.3°C | -4.2°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 82 mm | 103 mm | 103 mm | 112 mm | 130 mm | +48 mm |
December temperatures in Manchester have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -21.9°C (2013) to a record high of 20.1°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 105 mm, with a wettest year of 234 mm.
A quieter season to visit Manchester
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Manchester. That said, December — with days averaging 2.9°C and nights around -5.1°C (mean -1.1°C) and higher rainfall (105 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 | 0.8°C | -3.4°C | -7.6°C | 13.5°C | -14.6°C | 84 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 3.5°C | -0.8°C | -5.0°C | 16.2°C | -14.7°C | 126 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 6.5°C | 2.6°C | -1.3°C | 16.9°C | -6.8°C | 234 mm | 91% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | 4.0°C | -0.2°C | -4.4°C | 13.2°C | -14.1°C | 129 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 5.3°C | 1.4°C | -2.5°C | 15.1°C | -7.8°C | 71 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 3.7°C | -0.3°C | -4.3°C | 15.7°C | -16.5°C | 138 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 2.2°C | -1.5°C | -5.1°C | 13.0°C | -13.5°C | 171 mm | 91% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | 3.4°C | -0.7°C | -4.7°C | 14.4°C | -11.2°C | 127 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2017 | 0.2°C | -3.6°C | -7.3°C | 12.9°C | -20.0°C | 62 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.3°C | 14.1°C | -16.0°C | 84 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 🔥 | 9.6°C | 5.5°C | 1.4°C | 19.9°C | -3.7°C | 109 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 3.6°C | 0.1°C | -3.4°C | 13.0°C | -11.1°C | 123 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 1.4°C | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | 14.2°C | -21.9°C | 95 mm | 90% | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 4.8°C | 1.1°C | -2.7°C | 14.0°C | -9.4°C | 123 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 5.8°C | 1.4°C | -2.9°C | 13.6°C | -10.5°C | 118 mm | 90% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | -6.8°C | 13.3°C | -12.5°C | 111 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | 1.4°C | -2.4°C | -6.2°C | 16.9°C | -14.2°C | 124 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 3.2°C | -1.2°C | -5.7°C | 14.2°C | -16.8°C | 171 mm | 90% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | 1.4°C | -2.5°C | -6.3°C | 10.8°C | -18.0°C | 123 mm | 90% | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | 6.3°C | 2.1°C | -2.0°C | 17.7°C | -8.6°C | 55 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 | 1.5°C | -2.5°C | -6.6°C | 10.8°C | -17.9°C | 102 mm | 90% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2004 | 2.9°C | -1.3°C | -5.6°C | 13.3°C | -17.8°C | 106 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2003 | 3.4°C | -0.6°C | -4.6°C | 12.8°C | -10.0°C | 113 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 1.5°C | -2.3°C | -6.1°C | 13.3°C | -12.9°C | 96 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 6.7°C | 2.3°C | -2.0°C | 19.4°C | -8.9°C | 52 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2000 | 0.5°C | -3.8°C | -8.0°C | 15.7°C | -14.2°C | 88 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 4.5°C | 0.3°C | -3.9°C | 13.7°C | -13.5°C | 53 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 6.3°C | 1.5°C | -3.2°C | 20.1°C | -14.3°C | 34 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 2.6°C | -1.5°C | -5.6°C | 7.5°C | -15.6°C | 69 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | 3.6°C | 0.4°C | -2.8°C | 12.8°C | -15.8°C | 188 mm | 93% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | -1.4°C | -5.1°C | -8.8°C | 5.4°C | -13.6°C | 58 mm | 93% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | 4.6°C | 0.2°C | -4.2°C | 15.0°C | -13.8°C | 124 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | 2.5°C | -1.4°C | -5.4°C | 9.5°C | -16.0°C | 133 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.3°C | 8.5°C | -13.0°C | 143 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1991 | 3.3°C | -0.9°C | -5.1°C | 12.7°C | -13.5°C | 87 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 4.8°C | 0.9°C | -3.1°C | 16.4°C | -11.1°C | 141 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -4.4°C | -8.8°C | -13.3°C | 3.0°C | -21.2°C | 38 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | 1.6°C | -2.4°C | -6.4°C | 9.3°C | -17.1°C | 38 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1987 | 2.6°C | -0.9°C | -4.4°C | 9.1°C | -16.7°C | 49 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.3°C | 12.7°C | -12.9°C | 151 mm | 88% | 0.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | 0.2°C | -4.1°C | -8.4°C | 8.2°C | -15.0°C | 44 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | 4.7°C | 0.5°C | -3.7°C | 14.3°C | -12.0°C | 75 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | 0.5°C | -3.6°C | -7.7°C | 13.3°C | -20.2°C | 164 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.9°C | 0.8°C | -3.3°C | 18.7°C | -14.1°C | 47 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.5°C | -4.2°C | -7.8°C | 8.2°C | -21.1°C | 136 mm | 95% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 2.9°C with lows near -5.1°C (mean -1.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 105 mm of rainfall in Manchester, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 234 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 20.1°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -21.9°C in 2013.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2°C. Daytime highs moved from 2°C to 4°C and overnight lows from -6.2°C to -4.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Manchester and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 2.9°C daytime highs and -5.1°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Manchester, averaging -1.1°C.
For December in Manchester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.9°C and lows of -5.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 234 mm. On average, December sees 105 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 Manchester 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.
