December is one of the cooler months of the year in Erie, with average highs near 2.1°C and lows around -3°C (mean -0.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Erie. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Erie was 2015 — when the month averaged 5.6°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -7.4°C. Typical December days reach 2.1°C with nights near -3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Erie, averaging 76 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1990 with 158 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 30 mm.
Relative humidity in Erie during December averages 88%. The most humid December was 1985 at 93%, and the least humid were 1998 and 2021 at 83%.
December receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Erie. The sunniest December was 2000 at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2007 and 2016 at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Erie during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1983, 1985 and 2016 at 2.9 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 | -1.8°C | -0.4°C | -1.0°C | 0.4°C | 0.9°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | 0.6°C | 2.2°C | 1.6°C | 2.8°C | 3.5°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Low | -4.3°C | -3.1°C | -3.5°C | -2.0°C | -1.7°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 84 mm | 76 mm | 75 mm | 77 mm | 68 mm | -16 mm |
December temperatures in Erie have risen by about 2.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -18.6°C (1983) to a record high of 17.3°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 76 mm, with a wettest year of 158 mm.
A quieter season to visit Erie
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Erie. That said, December — with days averaging 2.1°C and nights around -3°C (mean -0.4°C) and moderate rainfall (76 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 | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 11.3°C | -11.3°C | 81 mm | 87% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 3.1°C | 0.6°C | -2.0°C | 11.9°C | -9.0°C | 83 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2023 | 6.2°C | 3.9°C | 1.5°C | 12.9°C | -3.8°C | 78 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 2.6°C | -0.1°C | -2.8°C | 10.9°C | -15.9°C | 39 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | 5.6°C | 2.7°C | -0.1°C | 15.2°C | -4.4°C | 64 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | 2.7°C | 0.5°C | -1.7°C | 11.7°C | -6.7°C | 63 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 3.7°C | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | 10.8°C | -8.6°C | 84 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 3.1°C | 0.8°C | -1.4°C | 11.6°C | -7.1°C | 69 mm | 88% | 2.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | -0.1°C | -2.2°C | -4.3°C | 9.7°C | -12.5°C | 63 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 1.3°C | -0.9°C | -3.1°C | 11.7°C | -11.0°C | 81 mm | 89% | 2.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2015 🔥 | 8.5°C | 5.6°C | 2.6°C | 16.2°C | -2.7°C | 87 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | 3.3°C | 1.0°C | -1.4°C | 10.3°C | -7.5°C | 49 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | 1.2°C | -1.2°C | -3.5°C | 13.2°C | -8.9°C | 71 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | 4.7°C | 2.1°C | -0.6°C | 14.9°C | -5.7°C | 114 mm | 90% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2011 | 4.2°C | 1.6°C | -0.9°C | 11.3°C | -6.0°C | 100 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2010 | -1.7°C | -3.5°C | -5.2°C | 6.5°C | -9.7°C | 50 mm | 91% | 2.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2009 | 1.2°C | -1.2°C | -3.6°C | 10.2°C | -8.9°C | 72 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2008 | 1.6°C | -1.6°C | -4.8°C | 10.5°C | -14.3°C | 88 mm | 85% | 2.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | 1.4°C | -1.0°C | -3.3°C | 7.4°C | -8.6°C | 112 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2006 | 5.2°C | 2.4°C | -0.3°C | 15.9°C | -5.9°C | 63 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -0.5°C | -2.4°C | -4.3°C | 5.7°C | -9.8°C | 30 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | 2.3°C | -0.5°C | -3.4°C | 13.9°C | -13.2°C | 105 mm | 89% | 2.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2003 | 2.3°C | -0.1°C | -2.5°C | 8.0°C | -7.0°C | 61 mm | 85% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2002 | 0.1°C | -2.5°C | -5.0°C | 6.0°C | -11.2°C | 72 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | 4.5°C | 1.9°C | -0.6°C | 16.8°C | -8.8°C | 71 mm | 85% | 2.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | -2.3°C | -4.6°C | -6.8°C | 4.8°C | -12.8°C | 80 mm | 89% | 2.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1999 | 3.1°C | 0.6°C | -1.8°C | 14.3°C | -7.8°C | 65 mm | 83% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 5.4°C | 2.3°C | -0.8°C | 17.3°C | -10.0°C | 60 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | 1.9°C | -0.2°C | -2.4°C | 7.4°C | -8.1°C | 67 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 2.7°C | 0.1°C | -2.4°C | 10.3°C | -9.9°C | 73 mm | 91% | 2.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -1.6°C | -3.7°C | -5.9°C | 7.1°C | -12.0°C | 50 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | 3.6°C | 0.6°C | -2.3°C | 12.9°C | -12.6°C | 67 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | 0.4°C | -2.1°C | -4.6°C | 7.4°C | -14.4°C | 61 mm | 89% | 2.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1992 | 1.4°C | -1.0°C | -3.5°C | 9.6°C | -10.1°C | 87 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1991 | 2.3°C | -0.8°C | -3.9°C | 9.9°C | -12.4°C | 72 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 3.1°C | -0.1°C | -3.4°C | 10.7°C | -12.8°C | 158 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -4.8°C | -7.4°C | -10.0°C | 2.2°C | -16.9°C | 63 mm | 92% | 2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | 0.5°C | -2.1°C | -4.7°C | 7.9°C | -12.9°C | 60 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 2.1°C | -0.1°C | -2.3°C | 8.9°C | -9.7°C | 75 mm | 88% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | 1.4°C | -0.7°C | -2.8°C | 5.8°C | -8.0°C | 95 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -1.3°C | -3.7°C | -6.1°C | 9.8°C | -14.8°C | 69 mm | 93% | 2.9 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | 4.4°C | 1.3°C | -1.7°C | 14.6°C | -8.5°C | 107 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1983 | -2.3°C | -4.4°C | -6.6°C | 5.7°C | -18.6°C | 107 mm | 92% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.2°C | 2.3°C | -0.6°C | 16.9°C | -7.2°C | 95 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.2°C | -1.8°C | -3.7°C | 5.5°C | -10.7°C | 81 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 2.1°C with lows near -3°C (mean -0.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 76 mm of rainfall in Erie, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 158 mm in 1990.
The hottest December reached 17.3°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -18.6°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 2.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.2°C to 3.7°C and overnight lows from -3.7°C to -1.7°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Erie and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 2.1°C daytime highs and -3°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Erie, averaging -0.4°C.
For December in Erie, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.1°C and lows of -3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2.9 m/s (1983).
The wettest December on record was 1990 with 158 mm. On average, December sees 76 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 Erie 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.
