Mevagissey

Cornwall Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in December.

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Newquay St Austell Penzance Bude

Planning a trip to Cornwall, the United Kingdom this December? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Cornwall in December

Cornwall, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Cornwall generally has temperatures that range from cold to mild, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between cold in Gunnislake at 10°C (50°F) to mild in St Just at 12°C (54°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in St Just and 4°C (39°F) in Gunnislake.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Cornwall, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Truro with an average of 88 mm (3.5 in) to high rainfall in Gooseham with 139 mm (5.5 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Newquay.

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Newquay receives around 65 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Cornwall by month

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

January11°C (52°F) February10°C (50°F) March12°C (54°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly20°C (68°F) August20°C (68°F) September19°C (66°F) October16°C (61°F) November13°C (55°F) December11°C (52°F)
Best Time to Visit Cornwall →

Best Places to Visit in Cornwall in December

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

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 Cornwall

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Cornwall, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in Cornwall (December)

Precipitation variation in Cornwall (December)

Newquay

In December Newquay generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°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
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
65 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
104 mm (4.1 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Newquay →

St Austell

In December St Austell generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°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
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
65 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
101 mm (4 in)
102 mm (4 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in St Austell →

Penzance

In December Penzance generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 8°C (46°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
65 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
115 mm (4.5 in)
114 mm (4.5 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
22 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Penzance →

Bude

In December Bude generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°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
13°C (55°F)
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
76 hours
55 hours
60 hours
Monthly rainfall
124 mm (4.9 in)
128 mm (5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bude →

Falmouth

In December Falmouth generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
12°C (54°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
65 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
93 mm (3.7 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
22 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
unpleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Falmouth →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cornwall, in the United Kingdom.

In our records: the United Kingdom December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in the United Kingdom 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 the United Kingdom was -10°C (14°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.
  • From our sources, the wettest December day in the United Kingdom brought 301 mm (12 in) in Belfast on December 4, 1982.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Newquay 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
St Austell 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Penzance 12°C (54°F) 8°C (46°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Bude 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Falmouth 12°C (54°F) 7°C (45°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Padstow 11°C (52°F) 6°C (43°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)

Cornwall weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in December?

Expect poor weather across Cornwall, the United Kingdom in December. The popular destination of Newquay averages 11°C (52°F) by day and 6°C (43°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Cornwall, the United Kingdom in December?

Average temperatures in Cornwall, the United Kingdom during December range from a nighttime low near 6°C (43°F) to a daytime high around 11°C (52°F) in Newquay.

Does Cornwall, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in December?

Cornwall, the United Kingdom sees substantial rainfall in December. Newquay typically averages about 104 mm (4.1 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Cornwall, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Newquay, December may not be the ideal time to visit Cornwall, the United Kingdom.

On average, the best time to visit Cornwall, the United Kingdom is in July and August with generally perfect weather in Newquay. On the other hand, the months of February, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Cornwall.

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

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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