December is one of the cooler months of the year in Buffalo, with average highs near 1.8°C and lows around -3.7°C (mean -0.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Buffalo. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Buffalo was 2015 — when the month averaged 4.9°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -7.6°C. Typical December days reach 1.8°C with nights near -3.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Buffalo, averaging 74 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1990 with 127 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 43 mm.
Relative humidity in Buffalo during December averages 87%. The most humid December was 1985 at 91%, and the least humid was 1988 at 80%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Buffalo. The sunniest Decembers were 1989, 2000 and 2001 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2007 and 2016 at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Buffalo during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1985, 2008 and 2016, among others at 3 m/s, while the calmest was 1994 at 1.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.1°C | -0.9°C | -1.3°C | -0.3°C | 0.3°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 0.6°C | 2.0°C | 1.3°C | 2.3°C | 3.0°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | -4.8°C | -3.8°C | -4.0°C | -2.9°C | -2.5°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 70 mm | 65 mm | 84 mm | 74 mm | 82 mm | +12 mm |
December temperatures in Buffalo have risen by about 1.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -16°C (2002) to a record high of 18.2°C (1982).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 74 mm, with a wettest year of 127 mm.
A quieter season to visit Buffalo
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Buffalo. That said, December — with days averaging 1.8°C and nights around -3.7°C (mean -0.9°C) and moderate rainfall (74 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 | 0.5°C | -2.9°C | -6.2°C | 9.9°C | -11.9°C | 91 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 2.4°C | -0.3°C | -3.1°C | 12.7°C | -12.1°C | 92 mm | 87% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 5.7°C | 3.2°C | 0.7°C | 13.3°C | -3.8°C | 88 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 2.0°C | -0.5°C | -3.0°C | 10.1°C | -12.6°C | 86 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | 4.9°C | 1.9°C | -1.1°C | 16.1°C | -6.1°C | 60 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | 2.7°C | 0.3°C | -2.1°C | 11.2°C | -5.5°C | 75 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 2.5°C | -0.6°C | -3.7°C | 10.5°C | -11.5°C | 98 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 2.7°C | 0.2°C | -2.2°C | 10.8°C | -6.5°C | 72 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | -1.1°C | -3.3°C | -5.4°C | 10.1°C | -14.8°C | 58 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 1.5°C | -1.0°C | -3.4°C | 9.8°C | -10.2°C | 81 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2015 🔥 | 8.1°C | 4.9°C | 1.7°C | 17.0°C | -3.4°C | 65 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2014 | 2.7°C | 0.2°C | -2.2°C | 10.3°C | -8.2°C | 48 mm | 83% | 2.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | -0.2°C | -2.6°C | -5.1°C | 11.8°C | -14.0°C | 88 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | 4.3°C | 1.6°C | -1.1°C | 16.0°C | -5.7°C | 89 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2011 | 4.2°C | 1.2°C | -1.7°C | 12.0°C | -8.8°C | 78 mm | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2010 | -1.6°C | -3.7°C | -5.8°C | 10.1°C | -10.6°C | 61 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2009 | 0.7°C | -1.7°C | -4.2°C | 9.8°C | -11.7°C | 86 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | 1.2°C | -1.9°C | -5.0°C | 12.8°C | -11.5°C | 121 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | 0.6°C | -1.8°C | -4.3°C | 6.9°C | -10.2°C | 109 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 4.8°C | 2.0°C | -0.8°C | 13.5°C | -9.5°C | 94 mm | 87% | 2.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | -0.9°C | -2.9°C | -4.9°C | 3.5°C | -13.6°C | 55 mm | 90% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | 2.1°C | -1.1°C | -4.3°C | 12.9°C | -15.6°C | 98 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2003 | 2.4°C | -0.4°C | -3.2°C | 9.5°C | -7.9°C | 65 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | 0.1°C | -2.7°C | -5.6°C | 6.6°C | -16.0°C | 78 mm | 90% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2001 | 4.4°C | 1.7°C | -1.1°C | 17.7°C | -7.7°C | 72 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -2.1°C | -4.6°C | -7.0°C | 5.5°C | -11.4°C | 62 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1999 | 2.7°C | -0.2°C | -3.0°C | 16.2°C | -9.9°C | 55 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 5.5°C | 2.1°C | -1.4°C | 17.1°C | -11.8°C | 49 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | 1.9°C | -0.5°C | -2.8°C | 5.6°C | -11.5°C | 59 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | 2.7°C | 0.0°C | -2.7°C | 9.5°C | -11.4°C | 61 mm | 89% | 2.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -2.0°C | -4.2°C | -6.4°C | 6.6°C | -11.0°C | 45 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 3.0°C | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | 12.2°C | -14.6°C | 55 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1993 | 0.2°C | -2.6°C | -5.4°C | 7.5°C | -15.3°C | 54 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | 1.3°C | -1.3°C | -3.9°C | 8.2°C | -10.5°C | 75 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 2.1°C | -1.3°C | -4.6°C | 10.7°C | -14.1°C | 70 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 2.9°C | -0.6°C | -4.1°C | 11.1°C | -14.5°C | 127 mm | 86% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -5.0°C | -7.6°C | -10.3°C | 3.1°C | -15.5°C | 47 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | 0.8°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 9.0°C | -14.0°C | 43 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 2.6°C | -0.1°C | -2.8°C | 10.5°C | -12.4°C | 57 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | 1.5°C | -0.7°C | -2.9°C | 4.0°C | -9.6°C | 84 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1985 | -1.5°C | -3.9°C | -6.2°C | 9.2°C | -12.6°C | 65 mm | 91% | 3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1984 | 3.9°C | 0.7°C | -2.6°C | 15.0°C | -9.1°C | 90 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1983 | -2.6°C | -4.7°C | -6.9°C | 4.2°C | -14.7°C | 110 mm | 91% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.3°C | 1.8°C | -1.6°C | 18.2°C | -9.8°C | 76 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.2°C | -2.1°C | -4.4°C | 5.4°C | -10.4°C | 57 mm | 87% | 2.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 1.8°C with lows near -3.7°C (mean -0.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 74 mm of rainfall in Buffalo, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 127 mm in 1990.
The hottest December reached 18.2°C in 1982. The coldest dipped to -16°C in 2002.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.1°C to 3.1°C and overnight lows from -4.3°C to -2.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Buffalo and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 1.8°C daytime highs and -3.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Buffalo, averaging -0.9°C.
For December in Buffalo, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1.8°C and lows of -3.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 1990 with 127 mm. On average, December sees 74 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 Buffalo 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.
