December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia, with average highs near 9.8°C and lows around -0.2°C (mean 4.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 136 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Columbia was 2015 — when the month averaged 10.7°C — while the coldest was 1989 at -2°C. Typical December days reach 9.8°C with nights near -0.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Columbia, averaging 136 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1990 with 379 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 43 mm.
Relative humidity in Columbia during December averages 84%. The most humid December was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2023 at 75%.
December receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Columbia. The sunniest Decembers were 1988, 2004 and 2006, among others at 2.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in Columbia during December is 1.6 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1982 and 2008 at 2 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 1.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.2°C | 4.9°C | 4.1°C | 5.7°C | 6.4°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg High | 8.0°C | 9.9°C | 9.2°C | 10.5°C | 11.8°C | +3.8°C |
| Avg Low | -1.6°C | -0.1°C | -1.0°C | 0.9°C | 1.0°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 125 mm | 159 mm | 122 mm | 148 mm | 118 mm | -7 mm |
December temperatures in Columbia have risen by about 3.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -20.6°C (1989) to a record high of 24.3°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 136 mm, with a wettest year of 379 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.6°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Columbia
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Columbia. That said, December — with days averaging 9.8°C and nights around -0.2°C (mean 4.8°C) and higher rainfall (136 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 | 10.7°C | 5.4°C | 0.1°C | 22.2°C | -9.4°C | 60 mm | 80% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 11.4°C | 6.3°C | 1.1°C | 17.7°C | -7.1°C | 126 mm | 78% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2023 | 13.1°C | 7.1°C | 1.1°C | 21.6°C | -6.1°C | 82 mm | 75% | 1.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 9.9°C | 5.0°C | 0.0°C | 21.9°C | -15.5°C | 164 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2021 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 5.1°C | 21.8°C | -4.3°C | 145 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2020 | 9.7°C | 4.2°C | -1.2°C | 18.3°C | -8.0°C | 131 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2019 | 12.5°C | 7.7°C | 2.9°C | 19.8°C | -5.0°C | 148 mm | 87% | 1.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2018 | 9.9°C | 5.5°C | 1.1°C | 19.8°C | -7.0°C | 183 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 8.8°C | 3.9°C | -1.1°C | 18.1°C | -11.6°C | 131 mm | 79% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 10.2°C | 4.8°C | -0.6°C | 21.9°C | -14.8°C | 168 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2015 🔥 | 15.5°C | 10.7°C | 5.9°C | 23.1°C | -3.9°C | 182 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2014 | 9.9°C | 5.6°C | 1.4°C | 18.9°C | -4.4°C | 135 mm | 88% | 1.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 9.3°C | 4.4°C | -0.5°C | 21.3°C | -8.1°C | 160 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2012 | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 2.4°C | 21.2°C | -6.1°C | 169 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2011 | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 0.8°C | 18.3°C | -5.4°C | 155 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2010 | 5.1°C | 0.7°C | -3.6°C | 17.1°C | -13.6°C | 45 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 7.8°C | 3.1°C | -1.6°C | 17.8°C | -6.4°C | 131 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 9.5°C | 4.0°C | -1.4°C | 20.2°C | -10.6°C | 205 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | 12.7°C | 7.6°C | 2.5°C | 22.7°C | -5.3°C | 85 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2006 | 12.2°C | 6.4°C | 0.6°C | 20.1°C | -8.4°C | 81 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 7.6°C | 2.4°C | -2.9°C | 16.0°C | -7.0°C | 84 mm | 82% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | 8.3°C | 3.6°C | -1.1°C | 18.4°C | -11.6°C | 172 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2003 | 8.9°C | 3.4°C | -2.0°C | 14.2°C | -6.0°C | 82 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2002 | 8.4°C | 3.9°C | -0.5°C | 16.7°C | -9.5°C | 160 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2001 | 11.9°C | 6.8°C | 1.7°C | 20.7°C | -8.4°C | 114 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | 4.7°C | -0.4°C | -5.5°C | 18.9°C | -11.6°C | 101 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1999 | 11.5°C | 5.6°C | -0.4°C | 20.1°C | -6.8°C | 70 mm | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 0.9°C | 24.3°C | -12.0°C | 185 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1997 | 8.1°C | 3.5°C | -1.2°C | 15.7°C | -7.3°C | 80 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1996 | 10.6°C | 5.6°C | 0.5°C | 18.9°C | -10.2°C | 143 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 7.5°C | 2.8°C | -1.9°C | 18.7°C | -11.2°C | 91 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1994 | 11.8°C | 6.7°C | 1.7°C | 19.1°C | -5.1°C | 85 mm | 86% | 1.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1993 | 8.4°C | 3.9°C | -0.7°C | 16.6°C | -9.7°C | 186 mm | 85% | 1.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1992 | 8.5°C | 3.9°C | -0.7°C | 16.5°C | -7.0°C | 113 mm | 88% | 1.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 10.5°C | 5.6°C | 0.7°C | 22.0°C | -6.1°C | 257 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 🌧️ | 11.4°C | 5.8°C | 0.3°C | 20.7°C | -10.2°C | 379 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 2.8°C | -2.0°C | -6.7°C | 16.3°C | -20.6°C | 78 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1988 | 9.2°C | 3.9°C | -1.5°C | 18.3°C | -6.4°C | 140 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 11.0°C | 5.7°C | 0.3°C | 18.2°C | -5.6°C | 156 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1986 | 7.6°C | 3.2°C | -1.1°C | 17.2°C | -5.1°C | 131 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | 5.6°C | 0.5°C | -4.7°C | 18.7°C | -13.7°C | 43 mm | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1984 | 13.1°C | 8.6°C | 4.1°C | 21.6°C | -9.5°C | 79 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1983 | 4.4°C | -0.1°C | -4.6°C | 19.6°C | -19.7°C | 211 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 11.7°C | 7.4°C | 3.1°C | 21.7°C | -7.2°C | 206 mm | 88% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.6°C | 1.7°C | -3.3°C | 15.5°C | -12.6°C | 78 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 9.8°C with lows near -0.2°C (mean 4.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 136 mm of rainfall in Columbia, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 379 mm in 1990.
The hottest December reached 24.3°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -20.6°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 8.3°C to 12.3°C and overnight lows from -1.1°C to 1.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 9.8°C daytime highs and -0.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Columbia, averaging 4.8°C.
For December in Columbia, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 9.8°C and lows of -0.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.6 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 2 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 1990 with 379 mm. On average, December sees 136 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 Columbia 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.
