Écrins National Park Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Écrins National Park, France in December.

Are you planning a trip a to the Écrins National Park, France in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in the Écrins National Park in December

The Écrins National Park, France is a region in France. December in the Écrins National Park generally has very cold temperatures, with high precipitation. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -3°C (27°F) in Les Vigneaux to 0°C (32°F) in Orcières. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -9°C (16°F) in Orcières and -11°C (12°F) in Les Vigneaux. In many areas in France, 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.

To explore the conditions in the Écrins National Park, France in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high snow/rainfall in Orcières with an average of 110 mm (4.3 in) to high snow/rainfall in La Grave with 135 mm (5.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more limited in many areas during this month. Puy-Saint-Vincent receives about 73 hours of sunlight. For sunnier weather, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore the Écrins National Park by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Écrins National Park — and find the best time to visit. (based on Puy-Saint-Vincent)

Best Places to Visit in the Écrins National Park in December

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

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 the Écrins National Park

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Écrins National Park, France?

Temperature range in the Écrins National Park (December)

Precipitation variation in the Écrins National Park (December)

Puy-Saint-Vincent

In December Puy-Saint-Vincent generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
73 hours
96 hours
Monthly snowfall
130 mm (5.1 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Orcières

In December Orcières generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
73 hours
96 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
127 mm (5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

La Grave

In December La Grave generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
73 hours
96 hours
Monthly snowfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
135 mm (5.3 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Vallouise-Pelvoux

In December Vallouise-Pelvoux generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
73 hours
96 hours
Monthly snowfall
130 mm (5.1 in)
117 mm (4.6 in)
101 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Les Vigneaux

In December Les Vigneaux generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly snowfall
128 mm (5 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Écrins National Park, in France.

In our records: France December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in France 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 France dropped to -25°C (-13°F) in Val Thorens on December 29, 2014.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Écrins National Park in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Puy-Saint-Vincent -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Orcières 0°C (32°F) -9°C (16°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
La Grave -2°C (28°F) -10°C (14°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
Vallouise-Pelvoux -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Les Vigneaux -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Freissinières -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)

The Écrins National Park weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Écrins National Park, France in December?

the Écrins National Park, France typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Puy-Saint-Vincent average around -3°C (27°F), and temperatures drop to about -11°C (12°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in the Écrins National Park, France in December?

In Puy-Saint-Vincent, the average daytime high in December is -3°C (27°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -11°C (12°F).

Does the Écrins National Park, France get a lot of snow in December?

the Écrins National Park, France sees substantial snowfall in December. Puy-Saint-Vincent typically averages about 117 mm (4.6 in), a mix of wet and dry days, but bring an umbrella.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Écrins National Park, France?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to the Écrins National Park, France with often poor weather in Puy-Saint-Vincent.

Generally speaking, July and August provide pleasant weather in Puy-Saint-Vincent. The weather in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Écrins National Park.

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

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.