During the first 10 days of December there were spells of wet and windy weather as a series of Lows moved across the UK. On the 7th and 8th one such Low was the named storm "Barra" which brought gales across the UK including SW England. Brief transient ridges and colder northly winds, between the Lows, caused the coldest temperatures of the month. After the 10th, High pressure developed over England, resulting in a dry period lasting for about 10 days. During this period skies were often cloudy and despite a period of easterly winds temperatures only reduced slowly so that the district remained frost free. Low pressure then displaced the High, returning unsettled weather to the district for the remainder of December. Christmas in particular was a very wet and extremely dull day. Strong and gusty SW winds brought exceptionally mild air from the Azores and Canaries across England which produced new record high temperature values for the end of December.

In terms of statistics (30 year averages 1981 to 2010):

December typically sees around 13 "wet" and 13 dry days, but with the rainfall total of between 100 to 120mm being slightly above average, it is not surprising there were a few more wet days than normal. The wettest day of the month was the 25th with around 30 to 35mm across the district. There were three other rather wet days with over 10mm of rain, 3rd, 7th and 27th.

The temperature for the month averaged out at 9.2 Celsius which is over two degrees above average. The warmest day was on the 29th when temperatures rose to almost 16 Celsius. The coldest morning was the 2nd when minimum temperatures ranged from 1 or 2 Celsius near the coast, to just below freezing inland but as low as minus 2 Celsius in Netherton. Typically there are 4 night air frosts in December but areas near the coast and the Teign estuary were frost free.

The sea temperature at the Dawlish Wave Buoy remained around 11 Celsius during December.

Sunshine, estimated at around 35 hours, was about half the average.