December is one of the cooler months of the year in Wilkes Barre, with average highs near 2.5°C and lows around -5°C (mean -1.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Wilkes Barre. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Wilkes Barre was 2015 — when the month averaged 5.9°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -7.8°C. Typical December days reach 2.5°C with nights near -5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in Wilkes Barre, averaging 92 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 2023 with 220 mm, while the driest was 1998 at 22 mm.
Relative humidity in Wilkes Barre during December averages 88%. The most humid December was 1996 at 93%, and the least humid was 1998 at 78%.
December receives about 1.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wilkes Barre. The sunniest December was 1995 at 1.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2014 at 1.
Average wind speed in Wilkes Barre during December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest December was 2025 at 0.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2006, 2021 and 2023, among others at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.6°C | -0.8°C | -1.8°C | -0.4°C | -0.6°C | +2°C |
| Avg High | 1.2°C | 3.1°C | 2.0°C | 3.2°C | 3.3°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Low | -6.4°C | -4.6°C | -5.7°C | -3.9°C | -4.6°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 70 mm | 88 mm | 102 mm | 93 mm | 109 mm | +38 mm |
December temperatures in Wilkes Barre have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -24.1°C (1983) to a record high of 19.8°C (2001).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 92 mm, with a wettest year of 220 mm.
A quieter season to visit Wilkes Barre
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Wilkes Barre. That said, December — with days averaging 2.5°C and nights around -5°C (mean -1.2°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 | -0.1°C | -4.1°C | -8.1°C | 9.0°C | -13.9°C | 78 mm | 86% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.2°C | 14.1°C | -14.6°C | 102 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 5.7°C | 2.0°C | -1.7°C | 12.0°C | -8.9°C | 220 mm | 92% | 0.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | 2.8°C | -1.5°C | -5.9°C | 11.5°C | -17.8°C | 109 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2021 | 6.1°C | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | 15.2°C | -6.7°C | 38 mm | 88% | 0.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 2.7°C | -1.1°C | -4.8°C | 14.6°C | -16.8°C | 106 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | 2.2°C | -1.2°C | -4.6°C | 8.5°C | -12.4°C | 98 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2018 | 3.4°C | -0.1°C | -3.6°C | 14.4°C | -9.6°C | 145 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2017 | 0.7°C | -2.8°C | -6.3°C | 11.5°C | -16.8°C | 39 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | 2.1°C | -1.5°C | -5.1°C | 13.0°C | -12.0°C | 67 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 🔥 | 9.7°C | 5.9°C | 2.2°C | 18.3°C | -4.9°C | 108 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2014 | 3.0°C | -0.3°C | -3.7°C | 11.9°C | -8.3°C | 82 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | 1.7°C | -2.1°C | -5.9°C | 17.6°C | -14.9°C | 93 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2012 | 4.5°C | 1.0°C | -2.6°C | 16.4°C | -11.0°C | 122 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 5.1°C | 1.2°C | -2.8°C | 13.7°C | -8.6°C | 100 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -0.4°C | -3.7°C | -7.0°C | 14.6°C | -11.3°C | 76 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | 1.0°C | -2.4°C | -5.8°C | 14.8°C | -12.3°C | 123 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2008 | 1.6°C | -2.5°C | -6.7°C | 12.6°C | -18.6°C | 158 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2007 | 0.9°C | -2.3°C | -5.5°C | 11.4°C | -14.2°C | 127 mm | 92% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2006 | 6.2°C | 1.9°C | -2.3°C | 19.2°C | -10.2°C | 61 mm | 87% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | 0.0°C | -3.8°C | -7.5°C | 8.1°C | -17.6°C | 85 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2004 | 2.5°C | -1.6°C | -5.7°C | 12.4°C | -17.0°C | 106 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.3°C | 9.3°C | -10.4°C | 120 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | 0.2°C | -3.4°C | -6.9°C | 8.8°C | -14.5°C | 105 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2001 | 6.4°C | 2.2°C | -1.9°C | 19.8°C | -9.4°C | 46 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | -0.6°C | -4.8°C | -9.1°C | 14.3°C | -17.4°C | 95 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 | 4.0°C | -0.1°C | -4.2°C | 15.3°C | -11.4°C | 52 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1998 | 6.6°C | 2.0°C | -2.7°C | 19.2°C | -11.5°C | 22 mm | 78% | 0.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 2.6°C | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | 9.4°C | -15.7°C | 69 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | 2.9°C | -0.1°C | -3.1°C | 11.7°C | -12.1°C | 185 mm | 93% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | -1.7°C | -5.0°C | -8.2°C | 6.0°C | -15.3°C | 49 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | 4.8°C | 0.5°C | -3.8°C | 14.4°C | -11.6°C | 70 mm | 86% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1993 | 1.3°C | -2.5°C | -6.3°C | 8.7°C | -16.2°C | 102 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | 2.2°C | -1.4°C | -5.0°C | 11.7°C | -13.2°C | 81 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 3.5°C | -0.5°C | -4.4°C | 12.4°C | -12.5°C | 84 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1990 | 4.6°C | 0.5°C | -3.6°C | 14.6°C | -11.3°C | 162 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1989 ❄️ | -3.6°C | -7.8°C | -12.0°C | 3.5°C | -18.3°C | 33 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | 1.6°C | -2.4°C | -6.4°C | 9.7°C | -16.1°C | 28 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | 2.6°C | -0.8°C | -4.1°C | 9.2°C | -14.3°C | 40 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1986 | 2.7°C | -1.1°C | -5.0°C | 7.2°C | -13.0°C | 97 mm | 89% | 0.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1985 | 0.0°C | -4.0°C | -8.1°C | 6.9°C | -15.8°C | 49 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1984 | 4.2°C | 0.5°C | -3.3°C | 15.0°C | -9.2°C | 74 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | -1.2°C | -4.7°C | -8.3°C | 10.3°C | -24.1°C | 190 mm | 90% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.3°C | 1.3°C | -2.7°C | 18.2°C | -11.3°C | 51 mm | 86% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.6°C | -4.0°C | -7.3°C | 4.9°C | -17.0°C | 72 mm | 91% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 2.5°C with lows near -5°C (mean -1.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 92 mm of rainfall in Wilkes Barre, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 220 mm in 2023.
The hottest December reached 19.8°C in 2001. The coldest dipped to -24.1°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.5°C to 3.4°C and overnight lows from -5.9°C to -4.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Wilkes Barre and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 2.5°C daytime highs and -5°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 3rd coolest month in Wilkes Barre, averaging -1.2°C.
For December in Wilkes Barre, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.5°C and lows of -5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 88% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 0.3 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 0.4 m/s (2025).
The wettest December on record was 2023 with 220 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 Wilkes Barre 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.
