December is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth, with average highs near 5.3°C and lows around -0.2°C (mean 2.6°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 115 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Plymouth was 2015 — when the month averaged 7.6°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -4.4°C. Typical December days reach 5.3°C with nights near -0.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Plymouth, averaging 115 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1992 with 204 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 33 mm.
Relative humidity in Plymouth during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 1981 at 89%, and the least humid was 2000 at 78%.
December receives about 1.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Plymouth. 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 Plymouth during December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2003, 2009 and 2010 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2015 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.2°C | 2.7°C | 2.4°C | 3.2°C | 3.4°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 4.1°C | 5.5°C | 5.1°C | 5.8°C | 6.0°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Low | -1.6°C | -0.1°C | -0.4°C | 0.5°C | 0.7°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 98 mm | 120 mm | 116 mm | 120 mm | 121 mm | +23 mm |
December temperatures in Plymouth have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -15.8°C (1983) to a record high of 17.4°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 115 mm, with a wettest year of 204 mm.
A quieter season to visit Plymouth
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Plymouth. That said, December — with days averaging 5.3°C and nights around -0.2°C (mean 2.6°C) and higher rainfall (115 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 | 3.6°C | 0.6°C | -2.3°C | 13.2°C | -8.4°C | 74 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 5.4°C | 2.9°C | 0.4°C | 14.9°C | -8.0°C | 142 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 | 7.6°C | 5.2°C | 2.8°C | 14.6°C | -3.3°C | 150 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 6.0°C | 3.4°C | 0.8°C | 13.8°C | -8.3°C | 140 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | 7.5°C | 4.7°C | 1.9°C | 15.4°C | -2.6°C | 56 mm | 81% | 3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 6.0°C | 3.3°C | 0.6°C | 15.8°C | -3.7°C | 164 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 | 4.9°C | 2.3°C | -0.4°C | 13.9°C | -8.8°C | 193 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 4.6°C | 2.1°C | -0.3°C | 13.1°C | -4.5°C | 106 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 2.9°C | 0.4°C | -2.1°C | 13.5°C | -12.8°C | 66 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 5.6°C | 2.7°C | -0.3°C | 14.5°C | -12.3°C | 76 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 🔥 | 10.2°C | 7.6°C | 4.9°C | 15.4°C | -0.1°C | 125 mm | 86% | 2.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 6.6°C | 4.2°C | 1.9°C | 13.8°C | -3.9°C | 168 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 4.5°C | 1.8°C | -0.8°C | 12.9°C | -8.4°C | 116 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | 7.1°C | 4.5°C | 1.9°C | 13.5°C | -5.1°C | 160 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 8.1°C | 5.0°C | 1.9°C | 14.4°C | -4.1°C | 100 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | 3.3°C | 0.9°C | -1.6°C | 13.2°C | -7.2°C | 95 mm | 82% | 3.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 4.3°C | 1.3°C | -1.7°C | 17.0°C | -9.9°C | 140 mm | 84% | 3.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 6.1°C | 2.8°C | -0.5°C | 14.6°C | -10.0°C | 162 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | 4.0°C | 1.4°C | -1.2°C | 11.8°C | -7.6°C | 143 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | 7.9°C | 5.0°C | 2.2°C | 16.6°C | -4.1°C | 70 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | 3.7°C | 1.3°C | -1.1°C | 10.0°C | -6.3°C | 80 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 5.8°C | 2.7°C | -0.4°C | 13.6°C | -11.6°C | 116 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 5.1°C | 2.5°C | -0.2°C | 11.0°C | -5.9°C | 135 mm | 83% | 3.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 3.9°C | 1.4°C | -1.2°C | 12.6°C | -7.7°C | 138 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 7.8°C | 5.2°C | 2.5°C | 17.4°C | -3.7°C | 87 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 2.7°C | 0.0°C | -2.7°C | 14.0°C | -10.3°C | 92 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 6.0°C | 3.2°C | 0.5°C | 13.1°C | -8.1°C | 58 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 6.7°C | 3.8°C | 0.9°C | 17.0°C | -9.0°C | 44 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 4.9°C | 2.1°C | -0.6°C | 9.3°C | -8.2°C | 85 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1996 | 6.5°C | 4.2°C | 1.9°C | 12.4°C | -9.7°C | 167 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | 2.4°C | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | 9.3°C | -7.8°C | 76 mm | 86% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | 6.6°C | 3.8°C | 1.1°C | 13.1°C | -9.2°C | 157 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1993 | 4.7°C | 1.9°C | -0.8°C | 12.1°C | -11.1°C | 187 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 🌧️ | 4.8°C | 2.1°C | -0.6°C | 11.0°C | -8.5°C | 204 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | 5.3°C | 2.3°C | -0.8°C | 12.8°C | -7.5°C | 94 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1990 | 7.4°C | 4.2°C | 1.0°C | 14.3°C | -3.9°C | 126 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -1.3°C | -4.4°C | -7.6°C | 7.7°C | -13.9°C | 50 mm | 84% | 3.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1988 | 3.9°C | 0.9°C | -2.1°C | 11.6°C | -11.6°C | 33 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1987 | 4.6°C | 2.0°C | -0.7°C | 10.2°C | -13.2°C | 95 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | 5.2°C | 2.5°C | -0.1°C | 14.3°C | -6.0°C | 182 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | 3.3°C | 0.4°C | -2.5°C | 13.1°C | -8.7°C | 42 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1984 | 7.2°C | 4.2°C | 1.2°C | 13.1°C | -5.0°C | 93 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | 4.0°C | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | 13.1°C | -15.8°C | 145 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.9°C | 4.1°C | 1.3°C | 15.9°C | -8.9°C | 70 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 2.8°C | 0.4°C | -1.9°C | 12.4°C | -10.2°C | 174 mm | 89% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 5.3°C with lows near -0.2°C (mean 2.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 115 mm of rainfall in Plymouth, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 204 mm in 1992.
The hottest December reached 17.4°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -15.8°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.8°C to 6°C and overnight lows from -0.8°C to 0.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 5.3°C daytime highs and -0.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Plymouth, averaging 2.6°C.
For December in Plymouth, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.3°C and lows of -0.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 3.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.9 m/s (2003).
The wettest December on record was 1992 with 204 mm. On average, December sees 115 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 Plymouth 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.
