Grafton weather in December

In December, Grafton sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 115 mm of rain across 12.5 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Grafton's 12th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Grafton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
18°
10th coldest
Rainfall
115 mm
12.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
5:48 AM – 7:41 PM
Cloud cover
57%
12th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
6.42 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.9
out of 10

Grafton is city in New South Wales, Australia.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Grafton reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and on par with January.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12818
22818
32818
42818
52818
62818
72818
82818
92818
102818
112818
122818
132818
142818
152818
162818
172818
182818
192819
202819
212819
222819
232819
242819
252819
262819
272819
282819
292819
302819
312819

Grafton weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 20°11412.513.75.5
Feb28° / 20°11411.813.15.7
Mar27° / 18°9913.212.26.3
Apr24° / 15°478.811.37.3
May22° / 11°566.610.57.4
Jun19° / 586.110.17.1
Jul19° / 274.210.37.5
Aug21° / 364.410.97.9
Sep23° / 11°325.611.88.1
Oct25° / 14°617.912.77.4
Nov27° / 16°8411.213.56.4
Dec28° / 18°11512.513.95.9

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 48%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15446
25347
35248
45248
55149
65050
75050
84951
94951
104951
114951
124951
135050
145050
155149
165149
175149
185248
195248
205248
215347
225347
235347
245347
255347
265347
275248
285347
295347
305347
315347

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Grafton gets around 115 mm of rain over 12.5 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 40% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
140
240
341
441
541
642
742
842
942
1042
1142
1241
1341
1441
1541
1640
1740
1840
1940
2040
2140
2239
2339
2439
2539
2639
2739
2839
2939
3039
3138

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the humid band about 38% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 36% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1112933261
2112933271
3102833281
4102733291
592733301
692633311
782633311
882534321
972435322
1072335322
1162336322
1262237322
1362138323
1452039323
1552040323
1651940324
1751841324
1841841334
1941741334
2041741335
2141741335
2241741335
2341641335
2441641345
2541641346
2641640356
2731640356
2831540366
2931539376
3031539386
3121538386

Wind in December

Winds average 9 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:45 AM to 5:55 AM, and sunset from 7:31 PM to 7:48 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.85:457:31
213.85:457:32
313.85:457:33
413.85:457:33
513.85:457:34
613.85:457:35
713.85:457:35
813.85:457:36
913.95:467:37
1013.95:467:38
1113.95:467:38
1213.95:467:39
1313.95:477:39
1413.95:477:40
1513.95:477:41
1613.95:487:41
1713.95:487:42
1813.95:487:42
1913.95:497:43
2013.95:497:43
2113.95:507:44
2213.95:507:44
2313.95:507:45
2413.95:517:45
2513.95:527:46
2613.95:527:46
2713.95:537:47
2813.95:537:47
2913.95:547:47
3013.95:547:48
3113.95:557:48

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 6.42 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.94 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 6.42 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.5Intense
26.5Intense
36.4Intense
46.4Intense
56.4Intense
66.4Intense
76.4Intense
86.4Intense
96.4Intense
106.4Intense
116.4Intense
126.4Intense
136.4Intense
146.4Intense
156.4Intense
166.5Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.6Intense
226.6Intense
236.6Intense
246.7Intense
256.7Intense
266.7Intense
276.8Intense
286.8Intense
296.8Intense
306.8Intense
316.8Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Grafton

In seasonPeak

In December, Grafton sits inside its cyclone and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Grafton sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Grafton's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Grafton?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.9
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Grafton for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Grafton in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Grafton sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 18°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Grafton in December

The nearest coast averages about 24°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 43 km away) is warmest in February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 20°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Aug 27 to Aug 9 — about 11.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

18°20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swimcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr25Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul20Refreshing
Aug20Cool
Sep20Refreshing
Oct21Refreshing
Nov22Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Grafton in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Grafton peaks around January 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 18UV 13Jun 18UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr7Very high
May5Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep7High
Oct9Very high
Nov11Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Grafton in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Grafton is worst in November — around 37 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 8.5× the cleanest month (April, 4 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateNov 1635 µg/m³Apr 205 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr4Good
May5Good
Jun5Good
Jul6Good
Aug18Moderate
Sep17Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov37Poor
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Grafton?

Grafton sits at 29.7°S, 152.9°E, 7 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Coffs Harbour, 71 km away.

Topography around Grafton

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Grafton.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Grafton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 33 m around an average of 5 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 178 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,436 m.

The land around Grafton is covered by grassland (58%) within 3 km, trees (46%) and grassland (43%) within 16 km, and trees (65%) and water (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
33 m
16 km
178 m
80 km
1,436 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Coffs Harbour 71 km · Byron Bay 132 km · Armidale 152 km · Banora Point 173 km · Palm Beach 181 km · Robina 185 km · Warwick 185 km · Nerang 192 km

Australia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 90% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$65,130
2025
Happiness
6.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
4.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
none 38%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant 18%other Christian 4%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Grafton (-29.681°, 152.9339°, elevation 7 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).