Mongolia

Mongolia Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to Mongolia 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 Mongolia in December

In December, Mongolia experiences a range of weather conditions, with very cold temperatures and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to low. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -15°C (5°F) in Ölgii to -5°C (23°F) in Dalanzadgad. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -17°C (1°F) in Dalanzadgad and -26°C (-15°F) in Ölgii. In numerous regions in Mongolia, 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 specific regional insights in Mongolia, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snowfall in Saikhan-ovoo with an average of 2.6 mm (0.1 in) to low snowfall in Baitag with 8 mm (0.3 in).

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Ulaanbaatar gets around 154 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Mongolia by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Mongolia in December

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

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 Mongolia

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

Temperature range in Mongolia (December)

Precipitation variation in Mongolia (December)

Ulaanbaatar

In December Ulaanbaatar generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -13°C (9°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -25°C (-13°F) and almost no monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Min temperature
-17°C (1°F)
-25°C (-13°F)
-28°C (-18°F)
Monthly sun hours
176 hours
154 hours
180 hours
Monthly snowfall
9.1 mm (0.4 in)
4.8 mm (0.2 in)
3.6 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
4 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Gobi desert

In December Gobi desert generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -8°C (18°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -20°C (-4°F) and almost no monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
Monthly snowfall
4 mm (0.2 in)
2.8 mm (0.1 in)
2.4 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions

Baitag

In December Baitag generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -10°C (14°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -21°C (-6°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Min temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-21°C (-6°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
Monthly sun hours
200 hours
178 hours
201 hours
Monthly snowfall
14 mm (0.6 in)
8 mm (0.3 in)
6.1 mm (0.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Baruun Urt

In December Baruun Urt generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -12°C (10°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -22°C (-8°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Min temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-22°C (-8°F)
-25°C (-13°F)
Monthly sun hours
208 hours
183 hours
203 hours
Monthly snowfall
7.5 mm (0.3 in)
5 mm (0.2 in)
3.4 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
4 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Dalanzadgad

In December Dalanzadgad generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -17°C (1°F) and almost no monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-17°C (1°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
Monthly snowfall
4 mm (0.2 in)
2.9 mm (0.1 in)
2.2 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
3 days
3 days
3 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Ulaanbaatar -13°C (9°F) -25°C (-13°F) 4.8 mm (0.2 in)
Baruun Urt -12°C (10°F) -22°C (-8°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Ölgii -15°C (5°F) -26°C (-15°F) 2.9 mm (0.1 in)
Tsetserleg -9°C (16°F) -21°C (-6°F) 4.6 mm (0.2 in)
Dalanzadgad -5°C (23°F) -17°C (1°F) 2.9 mm (0.1 in)
Saikhan-ovoo -8°C (18°F) -20°C (-4°F) 2.6 mm (0.1 in)

Mongolia weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Mongolia in December?

December in Mongolia brings poor weather. In Ulaanbaatar, daytime temperatures are typically around -13°C (9°F) and nighttime lows hover near -25°C (-13°F).

What is the average temperature in Mongolia in December?

In Ulaanbaatar, the average daytime high in December is -13°C (9°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -25°C (-13°F).

Does Mongolia get a lot of snow in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Mongolia during December, with Ulaanbaatar averaging close to 4.8 mm (0.2 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Mongolia?

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

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July and August offering mostly perfect weather in Ulaanbaatar. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Mongolia.

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

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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