Edinburgh weather in December
Edinburgh in December averages 4°C (39°F), 63 mm of rain and 1.7 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Edinburgh, December is the second coldest, the fifth wettest and the dullest.
- Average temp
- 4°C (39°F)
1–7°C · 34–44°F
- Rainfall
- 63 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.7 h
hours per day
What is Edinburgh like in December?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Edinburgh in December?
A light rain jacket
About 63 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 1°C (34°F).
December compared with November and January
December in Edinburgh is 2.4°C cooler than November and about as wet as it, which averages 6°C (44°F).
December in Edinburgh is about the same temperature as January and about as wet as it, which averages 4°C (39°F).
Daylight in Edinburgh in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 7 hours in Edinburgh, rising about 08:38 and setting about 15:38 local time.
December ends 19 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
No month in Edinburgh has less daylight than December.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Edinburgh
What to read before you book.
Edinburgh weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / 39°F | 62 mm |
| February | 4°C / 40°F | 47 mm |
| March | 6°C / 42°F | 47 mm |
| April | 8°C / 46°F | 43 mm |
| May | 10°C / 50°F | 49 mm |
| June | 13°C / 55°F | 63 mm |
| July | 15°C / 59°F | 65 mm |
| August | 15°C / 59°F | 69 mm |
| September | 13°C / 55°F | 55 mm |
| October | 10°C / 49°F | 80 mm |
| November | 6°C / 44°F | 68 mm |
| December | 4°C / 39°F | 63 mm |
Similar weather in December
Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Edinburgh in December
December climate averages for Edinburgh, 1991–2020.
Edinburgh averages 4°C (39°F) in December, ranging from about 1°C (34°F) at night to 7°C (44°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 63 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. December averages 4°C (39°F) and January 4°C (39°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
December is 2.4°C cooler than November, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 1.7 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 7 hours of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Edinburgh.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:38 and sunset about 15:38 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 19 minutes shorter than it starts.
