Scotland

Scotland Weather in December

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

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Edinburgh Aberdeen Oban Dundee

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

What to Expect in Scotland in December

December in Scotland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 7°C (45°F) in Inverinate to 10°C (50°F) in Bowmore. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 6°C (43°F) in Bowmore and 1°C (34°F) in Inverinate.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Aberdeen with an average of 75 mm (3 in) to heavy rainfall in Mallaig with 282 mm (11 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Edinburgh receives around 48 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Scotland by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Scotland in December

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

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 Scotland

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

Temperature range in Scotland (December)

Precipitation variation in Scotland (December)

Edinburgh

In December Edinburgh generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
48 hours
54 hours
Monthly rainfall
82 mm (3.2 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Edinburgh →

Aberdeen

In December Aberdeen generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
69 hours
48 hours
62 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
75 mm (3 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Aberdeen →

Oban

In December Oban generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
46 hours
31 hours
33 hours
Monthly rainfall
231 mm (9.1 in)
247 mm (9.7 in)
254 mm (10 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
23 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Oban →

Dundee

In December Dundee generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
67 hours
45 hours
55 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Dundee →

Shetland

In December Shetland generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
35 hours
18 hours
29 hours
Monthly rainfall
136 mm (5.4 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
27 days
26 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Shetland →

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

In our records: Scotland December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Scotland 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 Scotland dropped to -20°C (-4°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Aberdeen 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Oban 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 247 mm (9.7 in)
Dundee 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Balmacara 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 223 mm (8.8 in)
Shetland 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)

Scotland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Scotland in December?

Scotland typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Edinburgh average around 8°C (46°F), and temperatures drop to about 2°C (36°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Scotland in December?

Daytime temperatures in Edinburgh peak at roughly 8°C (46°F) in December, dropping to about 2°C (36°F) overnight.

Does Scotland get a lot of rain in December?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Scotland during December, with Edinburgh averaging close to 87 mm (3.4 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Scotland?

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

On average, the best time to visit Scotland is in June, July and August with generally pleasant weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Scotland.

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

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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Scotland’s West Coast - A Sailor’s Paradise

Whether you are looking to sail to an island to enjoy empty white sandy beaches or a rocky mountainous walk there is always a choice. Sailing is by far the best way to explore this area.
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