Antarctica

Antarctica Weather in December

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

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Vostok Station

Considering a trip to Antarctica this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Antarctica in December

December in Antarctica generally has very cold temperatures, with low precipitation. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -18°C (0°F) and nighttime temperatures around -23°C (-9°F) in Vostok Station. In many areas in Antarctica, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

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

Precipitation

December is a dry month with an average snowfall of around 17 mm (0.7 in) in Vostok Station.

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Vostok Station enjoys approximately 710 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Antarctica by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Antarctica in December

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

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 Antarctica

What is the weather like in December for the most popular destinonation in Antarctica?

Vostok Station

In December Vostok Station generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -18°C (0°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -23°C (-9°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-18°C (0°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
Min temperature
-18°C (0°F)
-23°C (-9°F)
-25°C (-13°F)
Monthly sun hours
680 hours
710 hours
697 hours
Monthly snowfall
19 mm (0.7 in)
17 mm (0.7 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Vostok Station →

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

In our records: Antarctica December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Antarctica in our climate database (2006 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest December night in Antarctica dropped to -36°C (-33°F) in Vostok Station on December 26, 2009.

Antarctica weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Antarctica in December?

In December, Antarctica generally has poor weather conditions. Vostok Station sees daytime temperatures near -18°C (0°F), with nights cooling to roughly -23°C (-9°F).

What is the average temperature in Antarctica in December?

Average temperatures in Antarctica during December range from a nighttime low near -23°C (-9°F) to a daytime high around -18°C (0°F) in Vostok Station.

Does Antarctica get a lot of snow in December?

Not particularly. Vostok Station averages just 17 mm (0.7 in) of snow in December, making it a mostly dry month for Antarctica.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Antarctica?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Antarctica with often poor weather in Vostok Station.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in offering mostly poor weather in Vostok Station.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Antarctica.

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

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.