December is one of the cooler months of the year in Melbourne, with average highs near 22.6°C and lows around 16°C (mean 19.3°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 61 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Melbourne. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Melbourne was 2015 — when the month averaged 22.9°C — while the coldest was 2010 at 14.3°C. Typical December days reach 22.6°C with nights near 16°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Melbourne, averaging 61 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2002 with 243 mm, while the driest was 1987 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in Melbourne during December averages 80%. The most humid December was 2015 at 88%, and the least humid was 2010 at 65%.
December receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Melbourne. The sunniest Decembers were 2010, 2017 and 2021 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1986 at 2.4.
Average wind speed in Melbourne during December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2010, 2019 and 2023, among others at 3.8 m/s, while the calmest was 2021 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.7°C | 19.1°C | 19.2°C | 19.9°C | 19.8°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 22.1°C | 22.4°C | 22.5°C | 23.2°C | 23.2°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Low | 15.3°C | 15.9°C | 15.9°C | 16.5°C | 16.3°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 59 mm | 58 mm | 73 mm | 63 mm | 47 mm | -12 mm |
December temperatures in Melbourne have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -3.8°C (1989) to a record high of 28.4°C (2006).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 61 mm, with a wettest year of 243 mm.
One of the best times to visit Melbourne
December is one of the best times to visit Melbourne. Expect days averaging 22.6°C and nights around 16°C (mean 19.3°C) — cooler than Melbourne's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (61 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24.3°C | 20.6°C | 16.9°C | 28.3°C | 7.3°C | 29 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 23.4°C | 20.0°C | 16.5°C | 26.9°C | 10.6°C | 38 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2023 | 22.4°C | 19.7°C | 16.9°C | 28.4°C | 9.4°C | 121 mm | 79% | 3.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 22.7°C | 19.5°C | 16.2°C | 26.2°C | 2.7°C | 37 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 25.4°C | 21.6°C | 17.7°C | 27.5°C | 11.9°C | 38 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 20.9°C | 17.2°C | 13.5°C | 25.6°C | 5.4°C | 21 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2019 | 23.6°C | 20.5°C | 17.4°C | 27.2°C | 8.8°C | 140 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2018 | 22.6°C | 19.3°C | 15.9°C | 28.3°C | 8.4°C | 58 mm | 81% | 3.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2017 | 22.7°C | 19.1°C | 15.5°C | 26.3°C | 6.9°C | 31 mm | 84% | 2.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 24.8°C | 21.8°C | 18.7°C | 28.2°C | 12.0°C | 48 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 25.4°C | 22.9°C | 20.5°C | 27.6°C | 14.5°C | 106 mm | 88% | 3.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 22.8°C | 19.4°C | 15.9°C | 27.1°C | 7.7°C | 55 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 24.8°C | 21.5°C | 18.3°C | 28.2°C | 12.5°C | 37 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2012 | 23.5°C | 19.9°C | 16.3°C | 27.0°C | 7.1°C | 71 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 2011 | 23.3°C | 20.3°C | 17.3°C | 26.0°C | 10.5°C | 61 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2010 ❄️ | 19.0°C | 14.3°C | 9.6°C | 24.7°C | 1.3°C | 25 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2009 | 22.9°C | 19.6°C | 16.3°C | 28.2°C | 8.1°C | 132 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 22.1°C | 18.9°C | 15.7°C | 25.1°C | 8.7°C | 24 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2007 | 24.7°C | 21.4°C | 18.1°C | 27.0°C | 8.7°C | 35 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2006 | 24.4°C | 21.6°C | 18.9°C | 28.4°C | 9.3°C | 56 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 21.1°C | 17.6°C | 14.2°C | 25.6°C | 8.1°C | 47 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 21.4°C | 18.1°C | 14.9°C | 26.8°C | 5.8°C | 68 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 21.4°C | 17.6°C | 13.8°C | 25.7°C | 7.5°C | 77 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2002 🌧️ | 21.3°C | 17.7°C | 14.1°C | 26.5°C | 7.5°C | 243 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 3 |
| 2001 | 23.2°C | 20.4°C | 17.7°C | 26.4°C | 7.4°C | 27 mm | 83% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 2000 | 22.2°C | 18.6°C | 15.1°C | 27.6°C | 1.5°C | 20 mm | 73% | 3.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 21.4°C | 18.3°C | 15.2°C | 25.7°C | 8.2°C | 51 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1998 | 24.2°C | 21.1°C | 18.1°C | 26.4°C | 9.2°C | 38 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1997 | 21.1°C | 17.6°C | 14.1°C | 26.5°C | 6.2°C | 170 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 23.2°C | 19.5°C | 15.9°C | 26.9°C | 5.4°C | 56 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 | 20.5°C | 17.3°C | 14.2°C | 24.8°C | 3.6°C | 39 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 22.4°C | 19.6°C | 16.8°C | 26.6°C | 7.7°C | 112 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1993 | 21.3°C | 17.6°C | 13.8°C | 25.9°C | 7.2°C | 34 mm | 74% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1992 | 22.8°C | 19.6°C | 16.4°C | 25.2°C | 8.1°C | 43 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1991 | 23.0°C | 20.0°C | 16.9°C | 27.0°C | 11.8°C | 19 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1990 | 23.8°C | 20.6°C | 17.4°C | 26.8°C | 9.8°C | 17 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 1989 | 19.8°C | 15.7°C | 11.7°C | 25.0°C | -3.8°C | 95 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1988 | 22.7°C | 19.1°C | 15.4°C | 26.9°C | 5.5°C | 34 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 22.3°C | 18.9°C | 15.5°C | 25.7°C | 7.8°C | 13 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1986 | 23.7°C | 20.9°C | 18.1°C | 27.8°C | 12.1°C | 105 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 20.2°C | 16.7°C | 13.2°C | 25.9°C | -0.2°C | 56 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 | 23.2°C | 20.2°C | 17.3°C | 25.9°C | 7.7°C | 27 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1983 | 21.7°C | 18.5°C | 15.4°C | 27.0°C | 0.3°C | 118 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 23.1°C | 20.3°C | 17.5°C | 26.5°C | 8.2°C | 53 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 21.8°C | 17.8°C | 13.8°C | 27.5°C | 2.3°C | 33 mm | 74% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 22.6°C with lows near 16°C (mean 19.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 61 mm of rainfall in Melbourne, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 243 mm in 2002.
The hottest December reached 28.4°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -3.8°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 22°C to 23.6°C and overnight lows from 15.4°C to 16.8°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Melbourne and one of the drier months, so plan for around 22.6°C daytime highs and 16°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Melbourne, averaging 19.3°C.
For December in Melbourne, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.6°C and lows of 16°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.2 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.8 m/s (2000).
The wettest December on record was 2002 with 243 mm. On average, December sees 61 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 Melbourne 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.
