December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster, with average highs near 4.8°C and lows around -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Lancaster was 2015 — when the month averaged 7.8°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -5.9°C. Typical December days reach 4.8°C with nights near -3.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Lancaster, averaging 92 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 199 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 22 mm.
Relative humidity in Lancaster during December averages 85%. The most humid December was 1996 at 92%, and the least humid was 1998 at 74%.
December receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Lancaster. The sunniest Decembers were 2000, 2001 and 2006, among others at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2014 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Lancaster during December is 1.3 m/s. The windiest December was 2010 at 1.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2021 and 2023 at 1.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -0.6°C | 1.2°C | 0.2°C | 1.8°C | 1.6°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 3.4°C | 5.3°C | 4.3°C | 5.7°C | 5.8°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | -4.5°C | -2.9°C | -3.8°C | -2.1°C | -2.6°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 74 mm | 92 mm | 102 mm | 93 mm | 103 mm | +28 mm |
December temperatures in Lancaster have risen by about 2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -23.6°C (1983) to a record high of 22.5°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm, with a wettest year of 199 mm.
A quieter season to visit Lancaster
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Lancaster. That said, December — with days averaging 4.8°C and nights around -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C) and higher rainfall (92 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 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.2°C | 10.1°C | -11.5°C | 56 mm | 80% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 5.4°C | 1.3°C | -2.9°C | 15.3°C | -12.9°C | 92 mm | 81% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 8.0°C | 3.9°C | -0.2°C | 13.4°C | -5.2°C | 199 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | 4.9°C | 0.5°C | -4.0°C | 14.2°C | -16.1°C | 123 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 9.2°C | 4.6°C | 0.0°C | 16.9°C | -6.0°C | 29 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2020 | 4.8°C | 0.7°C | -3.4°C | 15.8°C | -14.4°C | 116 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 5.0°C | 1.2°C | -2.5°C | 13.1°C | -11.1°C | 103 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 6.0°C | 2.2°C | -1.6°C | 16.2°C | -7.5°C | 148 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2017 | 3.5°C | -0.4°C | -4.3°C | 14.2°C | -13.7°C | 36 mm | 78% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2016 | 4.6°C | 0.7°C | -3.3°C | 14.7°C | -12.1°C | 69 mm | 81% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2015 🔥 | 11.8°C | 7.8°C | 3.7°C | 20.3°C | -4.4°C | 115 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2014 | 5.7°C | 2.0°C | -1.7°C | 15.7°C | -4.7°C | 82 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2013 | 4.3°C | 0.3°C | -3.8°C | 19.8°C | -13.1°C | 116 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 7.1°C | 3.3°C | -0.6°C | 18.3°C | -6.2°C | 98 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 7.4°C | 3.2°C | -0.9°C | 14.8°C | -5.1°C | 99 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 1.3°C | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | 15.8°C | -8.8°C | 62 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | 3.2°C | -0.7°C | -4.5°C | 16.2°C | -12.8°C | 155 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 4.2°C | 0.2°C | -3.8°C | 15.0°C | -13.2°C | 140 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | 3.7°C | 0.3°C | -3.1°C | 14.0°C | -11.3°C | 122 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 | 8.5°C | 4.0°C | -0.6°C | 21.1°C | -6.7°C | 58 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2005 | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | -5.7°C | 8.8°C | -14.9°C | 81 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 5.3°C | 1.0°C | -3.2°C | 14.6°C | -14.2°C | 86 mm | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | 3.9°C | 0.0°C | -3.9°C | 10.5°C | -10.9°C | 116 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 1.8°C | -2.0°C | -5.8°C | 10.7°C | -12.8°C | 127 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 8.8°C | 4.2°C | -0.5°C | 22.5°C | -9.6°C | 44 mm | 77% | 1.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 1.3°C | -2.9°C | -7.1°C | 14.7°C | -13.9°C | 89 mm | 78% | 1.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 6.2°C | 1.7°C | -2.7°C | 16.7°C | -10.6°C | 69 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 8.6°C | 4.0°C | -0.7°C | 22.0°C | -9.6°C | 22 mm | 74% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1997 | 5.2°C | 1.3°C | -2.7°C | 11.5°C | -10.4°C | 56 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | 5.2°C | 1.7°C | -1.8°C | 13.5°C | -11.6°C | 175 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | 0.3°C | -3.5°C | -7.4°C | 9.7°C | -14.4°C | 63 mm | 90% | 1.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | 7.0°C | 2.6°C | -1.8°C | 17.1°C | -6.5°C | 69 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | 3.5°C | -0.3°C | -4.0°C | 11.0°C | -11.5°C | 122 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 4.4°C | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | 15.4°C | -11.2°C | 95 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1991 | 5.6°C | 1.5°C | -2.6°C | 18.5°C | -10.3°C | 101 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 6.9°C | 2.4°C | -2.1°C | 16.7°C | -7.6°C | 149 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -1.7°C | -5.9°C | -10.1°C | 7.7°C | -18.6°C | 40 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1988 | 3.4°C | -0.7°C | -4.8°C | 13.8°C | -14.6°C | 28 mm | 80% | 1.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | 5.1°C | 1.3°C | -2.5°C | 12.4°C | -10.6°C | 48 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | 4.6°C | 0.8°C | -2.9°C | 10.9°C | -6.7°C | 132 mm | 88% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | 2.4°C | -1.6°C | -5.6°C | 9.5°C | -13.8°C | 34 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1984 | 6.9°C | 2.9°C | -1.1°C | 18.5°C | -7.4°C | 56 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1983 | 0.9°C | -3.0°C | -6.9°C | 13.1°C | -23.6°C | 198 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.2°C | 3.1°C | -1.0°C | 21.0°C | -9.4°C | 51 mm | 87% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.4°C | -2.2°C | -5.7°C | 6.7°C | -17.7°C | 85 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 4.8°C with lows near -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 92 mm of rainfall in Lancaster, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 199 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 22.5°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -23.6°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°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.8°C to 6°C and overnight lows from -4.1°C to -2.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 4.8°C daytime highs and -3.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Lancaster, averaging 0.8°C.
For December in Lancaster, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.8°C and lows of -3.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.7 m/s (2010).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 199 mm. On average, December sees 92 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 Lancaster 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.
