December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yakima, with average highs near 1.1°C and lows around -5.2°C (mean -2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 99 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yakima. Across 45 years of records, the warmest December in Yakima was 2025 — when the month averaged 2.2°C — while the coldest was 1983 at -8.2°C. Typical December days reach 1.1°C with nights near -5.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
December is a relatively wet time of year in Yakima, averaging 99 mm of rainfall. The wettest December on record was 1996 with 256 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 40 mm.
Relative humidity in Yakima during December averages 90%. The most humid December was 2024 at 95%, and the least humid was 2009 at 79%.
December receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Yakima. The sunniest Decembers were 2011 and 2013 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1993 and 1995 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Yakima during December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest Decembers were 1990 and 2025 at 1.8 m/s, while the calmest was 1989 at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.6°C | -2.3°C | -2.0°C | -1.3°C | -0.6°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | -0.3°C | 0.9°C | 1.1°C | 1.8°C | 2.4°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -7.0°C | -5.5°C | -5.0°C | -4.5°C | -3.6°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 102 mm | 120 mm | 93 mm | 85 mm | 89 mm | -14 mm |
December temperatures in Yakima have risen by about 4.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
December has ranged from a record low of -28°C (1983) to a record high of 15.5°C (2021).
Rainfall in December is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 99 mm, with a wettest year of 256 mm.
A quieter season to visit Yakima
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Yakima. That said, December — with days averaging 1.1°C and nights around -5.2°C (mean -2°C) and higher rainfall (99 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 🔥 | 5.5°C | 2.2°C | -1.1°C | 14.9°C | -8.6°C | 113 mm | 91% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 2024 | 1.1°C | -1.2°C | -3.6°C | 4.0°C | -8.1°C | 122 mm | 95% | 1.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2023 | 3.5°C | 0.9°C | -1.7°C | 10.5°C | -5.9°C | 88 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | -0.4°C | -3.9°C | -7.4°C | 4.5°C | -20.4°C | 90 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | 1.4°C | -1.8°C | -5.1°C | 15.5°C | -14.9°C | 62 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2020 | 3.1°C | 0.1°C | -2.9°C | 9.6°C | -7.3°C | 57 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 3.3°C | 0.4°C | -2.5°C | 8.0°C | -6.0°C | 66 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2018 | 2.1°C | -0.7°C | -3.5°C | 7.2°C | -8.9°C | 90 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | 0.7°C | -2.4°C | -5.5°C | 6.1°C | -12.7°C | 56 mm | 88% | 1.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | -0.6°C | -4.2°C | -7.8°C | 5.6°C | -15.7°C | 65 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 | 1.3°C | -1.6°C | -4.5°C | 10.7°C | -13.6°C | 179 mm | 93% | 1.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 2.9°C | -0.1°C | -3.2°C | 7.9°C | -13.5°C | 87 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | 2.0°C | -1.6°C | -5.1°C | 7.6°C | -15.9°C | 48 mm | 83% | 1.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | 2.2°C | -0.9°C | -4.1°C | 8.5°C | -10.7°C | 113 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 3.5°C | -0.2°C | -4.0°C | 7.3°C | -8.7°C | 47 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2010 | 0.9°C | -1.8°C | -4.5°C | 8.4°C | -15.7°C | 104 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | -0.7°C | -3.9°C | -7.2°C | 6.0°C | -15.1°C | 60 mm | 79% | 1.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -0.4°C | -3.8°C | -7.3°C | 10.5°C | -17.9°C | 85 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | 1.7°C | -1.4°C | -4.5°C | 9.7°C | -10.0°C | 120 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 | 0.8°C | -2.5°C | -5.8°C | 5.7°C | -11.4°C | 111 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | -6.2°C | 6.7°C | -13.9°C | 128 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | 4.6°C | 1.4°C | -1.8°C | 10.3°C | -5.7°C | 60 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2003 | 1.6°C | -1.3°C | -4.1°C | 4.9°C | -11.6°C | 84 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 2.7°C | 0.0°C | -2.8°C | 9.5°C | -6.9°C | 134 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2001 | 1.1°C | -1.8°C | -4.6°C | 4.4°C | -9.9°C | 97 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2000 | -0.1°C | -3.1°C | -6.2°C | 4.2°C | -12.7°C | 47 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | 3.1°C | 0.0°C | -3.0°C | 7.7°C | -7.3°C | 105 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1998 | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 7.3°C | -17.8°C | 163 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1997 | 2.3°C | -0.9°C | -4.2°C | 6.2°C | -7.2°C | 45 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 0.5°C | -2.7°C | -5.8°C | 3.0°C | -15.7°C | 256 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | 0.7°C | -2.4°C | -5.4°C | 6.6°C | -13.3°C | 139 mm | 91% | 1.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1994 | 0.5°C | -2.6°C | -5.6°C | 7.2°C | -14.9°C | 127 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1993 | 1.3°C | -1.6°C | -4.6°C | 6.5°C | -7.9°C | 99 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1992 | -1.6°C | -4.8°C | -8.1°C | 3.2°C | -16.7°C | 119 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 2.7°C | -0.3°C | -3.4°C | 6.8°C | -6.8°C | 70 mm | 91% | 1.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -1.6°C | -5.6°C | -9.5°C | 6.3°C | -26.7°C | 76 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1989 | 4.0°C | 0.6°C | -2.7°C | 13.2°C | -5.8°C | 58 mm | 88% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1988 | 1.7°C | -1.7°C | -5.1°C | 9.4°C | -14.9°C | 70 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | 0.4°C | -3.2°C | -6.9°C | 6.1°C | -14.3°C | 162 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1986 | 0.6°C | -2.6°C | -5.8°C | 4.6°C | -9.5°C | 68 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 | -2.8°C | -6.2°C | -9.7°C | 1.6°C | -24.1°C | 40 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1984 | -2.0°C | -5.8°C | -9.7°C | 3.1°C | -21.3°C | 78 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1983 ❄️ | -4.8°C | -8.2°C | -11.7°C | 2.0°C | -28.0°C | 110 mm | 93% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.4°C | -3.5°C | -6.6°C | 8.5°C | -15.2°C | 171 mm | 94% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | -5.2°C | 5.1°C | -14.5°C | 164 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded December data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in December is around 1.1°C with lows near -5.2°C (mean -2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
December averages 99 mm of rainfall in Yakima, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 256 mm in 1996.
The hottest December reached 15.5°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to -28°C in 1983.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average December temperatures have risen by about 4.4°C. Daytime highs moved from -1.8°C to 2.2°C and overnight lows from -8.6°C to -3.8°C over the same span.
December is one of the cooler months of the year in Yakima and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 1.1°C daytime highs and -5.2°C at night.
Yes — December is the coldest month of the year in Yakima, averaging -2°C.
For December in Yakima, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1.1°C and lows of -5.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in December averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in December is 1.4 m/s. The windiest December on record averaged 1.8 m/s (1990).
The wettest December on record was 1996 with 256 mm. On average, December sees 99 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 Yakima 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.
