Hamilton in December
What to expect
December in Hamilton is early summer, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The month is mostly mild for steady exploring, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Hamilton.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 14.7 h
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:52 - 20:35
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 15 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 66%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 78%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 20.5°C and low 12.8°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 20% of days (6.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.2 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.2 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 20% of days (6.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.2 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.2 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 12% of days (3.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.6 days / month
~12% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.6 days / month
- Probability ~12% of days
- Intensity Up to ~35mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 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 ~84km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~83km/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.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 4% of days (1.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.3 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.3 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (16 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.5 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~56mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). 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 ~97km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). 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 ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 63% of days (19.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.7 days / month
~63% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.7 days / month
- Probability ~63% of days
- Intensity Up to ~25mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~20 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 62% of days (19.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.2 days / month
~62% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.2 days / month
- Probability ~62% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~19 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 49% of days (15.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.2 days / month
~49% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.2 days / month
- Probability ~49% of days
- Intensity Up to ~68km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~15 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 49% of days (15.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
15.2 days / month
~49% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 15.2 days / month
- Probability ~49% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~15 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 41% of days (12.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.7 days / month
~41% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.7 days / month
- Probability ~41% of days
- Intensity Up to ~92% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~13 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 35% of days (11.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.0 days / month
~35% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.0 days / month
- Probability ~35% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~11 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 34% of days (10.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.6 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.6 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 17% of days (5.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.3 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.3 days / month
- Probability ~17% 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.
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 4% of days (1.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.3 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.3 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96 (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.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). 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 ~32km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 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 3% of days (0.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~1 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Hamilton?
Typical December days in Hamilton reach highs of 21°C (70°F) with nights around 13°C (55°F). It usually feels mild by day and cool after dark. Overall, December sits in the middle of the Hamilton climate range.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 21°C (70°F), while nights drop to around 13°C (55°F). Expect mild afternoons and cool evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 108 mm (4.3 in) across roughly 15 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 15 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 05:52 and sunset near 20:35. 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 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 57 km/h (35 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.