December is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester, with average highs near 1.7°C and lows around -4.7°C (mean -1.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Rochester was 2015 — when the month averaged 4.5°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -8.3°C. Typical December days reach 1.7°C with nights near -4.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Rochester, averaging 69 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1990 with 117 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 31 mm.
Relative humidity in Rochester during December averages 88%. The most humid December was 2010 at 93%, and the least humid was 1988 at 79%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Rochester. The sunniest Decembers were 2001 and 2003 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2010, 2013 and 2015, among others at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Rochester during December is 1.1 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2008, 2016 and 2025, among others at 1.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1996, 2018 and 2023, among others at 0.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.7°C | -1.2°C | -2.0°C | -0.9°C | -0.4°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 0.5°C | 2.1°C | 1.1°C | 2.2°C | 2.8°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -5.9°C | -4.6°C | -5.1°C | -3.9°C | -3.5°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 60 mm | 62 mm | 76 mm | 74 mm | 77 mm | +17 mm |
December temperatures in Rochester have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -20.5°C (1983) to a record high of 20°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 69 mm, with a wettest year of 117 mm.
A quieter season to visit Rochester
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Rochester. That said, December — with days averaging 1.7°C and nights around -4.7°C (mean -1.5°C) and moderate rainfall (69 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 | -0.1°C | -3.9°C | -7.6°C | 8.4°C | -14.7°C | 78 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 2.1°C | -0.9°C | -4.0°C | 12.2°C | -13.4°C | 71 mm | 88% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 5.5°C | 2.6°C | -0.3°C | 12.0°C | -5.5°C | 110 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 2.3°C | -1.0°C | -4.3°C | 13.8°C | -13.6°C | 64 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | 4.5°C | 1.4°C | -1.8°C | 16.3°C | -7.6°C | 65 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | 2.4°C | -0.4°C | -3.1°C | 9.3°C | -9.1°C | 74 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2019 | 2.0°C | -1.5°C | -5.0°C | 10.5°C | -12.1°C | 90 mm | 91% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 2.5°C | -0.5°C | -3.5°C | 12.0°C | -7.3°C | 97 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | -1.2°C | -3.8°C | -6.4°C | 9.5°C | -18.7°C | 52 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 1.3°C | -1.7°C | -4.7°C | 9.0°C | -13.7°C | 65 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 8.1°C | 4.5°C | 0.8°C | 15.8°C | -4.0°C | 84 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 2.5°C | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | 10.7°C | -8.8°C | 49 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | 0.1°C | -2.9°C | -5.9°C | 10.0°C | -15.8°C | 76 mm | 89% | 1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 4.1°C | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | 17.9°C | -8.1°C | 101 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 4.5°C | 1.0°C | -2.4°C | 12.2°C | -10.7°C | 66 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | -1.7°C | -4.3°C | -6.8°C | 13.6°C | -12.9°C | 62 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | 0.2°C | -2.5°C | -5.3°C | 10.3°C | -12.9°C | 75 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | 0.7°C | -2.6°C | -5.9°C | 10.9°C | -12.5°C | 103 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | 0.2°C | -2.7°C | -5.5°C | 4.2°C | -11.0°C | 104 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 4.9°C | 1.6°C | -1.6°C | 16.9°C | -10.8°C | 91 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | -1.0°C | -3.6°C | -6.2°C | 3.9°C | -13.6°C | 44 mm | 91% | 1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2004 | 1.7°C | -2.0°C | -5.6°C | 11.0°C | -16.8°C | 85 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | 2.0°C | -1.2°C | -4.4°C | 9.3°C | -9.4°C | 65 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | -0.2°C | -3.4°C | -6.7°C | 7.1°C | -16.8°C | 82 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | 4.8°C | 1.5°C | -1.9°C | 20.0°C | -8.1°C | 57 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2000 | -2.0°C | -4.8°C | -7.6°C | 7.8°C | -12.0°C | 50 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | 2.6°C | -0.6°C | -3.9°C | 17.3°C | -11.6°C | 47 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 6.0°C | 1.8°C | -2.5°C | 18.6°C | -12.3°C | 40 mm | 80% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | 1.6°C | -1.1°C | -3.8°C | 5.7°C | -11.9°C | 57 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 2.9°C | 0.0°C | -2.9°C | 10.0°C | -12.0°C | 60 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -2.2°C | -4.7°C | -7.2°C | 7.1°C | -11.3°C | 44 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 2.8°C | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | 12.3°C | -15.5°C | 58 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | 0.3°C | -2.9°C | -6.2°C | 6.3°C | -16.1°C | 49 mm | 89% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1992 | 1.2°C | -1.8°C | -4.9°C | 9.8°C | -10.7°C | 74 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 2.2°C | -1.5°C | -5.1°C | 11.4°C | -14.6°C | 71 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 3.2°C | -0.7°C | -4.5°C | 11.5°C | -15.0°C | 117 mm | 86% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -5.1°C | -8.3°C | -11.5°C | 2.8°C | -18.5°C | 42 mm | 89% | 1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | 1.2°C | -2.3°C | -5.7°C | 9.5°C | -13.4°C | 31 mm | 79% | 1.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | 2.7°C | -0.5°C | -3.6°C | 10.1°C | -13.4°C | 53 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | 1.7°C | -1.2°C | -4.2°C | 4.9°C | -10.3°C | 73 mm | 88% | 1 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -1.8°C | -5.0°C | -8.3°C | 8.9°C | -15.8°C | 53 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | 4.0°C | 0.4°C | -3.2°C | 17.3°C | -9.9°C | 80 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1983 | -2.8°C | -5.5°C | -8.1°C | 3.8°C | -20.5°C | 101 mm | 90% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.1°C | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | 17.1°C | -12.0°C | 55 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.2°C | -3.0°C | -5.7°C | 6.8°C | -14.9°C | 55 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 1.7°C with lows near -4.7°C (mean -1.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 69 mm of rainfall in Rochester, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 117 mm in 1990.
The hottest December reached 20°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -20.5°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°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.9°C to 2.9°C and overnight lows from -5.6°C to -3.6°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Rochester and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 1.7°C daytime highs and -4.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Rochester, averaging -1.5°C.
For December in Rochester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1.7°C and lows of -4.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.1 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.3 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 1990 with 117 mm. On average, December sees 69 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 Rochester 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.
