Vancouver

British Columbia Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in British Columbia, Canada in December.

Considering a trip to British Columbia, Canada 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 British Columbia in December

British Columbia, Canada is a region in Canada. The weather in British Columbia in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. 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 Fort Nelson at -13°C (9°F) to cold in Ucluelet at 9°C (48°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Ucluelet and -21°C (-6°F) in Fort Nelson. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.

For a closer look at conditions across British Columbia, Canada, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Fort Nelson with an average of 23 mm (0.9 in) to heavy snowfall in Zeballos with 436 mm (17 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during December. Vancouver receives roughly 56 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore British Columbia by month

Best Places to Visit in British Columbia in December

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

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 British Columbia

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in British Columbia, Canada?

Temperature range in British Columbia (December)

Precipitation variation in British Columbia (December)

Vancouver

In December Vancouver generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
60 hours
56 hours
60 hours
Monthly rainfall
344 mm (14 in)
303 mm (12 in)
312 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Whistler

In December Whistler generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and heavy monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
42 hours
30 hours
40 hours
Monthly snowfall
343 mm (14 in)
300 mm (12 in)
311 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Victoria

In December Victoria generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
70 hours
75 hours
Monthly rainfall
173 mm (6.8 in)
162 mm (6.4 in)
167 mm (6.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Kelowna

In December Kelowna generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°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
5°C (41°F)
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
50 hours
35 hours
39 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
77 mm (3 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Ucluelet

In December Ucluelet generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
86 hours
68 hours
74 hours
Monthly rainfall
453 mm (18 in)
411 mm (16 in)
434 mm (17 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
22 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in British Columbia, in Canada.

In our records: Canada December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Canada 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 Canada dropped to -51°C (-60°F) in Mayo on December 22, 2022.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Canada was -49°C (-56°F) in Mayo on December 20, 2022.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Vancouver 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 303 mm (12 in)
Whistler -3°C (27°F) -9°C (16°F) 300 mm (12 in)
Victoria 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Kelowna 1°C (34°F) -5°C (23°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Ucluelet 9°C (48°F) 5°C (41°F) 411 mm (16 in)
Golden -8°C (18°F) -16°C (3°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)

British Columbia weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in British Columbia, Canada in December?

In December, British Columbia, Canada generally has poor weather conditions. Vancouver sees daytime temperatures near 7°C (45°F), with nights cooling to roughly 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in British Columbia, Canada in December?

Vancouver averages a daytime maximum of 7°C (45°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 2°C (36°F).

Does British Columbia, Canada get a lot of rain in December?

Yes. December brings heavy rainfall to British Columbia, Canada, with Vancouver averaging around 303 mm (12 in). Expect frequent showers and pack accordingly.

Is December a Good Time to Visit British Columbia, Canada?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to British Columbia, Canada with often poor weather in Vancouver.

On average, the best time to visit British Columbia, Canada is in July and August with generally perfect weather in Vancouver. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in British Columbia.

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

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.