December is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 18.5°C and lows around 7.8°C (mean 13.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 92 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Richmond was 2021 — when the month averaged 19.6°C — while the coldest was 1989 at 7.2°C. Typical December days reach 18.5°C with nights near 7.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
December is one of the drier months in Richmond, averaging 92 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1991 with 183 mm, while the driest was 2013 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during December averages 81%. The most humid December was 1984 at 88%, and the least humid was 1989 at 71%.
December receives about 2.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest December was 2003 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 2.
Average wind speed in Richmond during December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December was 2008 at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1986, 1994 and 2025 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.9°C | 13.3°C | 12.1°C | 13.6°C | 15.6°C | +3.7°C |
| Avg High | 17.1°C | 18.5°C | 17.6°C | 19.0°C | 21.3°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Low | 6.7°C | 8.1°C | 6.6°C | 8.2°C | 9.9°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 88 mm | 113 mm | 89 mm | 91 mm | 70 mm | -18 mm |
December temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 3.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -11.1°C (1989) to a record high of 28.5°C (2025).
Rainfall in December is one of the drier months, averaging 92 mm, with a wettest year of 183 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Richmond
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of April and October tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Richmond. That said, December — with days averaging 18.5°C and nights around 7.8°C (mean 13.2°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 | 21.6°C | 15.6°C | 9.7°C | 28.5°C | 0.1°C | 37 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 22.4°C | 16.6°C | 10.8°C | 27.8°C | 2.4°C | 79 mm | 79% | 2.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2023 | 20.2°C | 14.5°C | 8.7°C | 27.6°C | 0.8°C | 58 mm | 77% | 2.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2022 | 19.7°C | 14.1°C | 8.5°C | 27.1°C | -8.6°C | 75 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2021 🔥 | 24.6°C | 19.6°C | 14.6°C | 28.4°C | 4.5°C | 39 mm | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 19.4°C | 13.2°C | 7.0°C | 25.0°C | -0.9°C | 129 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2019 | 20.0°C | 13.8°C | 7.6°C | 27.2°C | -0.6°C | 25 mm | 75% | 2.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2018 | 17.9°C | 12.9°C | 7.9°C | 23.9°C | 2.0°C | 156 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 17.5°C | 12.2°C | 6.9°C | 26.8°C | -1.6°C | 114 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2016 | 19.6°C | 14.9°C | 10.1°C | 26.9°C | -2.3°C | 143 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 20.6°C | 15.3°C | 10.0°C | 27.9°C | 3.1°C | 81 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2014 | 19.1°C | 14.2°C | 9.2°C | 25.2°C | 2.6°C | 112 mm | 85% | 2.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 15.9°C | 10.6°C | 5.4°C | 26.1°C | -1.5°C | 19 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2012 | 21.6°C | 15.5°C | 9.3°C | 28.3°C | -0.7°C | 78 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 18.3°C | 13.2°C | 8.0°C | 26.0°C | -3.3°C | 105 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 19.4°C | 13.4°C | 7.4°C | 26.7°C | -2.4°C | 72 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2009 | 14.7°C | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | 24.9°C | -4.4°C | 149 mm | 84% | 2.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2008 | 18.8°C | 13.1°C | 7.4°C | 26.0°C | -1.6°C | 33 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 20.1°C | 14.1°C | 8.2°C | 26.3°C | -1.8°C | 46 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2006 | 17.7°C | 12.6°C | 7.6°C | 24.7°C | -1.8°C | 91 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2005 | 17.9°C | 11.9°C | 6.0°C | 28.0°C | -0.8°C | 65 mm | 73% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 17.4°C | 12.0°C | 6.6°C | 25.2°C | -2.6°C | 50 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 18.5°C | 12.4°C | 6.2°C | 23.7°C | -0.9°C | 96 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 17.3°C | 12.4°C | 7.5°C | 23.9°C | -0.7°C | 180 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 18.7°C | 13.5°C | 8.3°C | 25.7°C | 0.6°C | 118 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 14.8°C | 9.2°C | 3.7°C | 24.6°C | -2.6°C | 66 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1999 | 19.7°C | 13.2°C | 6.7°C | 26.5°C | 0.3°C | 79 mm | 73% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1998 | 17.9°C | 13.0°C | 8.1°C | 26.5°C | -3.5°C | 92 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 16.6°C | 10.9°C | 5.2°C | 24.6°C | -2.8°C | 103 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 19.5°C | 14.0°C | 8.5°C | 25.7°C | -6.2°C | 81 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1995 | 18.4°C | 13.4°C | 8.3°C | 28.1°C | -2.2°C | 162 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1994 | 18.8°C | 14.1°C | 9.3°C | 26.9°C | 1.0°C | 181 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1993 | 17.4°C | 12.6°C | 7.8°C | 25.0°C | -1.2°C | 72 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1992 | 19.1°C | 14.2°C | 9.2°C | 24.7°C | 4.0°C | 105 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 18.0°C | 14.1°C | 10.2°C | 24.4°C | -0.6°C | 183 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 19.2°C | 13.5°C | 7.9°C | 26.7°C | -5.8°C | 67 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1989 ❄️ | 13.1°C | 7.2°C | 1.4°C | 25.2°C | -11.1°C | 24 mm | 71% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 20.5°C | 14.7°C | 8.9°C | 26.4°C | 0.9°C | 67 mm | 74% | 2.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 18.9°C | 13.5°C | 8.2°C | 26.3°C | -2.2°C | 104 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1986 | 14.8°C | 10.6°C | 6.4°C | 23.5°C | 0.5°C | 155 mm | 87% | 2.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1985 | 15.9°C | 10.3°C | 4.7°C | 23.5°C | -6.1°C | 66 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1984 | 21.0°C | 16.7°C | 12.4°C | 25.3°C | -3.3°C | 86 mm | 88% | 3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1983 | 13.4°C | 8.1°C | 2.9°C | 27.0°C | -10.0°C | 73 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 18.4°C | 13.5°C | 8.5°C | 26.5°C | -2.1°C | 139 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.8°C | 12.5°C | 7.2°C | 25.4°C | -2.6°C | 75 mm | 80% | 2.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 18.5°C with lows near 7.8°C (mean 13.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 92 mm of rainfall in Richmond, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 183 mm in 1991.
The hottest December reached 28.5°C in 2025. The coldest dipped to -11.1°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 3.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 17.3°C to 21.7°C and overnight lows from 7.1°C to 10.5°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond and one of the drier months, so plan for around 18.5°C daytime highs and 7.8°C at night.
Not quite — December is the 2nd coolest month in Richmond, averaging 13.2°C.
For December in Richmond, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 18.5°C and lows of 7.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 2.8 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 3.3 m/s (2008).
The wettest December on record was 1991 with 183 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 Richmond 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.
