December is one of the cooler months of the year in El Paso, with average highs near 13.4°C and lows around 0.2°C (mean 6.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 19 mm of rainfall and 52% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in El Paso. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in El Paso was 2025 — when the month averaged 11.6°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 4.2°C. Typical December days reach 13.4°C with nights near 0.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is about average for rainfall in El Paso, averaging 19 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1991 with 87 mm, while the driest was 2024 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in El Paso during December averages 52%. The most humid December was 1984 at 69%, and the least humid was 2020 at 36%.
December receives about 3.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in El Paso. The sunniest Decembers were 1985 and 2003 at 3.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984 and 1992 at 2.8.
Average wind speed in El Paso during December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December was 1982 at 3.2 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 2002 at 2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 6.1°C | 6.2°C | 6.1°C | 7.3°C | 9.2°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg High | 12.7°C | 12.7°C | 12.7°C | 13.7°C | 16.2°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -0.5°C | -0.2°C | -0.5°C | 0.9°C | 2.3°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg Rain | 26 mm | 28 mm | 14 mm | 14 mm | 6 mm | -20 mm |
December temperatures in El Paso have risen by about 3.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -8.7°C (1989) to a record high of 24.3°C (2025).
Rainfall in December is about average for rainfall, averaging 19 mm, with a wettest year of 87 mm.
A quieter season to visit El Paso
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting El Paso. That said, December — with days averaging 13.4°C and nights around 0.2°C (mean 6.8°C) and low rainfall (19 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 🔥 | 18.7°C | 11.6°C | 4.5°C | 24.3°C | -1.5°C | 2 mm | 45% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 17.2°C | 10.0°C | 2.9°C | 22.1°C | -1.9°C | 0 mm | 42% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2023 | 15.8°C | 8.7°C | 1.5°C | 21.9°C | -3.7°C | 9 mm | 43% | 2.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 14.4°C | 7.7°C | 1.1°C | 22.2°C | -8.3°C | 10 mm | 52% | 2.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2021 | 17.4°C | 11.0°C | 4.6°C | 23.2°C | -0.2°C | 14 mm | 46% | 2.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2020 | 13.6°C | 6.4°C | -0.8°C | 20.8°C | -5.3°C | 3 mm | 36% | 2.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2019 | 13.9°C | 7.4°C | 1.0°C | 20.9°C | -5.1°C | 14 mm | 52% | 2.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2018 | 12.8°C | 7.0°C | 1.1°C | 20.0°C | -4.9°C | 19 mm | 54% | 2.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2017 | 15.1°C | 8.5°C | 1.9°C | 22.5°C | -5.6°C | 11 mm | 45% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 | 14.5°C | 8.2°C | 2.0°C | 22.4°C | -4.1°C | 27 mm | 55% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2015 | 13.3°C | 6.7°C | 0.1°C | 22.1°C | -5.6°C | 17 mm | 49% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 13.9°C | 8.0°C | 2.1°C | 21.2°C | -5.8°C | 5 mm | 58% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 12.5°C | 6.0°C | -0.6°C | 19.6°C | -6.6°C | 10 mm | 52% | 2.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2012 | 14.4°C | 7.6°C | 0.7°C | 23.2°C | -6.1°C | 3 mm | 41% | 2.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 10.4°C | 4.5°C | -1.3°C | 21.0°C | -7.0°C | 25 mm | 62% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 16.2°C | 9.0°C | 1.7°C | 20.9°C | -6.4°C | 6 mm | 44% | 2.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 10.7°C | 4.8°C | -1.1°C | 15.4°C | -6.7°C | 18 mm | 58% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2008 | 13.6°C | 7.0°C | 0.4°C | 20.1°C | -5.5°C | 5 mm | 51% | 3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2007 | 12.4°C | 6.0°C | -0.5°C | 22.6°C | -5.3°C | 17 mm | 49% | 2.6 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2006 | 11.7°C | 5.3°C | -1.2°C | 18.3°C | -4.8°C | 4 mm | 57% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2005 | 14.8°C | 7.6°C | 0.4°C | 22.1°C | -7.8°C | 2 mm | 38% | 2.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2004 | 12.0°C | 5.6°C | -0.7°C | 19.1°C | -6.7°C | 41 mm | 58% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2003 | 13.5°C | 6.4°C | -0.6°C | 20.2°C | -6.7°C | 1 mm | 42% | 2.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2002 | 12.0°C | 5.8°C | -0.4°C | 19.5°C | -4.3°C | 43 mm | 57% | 2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 13.2°C | 6.1°C | -1.0°C | 21.0°C | -5.0°C | 7 mm | 45% | 2.3 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 13.0°C | 6.3°C | -0.5°C | 17.0°C | -4.6°C | 6 mm | 51% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 12.7°C | 5.8°C | -1.0°C | 18.8°C | -4.8°C | 12 mm | 45% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 13.7°C | 6.7°C | -0.3°C | 21.4°C | -5.7°C | 11 mm | 54% | 2.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 10.3°C | 4.2°C | -2.0°C | 16.9°C | -6.4°C | 53 mm | 57% | 2.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1996 | 13.8°C | 6.7°C | -0.4°C | 21.3°C | -8.6°C | 1 mm | 48% | 2.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1995 | 14.8°C | 7.6°C | 0.4°C | 22.4°C | -4.0°C | 11 mm | 50% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1994 | 14.2°C | 7.8°C | 1.3°C | 18.0°C | -5.4°C | 34 mm | 57% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1993 | 12.7°C | 6.4°C | 0.1°C | 19.4°C | -5.7°C | 15 mm | 48% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1992 | 10.8°C | 5.3°C | -0.3°C | 17.3°C | -5.4°C | 42 mm | 65% | 2.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 11.8°C | 6.1°C | 0.3°C | 19.4°C | -5.6°C | 87 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1990 | 11.8°C | 5.6°C | -0.5°C | 18.4°C | -7.3°C | 12 mm | 55% | 2.4 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1989 | 11.9°C | 5.0°C | -1.8°C | 19.0°C | -8.7°C | 12 mm | 51% | 2.1 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1988 | 11.5°C | 5.0°C | -1.4°C | 17.5°C | -6.3°C | 13 mm | 51% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1987 | 12.7°C | 6.2°C | -0.4°C | 23.2°C | -7.5°C | 39 mm | 56% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1986 | 11.4°C | 5.5°C | -0.3°C | 16.9°C | -6.8°C | 52 mm | 68% | 2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 | 13.6°C | 6.5°C | -0.6°C | 18.3°C | -6.1°C | 1 mm | 52% | 2.1 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1984 | 13.1°C | 7.6°C | 2.1°C | 18.8°C | -4.7°C | 52 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1983 | 12.9°C | 5.9°C | -1.0°C | 19.2°C | -8.2°C | 6 mm | 56% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 10.7°C | 4.5°C | -1.6°C | 17.0°C | -5.2°C | 62 mm | 63% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.1°C | 8.5°C | 0.9°C | 20.7°C | -4.9°C | 2 mm | 48% | 2.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 13.4°C with lows near 0.2°C (mean 6.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 19 mm of rainfall in El Paso, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 87 mm in 1991.
The hottest December reached 24.3°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -8.7°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 13.3°C to 16.7°C and overnight lows from 0°C to 2.9°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in El Paso and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 13.4°C daytime highs and 0.2°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in El Paso, averaging 6.8°C.
For December in El Paso, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 13.4°C and lows of 0.2°C.
Relative humidity in December averages 52% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in December is 2.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.2 m/s (1982).
The wettest December on record was 1991 with 87 mm. On average, December sees 19 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 El Paso 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.
