Hottest (avg)
#3 / 12
One of the warmer months.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Rotorua.
Wettest (avg)
#2 / 12
Among the wetter months.
Daylight Hours
#1 / 12
Longest days of the year.
Windiest (avg)
#5 / 12
Close to the yearly wind average.
Highest UV
#2 / 12
UV runs high compared with most months.
Most Humid
#9 / 12
Humidity stays close to the yearly norm.
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
14.8 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:47 - 20:32
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 17 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 67%
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
79%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through December in Rotorua. 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.
Median temperatureMedian lowTypical range
Day 15 selected for December. Temperature 19.7°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.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 22% of days (6.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~22% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~38mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~7 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 21% of days (6.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~21% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~38mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~7 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 12% of days (3.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~12% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~46mm (P95)
Why this matters
Heavy rain is possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 11% of days (3.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~11% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~85km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong gusts are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. 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 ~87km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Stormy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Visibility Moderate
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~11% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (17 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 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
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~52mm (P95)
Why this matters
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~2 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 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~57mm (P95)
Why this matters
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
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.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~96km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Severe gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain High impact
Extreme rain Measures: Extreme rain days (>=50mm). 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 ~62mm (P95)
Why this matters
Extreme rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold Moderate
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 3% of days (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
- ~3% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~5°C (P95)
Why this matters
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 65% of days (20.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
20.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~65% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~20 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 64% of days (19.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
19.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~64% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~26mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~20 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 55% of days (17.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
17.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~55% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~71km/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.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 53% of days (16.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
16.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~53% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~23h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~16 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 46% of days (14.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
14.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~46% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~98% (P95)
Why this matters
High humidity is possible on ~14 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 40% of days (12.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
12.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~40% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~24h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~13 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 39% of days (12.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
12.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~39% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 20% of days (6.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~20% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~6 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 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~11% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100 (P95)
Why this matters
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). 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 ~19°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.
Humidity Minor
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 1% of days (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
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~19°C (P95)
Why this matters
Convective risk signal appears on ~0 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 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 ~28km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Breezy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is December a good time to visit Rotorua?
Typical December days in Rotorua reach highs of 20°C (68°F) with nights around 13°C (55°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 20°C (68°F) and lows near 13°C (55°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 135 mm (5.3 in) across roughly 17 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 05:47 and sunset near 20:32. 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 12 km/h (7 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 59 km/h (37 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.