One of the warmer months.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Adelaide.
Typical rainfall for the year.
Longest days of the year.
Close to the yearly wind average.
Peak UV levels for the year.
One of the less humid months.
Monthly climate breakdown
A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for December.
Thermal profile
Temperature
Typical daytime high
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Light window
Sunshine
14.5 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:57 - 20:24
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 6 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 42%
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
55%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through December in Adelaide. Based on a 30-year historical climate baseline, not a forecast.
Primary control
Select a day
Scroll to compare daily conditions. The summary updates with your selection.
Secondary context
Monthly trend
Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.
Day 15 selected for December. Temperature 26.0°C.
Historical disruption baseline
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 22% of days (6.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~22% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~38°C (P95)
Why this matters
Hot days are possible on ~7 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 7% of days (2.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.0 days / month
- Share of days
- ~7% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~80km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong gusts are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Very hot days Measures: Very hot days (>=35C). Observed about 6% of days (1.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~6% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~39°C (P95)
Why this matters
Very hot days are possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 5% of days (1.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~40°C (P95)
Why this matters
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~2 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 4% of days (1.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~27mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 14% of days (4.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
4.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~14% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~39°C (P95)
Why this matters
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~4 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Show all disruptions (20 more)
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~30mm (P95)
Why this matters
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~84km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.3 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~30mm (P95)
Why this matters
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind disruption Measures: Disruptive wind days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~82km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Disruptive wind is possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~27mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 53% of days (16.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
16.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~53% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~67km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Gusty conditions are possible on ~17 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 31% of days (9.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
9.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~31% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~99% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~10 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 28% of days (8.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~28% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~11mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 18% of days (5.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
5.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~18% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~16h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 12% of days (3.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~12% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 10% of days (3.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.0 days / month
- Share of days
- ~10% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~18h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~8% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~36km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Breezy conditions are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Warm nights Measures: Warm nights (min >=22C). Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~26°C (P95)
Why this matters
Warm nights are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 0.8 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.8 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~38°C (P95)
Why this matters
Heatwave runs are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~87% (P95)
Why this matters
High humidity is possible on ~1 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Hot nights Measures: Hot nights (min >=25C). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~28°C (P95)
Why this matters
Hot nights are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 0.5 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.5 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~40°C (P95)
Why this matters
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Windy days Measures: Windy days (mean wind >=35 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~37km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong mean winds are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~20°C (P95)
Why this matters
Humid conditions are possible on ~0 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is December a good time to visit Adelaide?
Typical December days in Adelaide reach highs of 26°C (79°F) with nights around 15°C (59°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. Overall, December sits in the middle of the Adelaide climate range.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 26°C (79°F), while nights drop to around 15°C (59°F). Expect warm afternoons and mild evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 24 mm (0.94 in) across roughly 6 days. Overall it is a moderately wet time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 05:57 and sunset near 20:24. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 9), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 17 km/h (11 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 56 km/h (35 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.