December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus, with average highs near 14.5°C and lows around 3°C (mean 8.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 121 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Columbus was 2015 — when the month averaged 14°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 3.3°C. Typical December days reach 14.5°C with nights near 3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Columbus, averaging 121 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 378 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 32 mm.
Relative humidity in Columbus during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 2015 at 89%, and the least humid was 2010 at 74%.
December receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Columbus. The sunniest December was 2003 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1986, 1992 and 2009 at 2.
Average wind speed in Columbus during December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2022, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.3 m/s, while the calmest were 2017, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 7.6°C | 8.8°C | 8.0°C | 9.9°C | 9.9°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 13.1°C | 14.4°C | 14.0°C | 15.5°C | 16.0°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Low | 2.0°C | 3.2°C | 2.1°C | 4.4°C | 3.8°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 132 mm | 97 mm | 117 mm | 165 mm | 80 mm | -51 mm |
December temperatures in Columbus have risen by about 2.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -14.5°C (1989) to a record high of 25.9°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 121 mm, with a wettest year of 378 mm.
A quieter season to visit Columbus
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Columbus. That said, December — with days averaging 14.5°C and nights around 3°C (mean 8.8°C) and higher rainfall (121 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 | 16.2°C | 9.7°C | 3.2°C | 25.5°C | -6.7°C | 55 mm | 75% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 15.7°C | 9.4°C | 3.1°C | 23.6°C | -4.3°C | 113 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2023 | 15.2°C | 9.3°C | 3.3°C | 22.2°C | -3.5°C | 70 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2022 | 15.1°C | 9.6°C | 4.2°C | 24.9°C | -8.7°C | 58 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 19.1°C | 13.4°C | 7.6°C | 25.5°C | -2.2°C | 119 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2020 | 14.4°C | 7.9°C | 1.5°C | 21.6°C | -5.6°C | 68 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2019 | 15.5°C | 10.2°C | 5.0°C | 23.6°C | -4.2°C | 179 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 14.4°C | 9.6°C | 4.8°C | 23.3°C | -4.6°C | 217 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2017 | 14.2°C | 8.7°C | 3.1°C | 24.8°C | -5.4°C | 78 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 | 16.0°C | 10.4°C | 4.8°C | 23.2°C | -5.2°C | 143 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2015 🔥 🌧️ | 19.1°C | 14.0°C | 9.0°C | 25.4°C | -3.0°C | 378 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 16.2°C | 10.4°C | 4.7°C | 23.7°C | -2.8°C | 133 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2013 | 15.9°C | 10.2°C | 4.5°C | 25.5°C | -4.2°C | 216 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 17.1°C | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | 24.6°C | -4.6°C | 159 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2011 | 16.6°C | 10.6°C | 4.7°C | 23.6°C | -3.2°C | 112 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2010 | 10.1°C | 4.1°C | -2.0°C | 20.2°C | -7.0°C | 32 mm | 74% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2009 | 12.1°C | 7.0°C | 1.8°C | 21.8°C | -4.0°C | 299 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 15.8°C | 9.9°C | 4.1°C | 23.1°C | -5.6°C | 126 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2007 | 16.8°C | 11.0°C | 5.2°C | 25.3°C | -4.0°C | 141 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2006 | 16.6°C | 10.4°C | 4.1°C | 23.0°C | -6.6°C | 79 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 13.0°C | 6.7°C | 0.5°C | 23.1°C | -5.5°C | 75 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2004 | 13.3°C | 7.1°C | 1.0°C | 23.7°C | -6.8°C | 67 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2003 | 12.8°C | 6.1°C | -0.5°C | 18.7°C | -4.7°C | 69 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2002 | 12.8°C | 7.1°C | 1.5°C | 20.7°C | -5.0°C | 137 mm | 86% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 17.2°C | 10.9°C | 4.7°C | 24.8°C | -5.2°C | 56 mm | 78% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2000 | 9.2°C | 3.8°C | -1.5°C | 21.0°C | -7.6°C | 120 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 15.5°C | 8.6°C | 1.8°C | 22.7°C | -4.9°C | 71 mm | 76% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1998 | 16.8°C | 11.3°C | 5.8°C | 25.9°C | -2.7°C | 67 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 12.4°C | 7.2°C | 1.9°C | 21.2°C | -5.3°C | 167 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 14.7°C | 8.8°C | 3.0°C | 23.7°C | -8.0°C | 89 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1995 | 12.9°C | 7.0°C | 1.2°C | 24.5°C | -7.5°C | 132 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 14.8°C | 9.7°C | 4.6°C | 20.8°C | -2.9°C | 65 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1993 | 12.1°C | 6.8°C | 1.5°C | 20.8°C | -5.8°C | 92 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 13.0°C | 8.1°C | 3.3°C | 21.8°C | -2.6°C | 111 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 15.2°C | 9.3°C | 3.5°C | 25.7°C | -5.0°C | 85 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1990 | 17.0°C | 11.0°C | 5.0°C | 24.1°C | -6.4°C | 86 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 8.7°C | 3.3°C | -2.0°C | 18.7°C | -14.5°C | 189 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 14.0°C | 7.6°C | 1.2°C | 21.6°C | -5.8°C | 68 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 15.9°C | 10.0°C | 4.1°C | 24.6°C | -4.7°C | 91 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1986 | 12.4°C | 7.5°C | 2.6°C | 20.9°C | -3.5°C | 78 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1985 | 11.3°C | 5.4°C | -0.5°C | 21.5°C | -7.5°C | 97 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 18.8°C | 12.6°C | 6.4°C | 24.4°C | -6.7°C | 80 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1983 | 10.7°C | 5.4°C | 0.2°C | 21.5°C | -14.3°C | 199 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 15.5°C | 10.7°C | 5.8°C | 24.7°C | -5.1°C | 192 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 11.0°C | 5.6°C | 0.3°C | 21.3°C | -8.0°C | 190 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 14.5°C with lows near 3°C (mean 8.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 121 mm of rainfall in Columbus, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 378 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 25.9°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -14.5°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.5°C to 16.3°C and overnight lows from 2.4°C to 4.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 14.5°C daytime highs and 3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Columbus, averaging 8.8°C.
For December in Columbus, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 14.5°C and lows of 3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.3 m/s (1981).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 378 mm. On average, December sees 121 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 Columbus 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.
