Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Weather in December

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

Planning a getaway to Kazakhstan this December and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Kazakhstan in December

Kazakhstan has a wide variety of climate types. During December, you can expect temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is very cold in Shchūchīnsk at -9°C (16°F) to cold in Aktau at 6°C (43°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 0°C (32°F) in Aktau and -17°C (1°F) in Shchūchīnsk. In numerous regions in Kazakhstan, December is marked by its cold weather conditions. If you're heading to these areas during this month, it's vital to be well-prepared. Dressing in layered and insulated outfits will ensure you stay warm.

For a closer look at conditions across Kazakhstan, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Kazaly with an average of 16 mm (0.6 in) to moderate snowfall in Shymkent with 75 mm (3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Almaty receives about 102 hours of sunlight in December, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore Kazakhstan by month

Best Places to Visit in Kazakhstan in December

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

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 Kazakhstan

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

Temperature range in Kazakhstan (December)

Precipitation variation in Kazakhstan (December)

Almaty

In December Almaty generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C (30°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly sun hours
127 hours
102 hours
117 hours
Monthly snowfall
53 mm (2.1 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Nur-Sultan

In December Nur-Sultan generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
Monthly sun hours
100 hours
95 hours
103 hours
Monthly snowfall
32 mm (1.3 in)
29 mm (1.1 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Karaganda

In December Karaganda generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-18°C (0°F)
Monthly sun hours
110 hours
100 hours
107 hours
Monthly snowfall
33 mm (1.3 in)
31 mm (1.2 in)
25 mm (1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Atyraū

In December Atyraū generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly sun hours
105 hours
78 hours
100 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
19 mm (0.7 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
9 days
8 days
Weather conditions

Aktobe

In December Aktobe generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-16°C (3°F)
Monthly sun hours
80 hours
75 hours
89 hours
Monthly snowfall
34 mm (1.3 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: Kazakhstan December extremes

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

  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Kazakhstan was -38°C (-36°F) in Ustʼ-Kamenogorsk on December 18, 2012.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Almaty -1°C (30°F) -10°C (14°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Nur-Sultan -7°C (19°F) -16°C (3°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Petropavlovsk -8°C (18°F) -17°C (1°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Atyraū 0°C (32°F) -6°C (21°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Shymkent 6°C (43°F) -4°C (25°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aktau 6°C (43°F) 0°C (32°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)

Kazakhstan weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kazakhstan in December?

Kazakhstan typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Almaty average around -1°C (30°F), and temperatures drop to about -10°C (14°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Kazakhstan in December?

Daytime temperatures in Almaty peak at roughly -1°C (30°F) in December, dropping to about -10°C (14°F) overnight.

Does Kazakhstan get a lot of snow in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Kazakhstan during December, with Almaty averaging close to 36 mm (1.4 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Kazakhstan?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Kazakhstan due to the typically poor weather in Almaty.

Generally speaking, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Almaty. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Kazakhstan.

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

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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