December is one of the cooler months of the year in Reading, with average highs near 3.8°C and lows around -4°C (mean -0.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 91 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Reading. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Reading was 2015 — when the month averaged 6.9°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -6.4°C. Typical December days reach 3.8°C with nights near -4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Reading, averaging 91 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1983 with 197 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 17 mm.
Relative humidity in Reading during December averages 87%. The most humid December was 1996 at 93%, and the least humid was 1998 at 76%.
December receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Reading. The sunniest Decembers were 2000 and 2001 at 1.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992 and 2014 at 1.3.
Average wind speed in Reading during December is 0.5 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 2009, 2010 and 2025 at 0.6 m/s, while the calmest were 2018, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -1.4°C | 0.3°C | -0.7°C | 0.9°C | 0.6°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 2.4°C | 4.3°C | 3.2°C | 4.6°C | 4.7°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -5.3°C | -3.7°C | -4.7°C | -2.9°C | -3.6°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 72 mm | 89 mm | 103 mm | 90 mm | 101 mm | +29 mm |
December temperatures in Reading have risen by about 1.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -23.5°C (1983) to a record high of 21.8°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 91 mm, with a wettest year of 197 mm.
A quieter season to visit Reading
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Reading. That said, December — with days averaging 3.8°C and nights around -4°C (mean -0.1°C) and higher rainfall (91 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 | 1.6°C | -2.4°C | -6.4°C | 9.1°C | -13.0°C | 61 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 4.1°C | 0.0°C | -4.1°C | 13.8°C | -13.8°C | 96 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2023 | 7.1°C | 3.1°C | -0.9°C | 11.3°C | -6.1°C | 191 mm | 90% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | 3.8°C | -0.6°C | -4.9°C | 12.9°C | -16.9°C | 116 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 8.0°C | 3.5°C | -0.9°C | 16.3°C | -6.3°C | 30 mm | 85% | 0.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2020 | 3.7°C | -0.2°C | -4.2°C | 15.6°C | -16.2°C | 113 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2019 | 3.9°C | 0.2°C | -3.5°C | 11.2°C | -11.1°C | 89 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 4.9°C | 1.3°C | -2.4°C | 15.8°C | -8.1°C | 145 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | 2.3°C | -1.4°C | -5.0°C | 12.7°C | -15.5°C | 37 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2016 | 3.5°C | -0.3°C | -4.1°C | 13.8°C | -12.8°C | 65 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 🔥 | 11.0°C | 6.9°C | 2.9°C | 19.3°C | -5.0°C | 110 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 4.5°C | 1.0°C | -2.4°C | 13.3°C | -5.7°C | 81 mm | 87% | 0.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | 3.1°C | -0.8°C | -4.7°C | 19.0°C | -12.2°C | 100 mm | 91% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 6.0°C | 2.2°C | -1.6°C | 17.2°C | -8.1°C | 104 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 6.3°C | 2.3°C | -1.8°C | 14.5°C | -6.0°C | 99 mm | 91% | 0.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 0.7°C | -2.7°C | -6.1°C | 15.2°C | -9.7°C | 70 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | 2.3°C | -1.4°C | -5.1°C | 14.9°C | -12.5°C | 134 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 2.9°C | -1.2°C | -5.3°C | 14.0°C | -17.0°C | 163 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2007 | 2.3°C | -1.0°C | -4.3°C | 13.2°C | -15.1°C | 125 mm | 91% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | 7.6°C | 3.0°C | -1.5°C | 20.5°C | -8.2°C | 61 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2005 | 0.9°C | -2.9°C | -6.7°C | 8.8°C | -16.3°C | 85 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 4.1°C | 0.0°C | -4.1°C | 14.1°C | -15.9°C | 99 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | 3.1°C | -0.7°C | -4.5°C | 9.3°C | -10.7°C | 114 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 1.0°C | -2.7°C | -6.4°C | 9.4°C | -12.3°C | 115 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 7.8°C | 3.3°C | -1.2°C | 21.8°C | -9.5°C | 44 mm | 79% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 0.3°C | -3.9°C | -8.2°C | 14.0°C | -15.9°C | 96 mm | 80% | 0.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | 5.3°C | 0.9°C | -3.5°C | 16.4°C | -11.4°C | 61 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | 7.9°C | 3.2°C | -1.6°C | 20.9°C | -10.9°C | 17 mm | 76% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1997 | 4.0°C | 0.2°C | -3.6°C | 9.6°C | -13.1°C | 60 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | 4.1°C | 0.8°C | -2.4°C | 13.1°C | -12.0°C | 175 mm | 93% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | -0.4°C | -4.1°C | -7.8°C | 7.7°C | -14.2°C | 57 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | 6.0°C | 1.6°C | -2.7°C | 16.2°C | -8.5°C | 73 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1993 | 2.6°C | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | 10.1°C | -12.7°C | 115 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 3.3°C | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | 14.1°C | -11.7°C | 77 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1991 | 4.7°C | 0.7°C | -3.4°C | 16.4°C | -11.3°C | 89 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1990 | 5.8°C | 1.4°C | -3.0°C | 15.6°C | -9.7°C | 162 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -2.3°C | -6.4°C | -10.5°C | 5.5°C | -18.0°C | 36 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | 2.7°C | -1.4°C | -5.4°C | 11.6°C | -15.0°C | 28 mm | 80% | 0.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | 4.0°C | 0.4°C | -3.2°C | 10.3°C | -11.9°C | 42 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 3.7°C | -0.1°C | -3.9°C | 9.0°C | -9.7°C | 111 mm | 88% | 0.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | 1.3°C | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | 8.7°C | -14.7°C | 42 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1984 | 5.6°C | 1.7°C | -2.1°C | 17.7°C | -8.9°C | 68 mm | 90% | 0.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1983 🌧️ | -0.1°C | -3.8°C | -7.5°C | 11.9°C | -23.5°C | 197 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.4°C | 2.3°C | -1.8°C | 19.9°C | -10.5°C | 51 mm | 86% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.6°C | -2.9°C | -6.4°C | 6.0°C | -17.1°C | 74 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 3.8°C with lows near -4°C (mean -0.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 91 mm of rainfall in Reading, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 197 mm in 1983.
The hottest December reached 21.8°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -23.5°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 2.8°C to 4.9°C and overnight lows from -4.9°C to -3.4°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Reading and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 3.8°C daytime highs and -4°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Reading, averaging -0.1°C.
For December in Reading, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 3.8°C and lows of -4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.5 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.6 m/s (2009).
The wettest December on record was 1983 with 197 mm. On average, December sees 91 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 Reading 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.
