Canada

Canada Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Canada in December.

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Toronto Montréal Vancouver Whistler

Planning a trip to Canada this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Canada in December

Canada offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In December, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to cold, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Alert at -25°C (-13°F) to cold in Ucluelet at 9°C (48°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Ucluelet and -31°C (-24°F) in Alert. In many regions in Canada, December is characterized by its biting cold temperatures. If you're venturing into these areas during this time, it's crucial to be adequately prepared. Ensure you layer up with warm clothing to fight off the chill and stay comfortable.

For specific regional insights in Canada, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Alert with an average of 11 mm (0.4 in) to heavy snowfall in Zeballos with 436 mm (17 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Toronto receives around 78 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Canada by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Canada in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Canada.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Canada

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Canada?

Temperature range in Canada (December)

Precipitation variation in Canada (December)

Toronto

In December Toronto generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
88 hours
78 hours
85 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Toronto →

Montréal

In December Montréal generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
0°C (32°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
80 hours
99 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
92 mm (3.6 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Montréal →

Quebec City

In December Quebec City generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-16°C (3°F)
Monthly sun hours
77 hours
83 hours
98 hours
Monthly snowfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Quebec City →

Vancouver

In December Vancouver generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
60 hours
56 hours
60 hours
Monthly rainfall
344 mm (14 in)
303 mm (12 in)
312 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Vancouver →

Ottawa

In December Ottawa generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
0°C (32°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
83 hours
98 hours
Monthly snowfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Ottawa →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Canada.

In our records: Canada December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Canada in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in Canada dropped to -51°C (-60°F) in Mayo on December 22, 2022.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Canada was -49°C (-56°F) in Mayo on December 20, 2022.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Canada in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Toronto 4°C (39°F) -3°C (27°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Montréal 0°C (32°F) -8°C (18°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Vancouver 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 303 mm (12 in)
Whistler -3°C (27°F) -9°C (16°F) 300 mm (12 in)
Victoria 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Jasper -10°C (14°F) -17°C (1°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)

Canada weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Canada in December?

Expect poor weather across Canada in December. The popular destination of Toronto averages 4°C (39°F) by day and -3°C (27°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Canada in December?

Average temperatures in Canada during December range from a nighttime low near -3°C (27°F) to a daytime high around 4°C (39°F) in Toronto.

Does Canada get a lot of snow/rain in December?

December is on the drier side in Canada. Toronto averages only about 83 mm (3.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Canada?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Toronto, December may not be the ideal time to visit Canada.

On average, the best time to visit Canada is in June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Toronto. The weather in January, February, March, April, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Canada.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Canada? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Canada.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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