Avg High
Dunedin in December
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
16h
What to expect
Dunedin is in early summer during December, with the season well established by this point. It generally feels mild and comfortable, and a gentle drop-off once the sun goes down. Daylight stays generous for longer outdoor plans. Conditions tend to feel steady, which makes planning simple.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Dunedin.
Hottest (avg)
#4 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#1 / 12
Daylight Hours
#1 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#3 / 12
Highest UV
#1 / 12
Most Humid
#9 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 15.7 h
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:43 - 21:22
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 18 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 72%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 77%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 16.1°C and low 10.0°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Cold High impact
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 28% of days (8.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.6 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.6 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~9 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 20% of days (6.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.4 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.4 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~6 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 20% of days (6.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.3 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.3 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 20% of days (6.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.1 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.1 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~76km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 3% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~101km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (17 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.1 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~28mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~35mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Moderate
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 9% of days (2.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.9 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.9 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~28mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 73% of days (22.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.6 days / month
~73% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.6 days / month
- Probability ~73% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~23 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 68% of days (21.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
21.1 days / month
~68% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 21.1 days / month
- Probability ~68% of days
- Intensity Up to ~80km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~21 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 67% of days (20.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
20.8 days / month
~67% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 20.8 days / month
- Probability ~67% of days
- Intensity Up to ~17mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~21 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 55% of days (17.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
17.0 days / month
~55% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 17.0 days / month
- Probability ~55% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~17 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 43% of days (13.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.5 days / month
~43% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.5 days / month
- Probability ~43% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~13 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 40% of days (12.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.4 days / month
~40% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.4 days / month
- Probability ~40% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 38% of days (11.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.8 days / month
~38% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.8 days / month
- Probability ~38% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~12 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 16% of days (5.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.1 days / month
~16% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.1 days / month
- Probability ~16% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 7% of days (2.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.3 days / month
~7% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.3 days / month
- Probability ~7% of days
- Intensity Up to ~35km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Visibility Minor
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Minor
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Minor
Wind chill risk Measures: Wind chill risk days. Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Wind chill risk is possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Dunedin?
Typical December days in Dunedin reach highs of 17°C (63°F) with nights around 10°C (50°F). It usually feels mild by day and cool after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in December?
In December, you can usually expect highs of 17°C (63°F) and lows near 10°C (50°F). That means mild days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 96 mm (3.8 in) across roughly 18 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 16 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 05:43 and sunset near 21:22. Very long days give you plenty of daylight for exploring.
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 15 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 69 km/h (43 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.