December is one of the cooler months of the year in Syracuse, with average highs near 1°C and lows around -5.4°C (mean -2.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 87 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Syracuse. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Syracuse was 2015 — when the month averaged 4.1°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -9.3°C. Typical December days reach 1°C with nights near -5.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Syracuse, averaging 87 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2012 with 160 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 45 mm.
Relative humidity in Syracuse during December averages 90%. The most humid December was 2007 at 95%, and the least humid was 1988 at 83%.
December receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Syracuse. The sunniest December was 2003 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2007 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Syracuse during December is 0.8 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2016, 2020 and 2025, among others at 0.9 m/s, while the calmest were 2013, 2018 and 2023, among others at 0.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.4°C | -1.8°C | -2.7°C | -1.5°C | -1.2°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | -0.1°C | 1.6°C | 0.5°C | 1.5°C | 2.0°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Low | -6.7°C | -5.1°C | -5.9°C | -4.6°C | -4.4°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 75 mm | 78 mm | 93 mm | 91 mm | 104 mm | +28 mm |
December temperatures in Syracuse have risen by about 1.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -20.9°C (1983) to a record high of 19.2°C (2006).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 87 mm, with a wettest year of 160 mm.
A quieter season to visit Syracuse
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Syracuse. That said, December — with days averaging 1°C and nights around -5.4°C (mean -2.2°C) and higher rainfall (87 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 | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | -8.6°C | 10.0°C | -17.7°C | 99 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 1.1°C | -2.1°C | -5.3°C | 11.6°C | -15.3°C | 98 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 4.6°C | 1.7°C | -1.1°C | 9.3°C | -8.3°C | 152 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 1.5°C | -1.9°C | -5.4°C | 11.3°C | -15.4°C | 95 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 3.9°C | 0.9°C | -2.1°C | 13.9°C | -7.8°C | 84 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | 2.0°C | -1.0°C | -4.0°C | 11.2°C | -14.3°C | 94 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 0.9°C | -2.4°C | -5.7°C | 6.3°C | -14.1°C | 101 mm | 93% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 1.9°C | -1.3°C | -4.5°C | 13.3°C | -9.6°C | 92 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | -1.6°C | -4.2°C | -6.9°C | 9.7°C | -17.5°C | 62 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 0.7°C | -2.4°C | -5.5°C | 7.9°C | -14.3°C | 77 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2015 🔥 | 7.6°C | 4.1°C | 0.5°C | 17.5°C | -5.1°C | 103 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 1.5°C | -1.4°C | -4.3°C | 9.2°C | -9.2°C | 74 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | -0.5°C | -3.3°C | -6.2°C | 12.2°C | -15.9°C | 80 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 🌧️ | 3.1°C | -0.1°C | -3.4°C | 18.1°C | -19.4°C | 160 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2011 | 3.7°C | 0.4°C | -3.0°C | 9.5°C | -12.3°C | 77 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | -2.0°C | -4.7°C | -7.4°C | 13.8°C | -17.7°C | 81 mm | 94% | 0.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | -0.3°C | -3.0°C | -5.8°C | 11.7°C | -14.4°C | 72 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2008 | -0.1°C | -3.3°C | -6.5°C | 9.8°C | -16.5°C | 122 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2007 | -0.9°C | -4.0°C | -7.1°C | 3.6°C | -18.5°C | 132 mm | 95% | 0.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2006 | 4.4°C | 1.2°C | -2.0°C | 19.2°C | -11.1°C | 93 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | -1.8°C | -4.8°C | -7.7°C | 3.5°C | -19.9°C | 74 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2004 | 0.8°C | -2.7°C | -6.3°C | 11.2°C | -17.7°C | 114 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | 0.9°C | -2.3°C | -5.6°C | 8.4°C | -12.5°C | 104 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2002 | -0.7°C | -3.9°C | -7.1°C | 5.2°C | -18.0°C | 89 mm | 93% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | 4.4°C | 1.1°C | -2.3°C | 17.7°C | -8.8°C | 60 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | -8.2°C | 10.7°C | -12.7°C | 65 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | 2.0°C | -1.2°C | -4.3°C | 15.7°C | -12.6°C | 47 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1998 | 5.4°C | 1.0°C | -3.4°C | 17.3°C | -12.7°C | 48 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | -4.9°C | 5.6°C | -13.1°C | 83 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1996 | 2.2°C | -0.5°C | -3.3°C | 10.6°C | -15.6°C | 113 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1995 | -2.8°C | -5.4°C | -8.0°C | 5.3°C | -14.4°C | 59 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1994 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.2°C | 10.8°C | -16.0°C | 60 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | 0.0°C | -3.6°C | -7.1°C | 4.9°C | -19.9°C | 79 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1992 | 1.4°C | -1.8°C | -4.9°C | 9.4°C | -11.0°C | 72 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | 1.4°C | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | 10.5°C | -14.1°C | 80 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | 2.7°C | -0.9°C | -4.5°C | 9.6°C | -15.0°C | 136 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | -12.8°C | 1.6°C | -17.7°C | 48 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | 0.3°C | -3.3°C | -6.8°C | 9.0°C | -17.5°C | 45 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | 1.8°C | -1.2°C | -4.3°C | 7.8°C | -15.3°C | 61 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1986 | 1.2°C | -2.0°C | -5.2°C | 4.2°C | -12.3°C | 77 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -2.1°C | -5.4°C | -8.7°C | 7.8°C | -16.9°C | 67 mm | 94% | 0.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | 2.9°C | -0.5°C | -3.9°C | 16.3°C | -9.7°C | 109 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1983 | -2.7°C | -5.7°C | -8.7°C | 5.1°C | -20.9°C | 147 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.5°C | 0.6°C | -3.4°C | 15.1°C | -13.7°C | 61 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.9°C | -3.7°C | -6.5°C | 6.3°C | -15.1°C | 61 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 1°C with lows near -5.4°C (mean -2.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 87 mm of rainfall in Syracuse, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 160 mm in 2012.
The hottest December reached 19.2°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -20.9°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.3°C to 2°C and overnight lows from -6.2°C to -4.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Syracuse and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 1°C daytime highs and -5.4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Syracuse, averaging -2.2°C.
For December in Syracuse, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1°C and lows of -5.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.9 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 2012 with 160 mm. On average, December sees 87 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 Syracuse 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.
