December is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis, with average highs near 10.8°C and lows around 0.7°C (mean 5.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 137 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Memphis was 2021 — when the month averaged 12.4°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -1.9°C. Typical December days reach 10.8°C with nights near 0.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Memphis, averaging 137 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1982 with 355 mm, while the driest was 2025 at 35 mm.
Relative humidity in Memphis during December averages 83%. The most humid December was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2023 at 73%.
December receives about 2.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Memphis. The sunniest Decembers were 1985 and 2004 at 2.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1992 and 2014 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in Memphis during December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 1994 at 2.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 4.1°C | 6.0°C | 4.9°C | 6.6°C | 7.7°C | +3.6°C |
| Avg High | 8.9°C | 11.0°C | 10.0°C | 11.5°C | 13.1°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Low | -0.8°C | 1.0°C | -0.2°C | 1.6°C | 2.3°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 154 mm | 142 mm | 139 mm | 128 mm | 119 mm | -35 mm |
December temperatures in Memphis have risen by about 4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -26.2°C (1983) to a record high of 25.6°C (1998).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 137 mm, with a wettest year of 355 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.9°C per decade while lows rose 0.7°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Memphis
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Memphis. That said, December — with days averaging 10.8°C and nights around 0.7°C (mean 5.8°C) and higher rainfall (137 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 | 12.0°C | 6.4°C | 0.8°C | 23.5°C | -8.3°C | 35 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 12.4°C | 7.5°C | 2.6°C | 19.8°C | -5.7°C | 210 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2023 | 14.2°C | 8.3°C | 2.3°C | 22.0°C | -4.8°C | 50 mm | 73% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 11.1°C | 6.3°C | 1.4°C | 22.9°C | -14.2°C | 161 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 🔥 | 18.1°C | 12.4°C | 6.7°C | 23.8°C | -3.5°C | 101 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2020 | 11.0°C | 5.5°C | 0.0°C | 19.5°C | -6.4°C | 155 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 12.8°C | 7.9°C | 2.9°C | 20.4°C | -3.9°C | 113 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2018 | 11.0°C | 6.5°C | 2.0°C | 22.8°C | -6.9°C | 155 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 10.6°C | 5.5°C | 0.3°C | 21.7°C | -10.9°C | 172 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 | 10.9°C | 5.7°C | 0.5°C | 24.3°C | -11.2°C | 152 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 | 15.8°C | 10.7°C | 5.6°C | 24.9°C | -2.9°C | 123 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 11.1°C | 6.4°C | 1.7°C | 20.2°C | -4.4°C | 69 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2013 | 9.4°C | 4.6°C | -0.2°C | 22.7°C | -9.1°C | 130 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2012 | 13.6°C | 8.5°C | 3.4°C | 22.6°C | -6.4°C | 122 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2011 | 11.2°C | 6.4°C | 1.5°C | 17.7°C | -4.3°C | 194 mm | 86% | 2.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2010 | 8.4°C | 3.3°C | -1.8°C | 20.4°C | -8.6°C | 52 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 7.6°C | 3.5°C | -0.6°C | 16.1°C | -6.1°C | 152 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 10.1°C | 4.8°C | -0.6°C | 22.5°C | -8.8°C | 200 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | 13.5°C | 8.0°C | 2.5°C | 23.6°C | -3.6°C | 136 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2006 | 12.5°C | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | 21.6°C | -7.5°C | 141 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 10.0°C | 4.3°C | -1.3°C | 20.4°C | -7.5°C | 47 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 9.9°C | 4.6°C | -0.7°C | 20.6°C | -14.2°C | 111 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2003 | 10.8°C | 5.1°C | -0.6°C | 18.6°C | -4.7°C | 79 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2002 | 9.3°C | 4.9°C | 0.5°C | 17.7°C | -6.7°C | 225 mm | 89% | 3.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2001 | 12.3°C | 7.4°C | 2.6°C | 21.5°C | -4.8°C | 226 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2000 | 4.4°C | -0.7°C | -5.8°C | 17.0°C | -12.4°C | 69 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 12.0°C | 6.4°C | 0.7°C | 22.4°C | -5.3°C | 117 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1998 | 11.8°C | 6.7°C | 1.6°C | 25.6°C | -8.0°C | 131 mm | 81% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 9.1°C | 4.4°C | -0.2°C | 15.8°C | -5.6°C | 91 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | 11.0°C | 6.2°C | 1.4°C | 21.9°C | -11.6°C | 123 mm | 88% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 9.7°C | 4.9°C | 0.1°C | 21.6°C | -8.8°C | 116 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1994 | 12.0°C | 7.1°C | 2.3°C | 19.9°C | -4.8°C | 127 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1993 | 10.1°C | 5.4°C | 0.8°C | 16.9°C | -7.6°C | 142 mm | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 10.3°C | 5.4°C | 0.5°C | 20.2°C | -6.6°C | 94 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 11.4°C | 6.7°C | 2.1°C | 19.8°C | -4.8°C | 194 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 12.3°C | 6.5°C | 0.6°C | 21.0°C | -11.0°C | 288 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 2 |
| 1989 | 4.9°C | -0.2°C | -5.3°C | 18.5°C | -19.8°C | 65 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 10.3°C | 5.0°C | -0.4°C | 19.2°C | -10.0°C | 148 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 11.5°C | 6.5°C | 1.5°C | 19.1°C | -5.2°C | 278 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1986 | 8.5°C | 4.3°C | 0.0°C | 17.1°C | -4.3°C | 119 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | 7.0°C | 1.8°C | -3.4°C | 19.9°C | -9.6°C | 61 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1984 | 14.3°C | 9.8°C | 5.3°C | 22.2°C | -8.6°C | 91 mm | 90% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1983 ❄️ | 2.7°C | -1.9°C | -6.5°C | 19.0°C | -26.2°C | 224 mm | 89% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 🌧️ | 11.7°C | 7.6°C | 3.5°C | 23.0°C | -7.7°C | 355 mm | 89% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 9.3°C | 3.7°C | -1.8°C | 20.5°C | -11.9°C | 43 mm | 75% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 10.8°C with lows near 0.7°C (mean 5.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 137 mm of rainfall in Memphis, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 355 mm in 1982.
The hottest December reached 25.6°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -26.2°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4°C. Daytime highs moved from 9°C to 13.6°C and overnight lows from -0.6°C to 2.8°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 10.8°C daytime highs and 0.7°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Memphis, averaging 5.8°C.
For December in Memphis, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 10.8°C and lows of 0.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.6 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1982 with 355 mm. On average, December sees 137 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 Memphis 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.
