December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford, with average highs near 6.3°C and lows around 1.4°C (mean 3.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 107 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in New Bedford was 2015 — when the month averaged 8.6°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -2.4°C. Typical December days reach 6.3°C with nights near 1.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in New Bedford, averaging 107 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2019 with 205 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 30 mm.
Relative humidity in New Bedford during December averages 81%. The most humid December was 2015 at 86%, and the least humid was 2000 at 76%.
December receives about 1.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in New Bedford. The sunniest Decembers were 2000 and 2018 at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992, 1993 and 1996 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in New Bedford during December is 6.1 m/s. The windiest December was 2003 at 7.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2015, 2021 and 2023 at 5.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 2.8°C | 4.0°C | 3.8°C | 4.3°C | 4.5°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg High | 5.4°C | 6.5°C | 6.3°C | 6.6°C | 6.8°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 0.2°C | 1.5°C | 1.3°C | 2.1°C | 2.2°C | +2°C |
| Avg Rain | 92 mm | 111 mm | 99 mm | 120 mm | 114 mm | +22 mm |
December temperatures in New Bedford have risen by about 0.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -13.9°C (1983) to a record high of 17°C (2009).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 107 mm, with a wettest year of 205 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit New Bedford
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting New Bedford. That said, December — with days averaging 6.3°C and nights around 1.4°C (mean 3.9°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 | 4.8°C | 2.1°C | -0.7°C | 12.5°C | -7.2°C | 77 mm | 79% | 6.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 6.0°C | 3.9°C | 1.9°C | 14.6°C | -6.5°C | 126 mm | 81% | 5.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 | 7.9°C | 6.0°C | 4.0°C | 14.7°C | -1.6°C | 130 mm | 85% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 6.5°C | 4.4°C | 2.3°C | 14.0°C | -6.2°C | 129 mm | 81% | 6.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | 8.4°C | 5.9°C | 3.5°C | 15.3°C | -2.0°C | 47 mm | 80% | 5.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 7.1°C | 4.7°C | 2.4°C | 16.3°C | -1.9°C | 177 mm | 82% | 6.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 🌧️ | 5.7°C | 3.4°C | 1.1°C | 13.3°C | -7.2°C | 205 mm | 83% | 6.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 5.2°C | 3.1°C | 1.1°C | 12.5°C | -3.1°C | 129 mm | 80% | 5.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 4.2°C | 1.9°C | -0.3°C | 13.9°C | -11.2°C | 73 mm | 80% | 5.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 6.6°C | 3.9°C | 1.3°C | 14.5°C | -9.9°C | 80 mm | 79% | 6.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 🔥 | 10.7°C | 8.6°C | 6.5°C | 14.3°C | 1.3°C | 142 mm | 86% | 5.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 7.2°C | 5.2°C | 3.1°C | 13.2°C | -2.6°C | 158 mm | 84% | 5.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 5.7°C | 3.3°C | 1.0°C | 12.1°C | -5.0°C | 101 mm | 84% | 5.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | 7.8°C | 5.6°C | 3.3°C | 13.2°C | -3.7°C | 150 mm | 82% | 6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 9.3°C | 6.5°C | 3.8°C | 15.5°C | -2.3°C | 82 mm | 81% | 5.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | 3.9°C | 1.7°C | -0.4°C | 13.1°C | -6.1°C | 78 mm | 80% | 6.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 5.4°C | 2.7°C | -0.1°C | 17.0°C | -8.4°C | 141 mm | 81% | 7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 7.6°C | 4.5°C | 1.4°C | 15.0°C | -8.5°C | 134 mm | 81% | 7.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | 5.5°C | 3.1°C | 0.6°C | 11.7°C | -4.9°C | 116 mm | 82% | 6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | 8.7°C | 6.2°C | 3.8°C | 16.7°C | -3.1°C | 65 mm | 81% | 6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | 5.0°C | 2.9°C | 0.8°C | 10.7°C | -4.7°C | 63 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 7.0°C | 4.2°C | 1.4°C | 13.8°C | -9.3°C | 106 mm | 82% | 6.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 6.0°C | 3.7°C | 1.4°C | 11.6°C | -4.7°C | 103 mm | 81% | 7.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 5.2°C | 3.0°C | 0.7°C | 12.6°C | -5.3°C | 120 mm | 80% | 6.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 8.7°C | 6.4°C | 4.2°C | 16.3°C | -1.5°C | 75 mm | 79% | 5.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 4.1°C | 1.5°C | -1.1°C | 13.3°C | -8.8°C | 70 mm | 76% | 6.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 7.0°C | 4.7°C | 2.3°C | 13.0°C | -6.5°C | 67 mm | 78% | 6.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 7.3°C | 5.0°C | 2.7°C | 14.5°C | -7.5°C | 40 mm | 78% | 5.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 5.9°C | 3.5°C | 1.1°C | 9.9°C | -6.2°C | 92 mm | 80% | 6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1996 | 7.3°C | 5.3°C | 3.3°C | 12.6°C | -7.5°C | 166 mm | 85% | 5.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | 3.5°C | 0.8°C | -1.8°C | 10.8°C | -6.4°C | 60 mm | 82% | 6.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | 7.3°C | 4.9°C | 2.5°C | 12.8°C | -7.6°C | 128 mm | 81% | 6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1993 | 5.7°C | 3.2°C | 0.8°C | 12.3°C | -9.1°C | 166 mm | 82% | 6.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | 6.1°C | 3.5°C | 1.0°C | 11.3°C | -6.9°C | 199 mm | 82% | 6.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | 6.7°C | 3.9°C | 1.0°C | 13.0°C | -5.4°C | 85 mm | 81% | 6.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1990 | 8.2°C | 5.4°C | 2.5°C | 13.9°C | -2.3°C | 109 mm | 80% | 6.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 0.6°C | -2.4°C | -5.5°C | 9.1°C | -11.8°C | 48 mm | 82% | 6.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1988 | 5.1°C | 2.3°C | -0.4°C | 11.9°C | -10.2°C | 30 mm | 78% | 6.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1987 | 5.6°C | 3.2°C | 0.8°C | 10.8°C | -11.9°C | 101 mm | 81% | 6.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | 6.4°C | 4.0°C | 1.6°C | 14.6°C | -4.4°C | 173 mm | 78% | 6.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | 5.0°C | 2.3°C | -0.5°C | 13.7°C | -6.3°C | 33 mm | 77% | 6.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1984 | 8.2°C | 5.6°C | 3.1°C | 12.3°C | -3.3°C | 84 mm | 80% | 5.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | 5.3°C | 2.5°C | -0.4°C | 13.7°C | -13.9°C | 118 mm | 82% | 6.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.9°C | 5.5°C | 3.1°C | 14.7°C | -6.9°C | 71 mm | 84% | 5.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 4.4°C | 2.1°C | -0.2°C | 12.3°C | -6.9°C | 172 mm | 84% | 5.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 6.3°C with lows near 1.4°C (mean 3.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 107 mm of rainfall in New Bedford, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 205 mm in 2019.
The hottest December reached 17°C in 2009. The coldest dipped to -13.9°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 0.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.2°C to 6.7°C and overnight lows from 1°C to 2.2°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 6.3°C daytime highs and 1.4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 4th coolest month in New Bedford, averaging 3.9°C.
For December in New Bedford, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.3°C and lows of 1.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 6.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 7.2 m/s (2003).
The wettest December on record was 2019 with 205 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 Bedford 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.
