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Manchester weather in December

Manchester in December averages 5°C (41°F), 84 mm of rain and 1.5 hours of sun a day.

Of the twelve months in Manchester, December is the second coldest, the third wettest and the dullest.

Manchester
Average temp
5°C (41°F)

3–8°C · 37–46°F

Rainfall
84 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
1.5 h

hours per day

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What is Manchester 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 Manchester in December?

  • A light rain jacket

    About 84 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.

  • A warm mid-layer

    Nights drop to around 3°C (37°F).

December compared with November and January

December in Manchester is 2.2°C cooler than November and about as wet as it, which averages 7°C (45°F).

December in Manchester is about the same temperature as January and 17 mm wetter than it, which averages 5°C (41°F).

Daylight in Manchester in December

On 15 December the sun is up for 7 hours 30 minutes in Manchester, rising about 08:19 and setting about 15:49 local time.

December ends 17 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.

No month in Manchester has less daylight than December.

Where to stay in Manchester

Dates are a starting point for December.

All hotels in Manchester

Travel guides for Manchester

What to read before you book.

All travel guides in Manchester

Manchester weather by month

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 2 Sept 2026358 places covered

How December compares with the rest of the year

December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.

Manchester weather by month: average temperature, rainfall, sunshine for each month, from 1991–2020 climate normals
MonthAverageRainfall
January5°C / 41°F67 mm
February5°C / 42°F62 mm
March7°C / 45°F51 mm
April9°C / 48°F61 mm
May12°C / 54°F59 mm
June15°C / 58°F63 mm
July17°C / 62°F60 mm
August16°C / 62°F73 mm
September14°C / 57°F71 mm
October11°C / 51°F95 mm
November7°C / 45°F86 mm
December5°C / 41°F84 mm

Similar weather in December

Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.

Check another month

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FAQs about Manchester in December

December climate averages for Manchester, 1991–2020.

Manchester averages 5°C (41°F) in December, ranging from about 3°C (37°F) at night to 8°C (46°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.

Some. About 84 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.

They are about the same. December averages 5°C (41°F) and January 5°C (41°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.

December is 2.2°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 1.5 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 30 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Manchester.

On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:19 and sunset about 15:49 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 17 minutes shorter than it starts.