December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Britain, with average highs near 4.5°C and lows around -3°C (mean 0.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 107 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Britain. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in New Britain was 2015 — when the month averaged 7.1°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -6.6°C. Typical December days reach 4.5°C with nights near -3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in New Britain, averaging 107 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 229 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 33 mm.
Relative humidity in New Britain during December averages 85%. The most humid December was 1996 at 92%, and the least humid was 2000 at 77%.
December receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in New Britain. 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 New Britain during December is 0.8 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2009, 2010 and 2025, among others at 0.9 m/s, while the calmest were 2021, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -0.7°C | 1.0°C | 0.6°C | 1.4°C | 1.6°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 3.1°C | 4.9°C | 4.5°C | 5.1°C | 5.4°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -4.5°C | -2.9°C | -3.3°C | -2.2°C | -2.2°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 88 mm | 109 mm | 102 mm | 112 mm | 128 mm | +40 mm |
December temperatures in New Britain have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -18.3°C (1989) to a record high of 20.4°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 107 mm, with a wettest year of 229 mm.
A quieter season to visit New Britain
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting New Britain. That said, December — with days averaging 4.5°C and nights around -3°C (mean 0.8°C) and higher rainfall (107 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 | 2.4°C | -1.5°C | -5.3°C | 13.4°C | -11.6°C | 83 mm | 81% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 4.8°C | 0.9°C | -3.0°C | 16.1°C | -13.0°C | 140 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 8.0°C | 4.2°C | 0.4°C | 16.4°C | -5.2°C | 229 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | 5.2°C | 1.3°C | -2.6°C | 13.4°C | -12.3°C | 120 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 7.0°C | 3.3°C | -0.3°C | 15.2°C | -5.5°C | 53 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 5.1°C | 1.3°C | -2.5°C | 15.6°C | -13.4°C | 146 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 3.8°C | 0.3°C | -3.1°C | 13.2°C | -11.4°C | 177 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | 4.7°C | 1.0°C | -2.7°C | 14.8°C | -8.1°C | 138 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2017 | 2.0°C | -1.4°C | -4.8°C | 13.6°C | -15.7°C | 55 mm | 81% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 4.5°C | 0.7°C | -3.1°C | 14.9°C | -12.3°C | 80 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 🔥 | 10.9°C | 7.1°C | 3.4°C | 17.7°C | -1.9°C | 111 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 5.2°C | 1.9°C | -1.4°C | 14.3°C | -7.5°C | 133 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 3.7°C | 0.1°C | -3.4°C | 14.6°C | -11.7°C | 100 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 6.5°C | 2.9°C | -0.8°C | 14.2°C | -7.2°C | 125 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 7.6°C | 3.5°C | -0.7°C | 14.1°C | -5.8°C | 101 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.2°C | 14.2°C | -11.1°C | 99 mm | 82% | 0.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | 3.1°C | -0.6°C | -4.3°C | 16.8°C | -12.3°C | 145 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 4.9°C | 0.7°C | -3.5°C | 13.9°C | -14.0°C | 172 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | 3.1°C | -0.4°C | -3.9°C | 11.5°C | -11.6°C | 118 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | 7.6°C | 3.5°C | -0.5°C | 17.5°C | -7.7°C | 56 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 | 3.2°C | -0.5°C | -4.1°C | 11.9°C | -12.8°C | 97 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2004 | 4.5°C | 0.6°C | -3.4°C | 14.1°C | -15.5°C | 104 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2003 | 4.9°C | 1.1°C | -2.7°C | 13.0°C | -8.3°C | 97 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 3.1°C | -0.5°C | -4.1°C | 14.1°C | -10.4°C | 104 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 8.2°C | 4.0°C | -0.2°C | 19.8°C | -7.1°C | 49 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2000 | 1.9°C | -2.1°C | -6.1°C | 15.9°C | -12.1°C | 80 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 5.9°C | 1.9°C | -2.1°C | 14.3°C | -11.3°C | 61 mm | 80% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 7.1°C | 2.8°C | -1.5°C | 20.4°C | -10.9°C | 33 mm | 80% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 4.2°C | 0.3°C | -3.5°C | 10.0°C | -11.1°C | 81 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | 5.4°C | 2.2°C | -1.0°C | 13.2°C | -11.3°C | 193 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | 0.5°C | -3.2°C | -6.8°C | 8.4°C | -11.2°C | 68 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | 6.1°C | 1.9°C | -2.3°C | 14.5°C | -11.2°C | 114 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | 3.9°C | 0.1°C | -3.7°C | 12.8°C | -13.0°C | 142 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 3.8°C | 0.3°C | -3.1°C | 11.1°C | -11.1°C | 166 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1991 | 5.0°C | 1.0°C | -3.0°C | 14.0°C | -11.5°C | 92 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 6.7°C | 2.6°C | -1.5°C | 15.8°C | -8.2°C | 137 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -2.5°C | -6.6°C | -10.8°C | 5.8°C | -18.3°C | 40 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | 3.0°C | -0.7°C | -4.5°C | 11.0°C | -15.3°C | 45 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1987 | 4.4°C | 0.8°C | -2.7°C | 11.3°C | -15.2°C | 63 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 4.4°C | 0.6°C | -3.2°C | 15.3°C | -10.0°C | 176 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | -5.6°C | 11.0°C | -11.4°C | 39 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | 6.8°C | 2.6°C | -1.6°C | 14.7°C | -8.2°C | 77 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | 2.3°C | -1.4°C | -5.1°C | 14.5°C | -16.4°C | 154 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.1°C | 2.3°C | -1.5°C | 18.4°C | -12.3°C | 50 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.3°C | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | 10.8°C | -16.4°C | 150 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 4.5°C with lows near -3°C (mean 0.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 107 mm of rainfall in New Britain, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 229 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 20.4°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -18.3°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.7°C to 5.5°C and overnight lows from -3.9°C to -2.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Britain and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 4.5°C daytime highs and -3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in New Britain, averaging 0.8°C.
For December in New Britain, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.5°C and lows of -3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.9 m/s (1989).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 229 mm. On average, December sees 107 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 New Britain 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.
