Avg High
Wellington in December
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
15h
What to expect
In Wellington, December sits in early summer, with a clear seasonal rhythm running through the month. Most days land in a mild, easygoing zone, and relatively steady temperatures through the day. You get long daylight windows for full-day exploring. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Wellington.
Hottest (avg)
#4 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#9 / 12
Daylight Hours
#1 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#4 / 12
Highest UV
#1 / 12
Most Humid
#1 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 15.1 h
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 05:43 - 20:49
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 14 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 61%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 79%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 17.2°C and low 14.2°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 52% of days (16.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.2 days / month
~52% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.2 days / month
- Probability ~52% of days
- Intensity Up to ~106km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~16 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 19% of days (6.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.0 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.0 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~120km/h (P95)
Severe 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
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 15% of days (4.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.6 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.6 days / month
- Probability ~15% of days
- Intensity Up to ~26mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Wind disruption Measures: Disruptive wind days. 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 ~124km/h (P95)
Disruptive wind is 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.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~108km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Wind disruption run Measures: Multi-day wind disruption runs. Observed about 0.6 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~126km/h (P95)
Multi-day disruptive wind runs 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
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 6% of days (2.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.0 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.0 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~40mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.9 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (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 (0.3 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 ~52mm (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
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 15% of days (4.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.7 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.7 days / month
- Probability ~15% of days
- Intensity Up to ~26mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Visibility Moderate
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 ~94% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Moderate
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 2% of days (0.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
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.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 82% of days (25.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
25.5 days / month
~82% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 25.5 days / month
- Probability ~82% of days
- Intensity Up to ~101km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~26 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 55% of days (16.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.9 days / month
~55% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.9 days / month
- Probability ~55% of days
- Intensity Up to ~92% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~17 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 54% of days (16.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.7 days / month
~54% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.7 days / month
- Probability ~54% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~17 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 53% of days (16.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.4 days / month
~53% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.4 days / month
- Probability ~53% of days
- Intensity Up to ~16mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~16 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 42% of days (13.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.0 days / month
~42% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.0 days / month
- Probability ~42% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~13 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 38% of days (11.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.6 days / month
~38% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.6 days / month
- Probability ~38% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~12 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 33% of days (10.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.2 days / month
~33% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.2 days / month
- Probability ~33% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~10 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 30% of days (9.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.3 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.3 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~9 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 14% of days (4.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.2 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.2 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Windy days Measures: Windy days (mean wind >=35 km/h). 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 ~44km/h (P95)
Strong mean winds are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
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 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 ~94 (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.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Wellington?
Typical December days in Wellington reach highs of 17°C (63°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 Wellington climate range.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 17°C (63°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 72 mm (2.8 in) across roughly 14 days. Overall it is a quite rainy 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 05:43 and sunset near 20:49. 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 22 km/h (14 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 89 km/h (55 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.