December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lawrence, with average highs near 4.8°C and lows around -4.7°C (mean 0°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 40 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lawrence. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Lawrence was 2021 — when the month averaged 5.7°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -10°C. Typical December days reach 4.8°C with nights near -4.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 1°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Lawrence, averaging 40 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1984 with 103 mm, while the driest was 1996 at 2 mm.
Relative humidity in Lawrence during December averages 81%. The most humid Decembers were 1986 and 2007 at 90%, and the least humid was 1988 at 70%.
December receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Lawrence. The sunniest Decembers were 2004, 2020 and 2021, among others at 2.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2014 at 1.5.
Average wind speed in Lawrence during December is 3.3 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.1°C | 0.2°C | -0.4°C | 0.8°C | 2.8°C | +4.9°C |
| Avg High | 2.5°C | 4.8°C | 4.3°C | 5.5°C | 8.0°C | +5.5°C |
| Avg Low | -6.7°C | -4.4°C | -5.2°C | -3.9°C | -2.4°C | +4.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 46 mm | 42 mm | 38 mm | 42 mm | 29 mm | -17 mm |
December temperatures in Lawrence have risen by about 6.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -29.4°C (1983) to a record high of 22.8°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 40 mm, with a wettest year of 103 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 1.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.9°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Lawrence
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Lawrence. That said, December — with days averaging 4.8°C and nights around -4.7°C (mean 0°C) and moderate rainfall (40 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 | 7.7°C | 2.3°C | -3.2°C | 17.3°C | -11.6°C | 10 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 7.3°C | 2.7°C | -1.9°C | 15.2°C | -7.9°C | 16 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 2023 | 8.7°C | 4.0°C | -0.8°C | 17.3°C | -5.0°C | 74 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2022 | 4.9°C | -0.2°C | -5.2°C | 17.1°C | -19.5°C | 29 mm | 76% | 3.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 🔥 | 11.7°C | 5.7°C | -0.3°C | 22.0°C | -6.5°C | 16 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 7.8°C | 2.3°C | -3.2°C | 17.5°C | -8.5°C | 28 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2019 | 7.2°C | 2.6°C | -2.1°C | 16.5°C | -7.4°C | 43 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 5.9°C | 1.3°C | -3.3°C | 14.6°C | -9.8°C | 75 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2017 | 5.3°C | 0.4°C | -4.4°C | 19.5°C | -18.3°C | 10 mm | 72% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 3.7°C | -1.1°C | -6.0°C | 17.3°C | -20.1°C | 26 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 | 8.4°C | 3.1°C | -2.1°C | 16.6°C | -12.7°C | 89 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2014 | 5.1°C | 1.4°C | -2.3°C | 16.4°C | -14.6°C | 53 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2013 | 2.7°C | -2.1°C | -7.0°C | 14.9°C | -15.6°C | 16 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2012 | 7.4°C | 2.5°C | -2.4°C | 22.2°C | -13.3°C | 21 mm | 75% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 5.9°C | 1.1°C | -3.7°C | 15.3°C | -10.8°C | 80 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2010 | 3.2°C | -1.2°C | -5.7°C | 17.9°C | -13.9°C | 10 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 1.3°C | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | 12.5°C | -17.0°C | 46 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2008 | 3.0°C | -2.2°C | -7.4°C | 17.7°C | -17.4°C | 47 mm | 80% | 4.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2007 | 2.0°C | -2.8°C | -7.5°C | 15.4°C | -16.5°C | 81 mm | 90% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2006 | 7.7°C | 2.7°C | -2.3°C | 19.4°C | -12.9°C | 52 mm | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2005 | 2.7°C | -1.5°C | -5.6°C | 12.9°C | -14.3°C | 32 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | 5.9°C | 1.1°C | -3.8°C | 18.6°C | -14.8°C | 17 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2003 | 5.8°C | 1.2°C | -3.4°C | 15.9°C | -10.3°C | 68 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2002 | 7.6°C | 2.6°C | -2.4°C | 17.9°C | -9.2°C | 4 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2001 | 8.7°C | 3.1°C | -2.5°C | 22.8°C | -11.8°C | 16 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | -1.6°C | -6.0°C | -10.3°C | 12.3°C | -18.8°C | 17 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1999 | 6.7°C | 1.8°C | -3.1°C | 16.7°C | -11.8°C | 47 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 5.9°C | 1.1°C | -3.7°C | 20.9°C | -16.7°C | 34 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 3.3°C | -1.0°C | -5.3°C | 12.3°C | -12.7°C | 66 mm | 90% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | 4.2°C | -0.6°C | -5.4°C | 14.6°C | -14.4°C | 2 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1995 | 4.4°C | -0.4°C | -5.1°C | 17.8°C | -15.3°C | 26 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | 6.2°C | 1.5°C | -3.1°C | 16.1°C | -14.7°C | 44 mm | 88% | 2.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | 5.0°C | 0.6°C | -3.9°C | 13.3°C | -10.5°C | 25 mm | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 2 |
| 1992 | 2.8°C | -1.1°C | -5.0°C | 6.4°C | -13.0°C | 94 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 1.4°C | -3.1°C | 16.9°C | -12.6°C | 57 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1990 | 3.8°C | -1.4°C | -6.5°C | 14.8°C | -18.7°C | 24 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1989 | -0.8°C | -5.5°C | -10.1°C | 11.8°C | -28.4°C | 10 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1988 | 6.6°C | 1.4°C | -3.8°C | 15.2°C | -8.4°C | 24 mm | 70% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1987 | 5.2°C | 0.7°C | -3.8°C | 13.8°C | -12.3°C | 64 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1986 | 4.5°C | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | 7.3°C | -10.4°C | 36 mm | 90% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | -1.4°C | -6.7°C | -11.9°C | 5.6°C | -25.0°C | 28 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 🌧️ | 5.8°C | 0.9°C | -3.9°C | 19.3°C | -15.4°C | 103 mm | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -5.5°C | -10.0°C | -14.4°C | 4.2°C | -29.4°C | 41 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.3°C | 0.7°C | -3.8°C | 17.5°C | -12.9°C | 94 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.2°C | -1.2°C | -5.6°C | 13.7°C | -17.0°C | 11 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 4.8°C with lows near -4.7°C (mean 0°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 40 mm of rainfall in Lawrence, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 103 mm in 1984.
The hottest December reached 22.8°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -29.4°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 6.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.5°C to 8.1°C and overnight lows from -7.9°C to -2.3°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lawrence and one of the drier months, so plan for around 4.8°C daytime highs and -4.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Lawrence, averaging 0°C.
For December in Lawrence, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.8°C and lows of -4.7°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 4.1 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1984 with 103 mm. On average, December sees 40 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 Lawrence 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.
