December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gainesville, with average highs near 10.7°C and lows around 0.4°C (mean 5.6°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 133 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gainesville. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Gainesville was 2015 — when the month averaged 11.7°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 0.5°C. Typical December days reach 10.7°C with nights near 0.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Gainesville, averaging 133 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2015 with 311 mm, while the driest was 2010 at 44 mm.
Relative humidity in Gainesville during December averages 82%. The most humid December was 2015 at 90%, and the least humid was 2001 at 76%.
December receives about 2.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Gainesville. The sunniest Decembers were 2004, 2006 and 2020 at 2.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1990 at 1.9.
Average wind speed in Gainesville during December is 0.1 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2021, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2020, 2022 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 | 4.2°C | 5.4°C | 5.0°C | 6.7°C | 6.7°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg High | 9.3°C | 10.3°C | 10.3°C | 11.8°C | 12.2°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Low | -0.9°C | 0.4°C | -0.3°C | 1.7°C | 1.1°C | +2°C |
| Avg Rain | 132 mm | 114 mm | 134 mm | 160 mm | 118 mm | -14 mm |
December temperatures in Gainesville have risen by about 2.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -17.6°C (1983) to a record high of 23.3°C (2007).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 133 mm, with a wettest year of 311 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.6°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Gainesville
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Gainesville. That said, December — with days averaging 10.7°C and nights around 0.4°C (mean 5.6°C) and higher rainfall (133 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 | 12.3°C | 6.3°C | 0.4°C | 22.8°C | -7.6°C | 45 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 11.8°C | 6.2°C | 0.7°C | 20.1°C | -6.6°C | 156 mm | 79% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2023 | 12.7°C | 7.0°C | 1.2°C | 18.8°C | -6.2°C | 176 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 10.3°C | 5.5°C | 0.6°C | 21.9°C | -14.7°C | 131 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 15.6°C | 10.1°C | 4.5°C | 21.4°C | -2.7°C | 100 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 10.7°C | 5.0°C | -0.6°C | 16.5°C | -6.1°C | 100 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 12.4°C | 7.4°C | 2.4°C | 19.2°C | -5.0°C | 144 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 9.8°C | 5.8°C | 1.8°C | 19.4°C | -5.8°C | 292 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2017 | 11.0°C | 5.8°C | 0.6°C | 19.3°C | -6.9°C | 81 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 | 12.1°C | 6.5°C | 0.8°C | 21.6°C | -5.8°C | 85 mm | 77% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 🔥 🌧️ | 16.3°C | 11.7°C | 7.0°C | 22.3°C | -5.0°C | 311 mm | 90% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2014 | 12.8°C | 7.5°C | 2.3°C | 19.3°C | -3.6°C | 107 mm | 85% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2013 | 11.3°C | 6.4°C | 1.4°C | 21.7°C | -5.7°C | 239 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2012 | 13.3°C | 8.1°C | 3.0°C | 21.1°C | -5.3°C | 168 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2011 | 13.1°C | 7.6°C | 2.2°C | 19.2°C | -4.3°C | 132 mm | 84% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 5.8°C | 0.6°C | -4.5°C | 12.9°C | -11.3°C | 44 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2009 | 7.8°C | 3.1°C | -1.5°C | 16.9°C | -6.9°C | 226 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2008 | 11.5°C | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | 20.1°C | -9.2°C | 170 mm | 83% | 0.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | 13.4°C | 8.0°C | 2.7°C | 23.3°C | -5.2°C | 125 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2006 | 13.6°C | 7.7°C | 1.9°C | 20.1°C | -7.1°C | 111 mm | 79% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2005 | 8.3°C | 3.0°C | -2.3°C | 16.1°C | -6.9°C | 134 mm | 83% | 0.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | 10.4°C | 4.8°C | -0.8°C | 19.8°C | -8.8°C | 146 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 9.5°C | 3.6°C | -2.3°C | 15.3°C | -6.2°C | 90 mm | 80% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 8.9°C | 4.0°C | -0.9°C | 15.4°C | -6.3°C | 195 mm | 87% | 0.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2001 | 14.2°C | 8.3°C | 2.4°C | 22.9°C | -6.3°C | 79 mm | 76% | 0.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 5.7°C | 0.9°C | -4.0°C | 16.3°C | -10.4°C | 60 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 11.4°C | 5.6°C | -0.3°C | 18.7°C | -6.6°C | 64 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1998 | 13.3°C | 8.0°C | 2.7°C | 22.7°C | -5.1°C | 122 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 8.9°C | 4.3°C | -0.3°C | 16.3°C | -7.5°C | 123 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1996 | 10.7°C | 5.5°C | 0.3°C | 20.5°C | -10.1°C | 87 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1995 | 8.3°C | 3.2°C | -2.0°C | 17.4°C | -10.2°C | 79 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 11.4°C | 6.6°C | 1.7°C | 19.8°C | -4.7°C | 69 mm | 84% | 0.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 8.4°C | 3.6°C | -1.2°C | 16.0°C | -6.6°C | 109 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1992 | 8.1°C | 3.9°C | -0.2°C | 16.9°C | -5.3°C | 203 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 | 11.3°C | 6.0°C | 0.7°C | 21.0°C | -6.7°C | 132 mm | 81% | 0.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 11.6°C | 6.8°C | 2.1°C | 19.4°C | -7.3°C | 149 mm | 86% | 0.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 5.3°C | 0.5°C | -4.3°C | 14.6°C | -14.9°C | 140 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 9.9°C | 4.1°C | -1.7°C | 17.4°C | -6.0°C | 65 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 11.2°C | 5.9°C | 0.7°C | 20.2°C | -5.8°C | 118 mm | 80% | 0.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 9.1°C | 4.4°C | -0.4°C | 15.9°C | -6.0°C | 110 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 7.9°C | 2.5°C | -2.9°C | 19.3°C | -13.2°C | 59 mm | 77% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1984 | 14.2°C | 8.9°C | 3.7°C | 21.2°C | -9.4°C | 83 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 7.6°C | 2.3°C | -3.0°C | 18.6°C | -17.6°C | 271 mm | 82% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 12.1°C | 7.3°C | 2.5°C | 20.8°C | -6.2°C | 171 mm | 89% | 0.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.2°C | 1.7°C | -2.8°C | 15.1°C | -12.6°C | 167 mm | 81% | 0.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 10.7°C with lows near 0.4°C (mean 5.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 133 mm of rainfall in Gainesville, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 311 mm in 2015.
The hottest December reached 23.3°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -17.6°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 9.6°C to 12.5°C and overnight lows from -0.5°C to 1.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Gainesville and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.7°C daytime highs and 0.4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Gainesville, averaging 5.6°C.
For December in Gainesville, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.7°C and lows of 0.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.2 m/s (1984).
The wettest December on record was 2015 with 311 mm. On average, December sees 133 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 Gainesville 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.
