Vuokatti

Finland Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to Finland this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Finland in December

The weather in Finland in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and moderate precipitation. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is very cold in Kilpisjärvi at -6°C (21°F) and cold in Kökar at 5°C (41°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 1°C (34°F) in Kökar and -13°C (9°F) in Kilpisjärvi. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

To explore the conditions in Finland in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Nellimö with an average of 35 mm (1.4 in) to moderate snowfall in Hanko with 77 mm (3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Helsinki gets roughly 30 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Finland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Finland — and find the best time to visit. (based on Helsinki)

Best Places to Visit in Finland in December

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

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 Finland

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

Temperature range in Finland (December)

Precipitation variation in Finland (December)

Helsinki

In December Helsinki generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 2°C (36°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
37 hours
30 hours
39 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
65 mm (2.6 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Rovaniemi

In December Rovaniemi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
18 hours
4 hours
15 hours
Monthly snowfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
52 mm (2 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Levi

In December Levi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
19 hours
4 hours
15 hours
Monthly snowfall
53 mm (2.1 in)
46 mm (1.8 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Ruka

In December Ruka generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly snowfall
54 mm (2.1 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Tampere

In December Tampere generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
57 mm (2.2 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
21 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Helsinki 2°C (36°F) -4°C (25°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Rovaniemi -4°C (25°F) -11°C (12°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Levi -5°C (23°F) -12°C (10°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Vuokatti -3°C (27°F) -9°C (16°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Mariehamn 5°C (41°F) 1°C (34°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Vaasa 1°C (34°F) -4°C (25°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)

Finland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Finland in December?

December in Finland brings poor weather. In Helsinki, daytime temperatures are typically around 2°C (36°F) and nighttime lows hover near -4°C (25°F).

What is the average temperature in Finland in December?

Helsinki averages a daytime maximum of 2°C (36°F) in December, with overnight lows close to -4°C (25°F).

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

Not particularly. Helsinki averages just 64 mm (2.5 in) of snow/rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Finland.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Finland?

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

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July and August offering mostly perfect weather in Helsinki. In contrast, January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Finland.

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

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.