December is one of the cooler months of the year in Austin, with average highs near 17°C and lows around 4.8°C (mean 10.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 56 mm of rainfall and 73% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Austin. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Austin was 2021 — when the month averaged 17.6°C — while the coldest were 1983 and 1989 at 5.4°C. Typical December days reach 17°C with nights near 4.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Austin, averaging 56 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1991 with 291 mm, while the driest was 2005 at 4 mm.
Relative humidity in Austin during December averages 73%. The most humid December was 1986 at 85%, and the least humid were 2005 and 2008 at 59%.
December receives about 2.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Austin. The sunniest Decembers were 2003, 2019 and 2023, among others at 3.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 1.9.
Average wind speed in Austin during December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 3.5 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 | 9.4°C | 10.9°C | 10.2°C | 11.2°C | 13.8°C | +4.4°C |
| Avg High | 15.4°C | 16.9°C | 16.6°C | 17.1°C | 20.3°C | +4.9°C |
| Avg Low | 3.5°C | 4.9°C | 3.9°C | 5.4°C | 7.2°C | +3.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 55 mm | 83 mm | 45 mm | 54 mm | 34 mm | -21 mm |
December temperatures in Austin have risen by about 4.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -16.1°C (1989) to a record high of 30.6°C (2024).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 56 mm, with a wettest year of 291 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 Austin
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of October and April tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Austin. That said, December — with days averaging 17°C and nights around 4.8°C (mean 10.9°C) and moderate rainfall (56 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 | 20.4°C | 13.7°C | 6.9°C | 29.7°C | -1.5°C | 6 mm | 67% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 21.6°C | 15.0°C | 8.4°C | 30.6°C | 1.3°C | 33 mm | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2023 | 19.8°C | 13.2°C | 6.5°C | 25.6°C | 0.1°C | 53 mm | 69% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2022 | 17.6°C | 11.8°C | 5.9°C | 27.2°C | -9.7°C | 31 mm | 74% | 2.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 🔥 | 23.5°C | 17.6°C | 11.7°C | 29.0°C | 0.7°C | 21 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 18.7°C | 11.4°C | 4.0°C | 26.6°C | -1.4°C | 64 mm | 67% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 19.0°C | 12.1°C | 5.2°C | 27.6°C | -1.6°C | 18 mm | 68% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2018 | 15.6°C | 10.5°C | 5.4°C | 22.9°C | -0.6°C | 124 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 5.1°C | 28.3°C | -3.0°C | 72 mm | 71% | 2.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 16.6°C | 11.4°C | 6.1°C | 26.8°C | -6.2°C | 66 mm | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 | 18.9°C | 12.8°C | 6.7°C | 25.7°C | -0.5°C | 61 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 16.7°C | 11.8°C | 6.9°C | 25.1°C | -0.7°C | 30 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 14.1°C | 8.2°C | 2.4°C | 25.4°C | -4.9°C | 24 mm | 77% | 2.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2012 | 19.9°C | 13.3°C | 6.6°C | 28.4°C | -4.3°C | 12 mm | 62% | 2.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2011 | 15.8°C | 10.3°C | 4.9°C | 23.1°C | -5.6°C | 106 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2010 | 18.4°C | 11.4°C | 4.3°C | 27.7°C | -4.2°C | 22 mm | 63% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2009 | 12.9°C | 7.5°C | 2.1°C | 22.7°C | -4.8°C | 53 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 18.3°C | 11.3°C | 4.3°C | 27.4°C | -2.0°C | 9 mm | 59% | 3.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2007 | 18.7°C | 11.6°C | 4.6°C | 27.3°C | -3.9°C | 21 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2006 | 17.6°C | 11.4°C | 5.2°C | 25.9°C | -3.8°C | 63 mm | 70% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 17.5°C | 10.6°C | 3.8°C | 29.1°C | -3.7°C | 4 mm | 59% | 2.7 m/s | 3 |
| 2004 | 16.1°C | 10.0°C | 4.0°C | 23.0°C | -5.4°C | 13 mm | 77% | 2.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 18.6°C | 11.6°C | 4.7°C | 24.5°C | -2.1°C | 16 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2002 | 16.5°C | 10.6°C | 4.7°C | 23.1°C | -3.2°C | 117 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 17.4°C | 11.3°C | 5.2°C | 25.5°C | -2.9°C | 91 mm | 76% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2000 | 12.4°C | 6.5°C | 0.5°C | 22.8°C | -4.6°C | 64 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 19.2°C | 11.8°C | 4.4°C | 28.1°C | -2.7°C | 34 mm | 62% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1998 | 15.7°C | 10.2°C | 4.7°C | 26.4°C | -4.0°C | 52 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | 15.7°C | 9.2°C | 2.8°C | 24.9°C | -4.6°C | 107 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 17.7°C | 11.1°C | 4.4°C | 26.3°C | -6.7°C | 63 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 | 17.9°C | 11.6°C | 5.3°C | 27.1°C | -5.8°C | 26 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1994 | 17.1°C | 11.7°C | 6.3°C | 25.5°C | -0.5°C | 120 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1993 | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 4.9°C | 24.4°C | -3.6°C | 41 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1992 | 16.5°C | 11.1°C | 5.8°C | 24.8°C | 0.2°C | 78 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 16.2°C | 11.6°C | 7.0°C | 23.9°C | -0.4°C | 291 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 17.1°C | 10.4°C | 3.7°C | 26.9°C | -7.9°C | 20 mm | 70% | 3.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1989 | 12.0°C | 5.4°C | -1.2°C | 25.4°C | -16.1°C | 5 mm | 62% | 3.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 18.2°C | 11.8°C | 5.4°C | 25.2°C | -2.1°C | 35 mm | 68% | 2.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 | 16.3°C | 10.2°C | 4.2°C | 25.3°C | -3.4°C | 65 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1986 | 13.5°C | 8.6°C | 3.7°C | 21.0°C | -2.1°C | 152 mm | 85% | 2.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1985 | 14.2°C | 7.9°C | 1.6°C | 23.1°C | -6.7°C | 46 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1984 | 19.5°C | 14.4°C | 9.4°C | 24.4°C | -3.5°C | 104 mm | 83% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1983 ❄️ | 11.4°C | 5.4°C | -0.6°C | 26.5°C | -12.8°C | 17 mm | 67% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.0°C | 10.3°C | 4.6°C | 26.6°C | -4.2°C | 62 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.1°C | 10.6°C | 4.1°C | 25.8°C | -5.2°C | 11 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 17°C with lows near 4.8°C (mean 10.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 56 mm of rainfall in Austin, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 291 mm in 1991.
The hottest December reached 30.6°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -16.1°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 15.6°C to 20.6°C and overnight lows from 3.8°C to 7.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Austin and one of the drier months, so plan for around 17°C daytime highs and 4.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Austin, averaging 10.9°C.
For December in Austin, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17°C and lows of 4.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 73% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.5 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1991 with 291 mm. On average, December sees 56 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 Austin 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.
