Windermere

Cumbria Weather in December

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

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Windermere Keswick Bowness-on-Windermere Ambleside

Planning a getaway to Cumbria, the United Kingdom this December and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Cumbria in December

Cumbria, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Cumbria generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 6°C (43°F) in Brough to 9°C (48°F) in Barrow in Furness. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Barrow in Furness and 1°C (34°F) in Brough.

To explore the conditions in Cumbria, the United Kingdom in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Gilsland with an average of 102 mm (4 in) to heavy rainfall in Grizebeck with 182 mm (7.2 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Windermere.

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. Windermere experiences about 49 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Cumbria by month

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

January7°C (45°F) February7°C (45°F) March9°C (48°F) April12°C (54°F) May15°C (59°F) June17°C (63°F) This monthJuly19°C (66°F) August19°C (66°F) September17°C (63°F) October13°C (55°F) November10°C (50°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Cumbria →

Best Places to Visit in Cumbria in December

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

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 Cumbria

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

Temperature range in Cumbria (December)

Precipitation variation in Cumbria (December)

Windermere

In December Windermere generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high 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)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
62 hours
49 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
148 mm (5.8 in)
159 mm (6.3 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Windermere →

Keswick

In December Keswick generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high 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)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly rainfall
137 mm (5.4 in)
145 mm (5.7 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
22 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Keswick →

Bowness-on-Windermere

In December Bowness-on-Windermere 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)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
62 hours
49 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
150 mm (5.9 in)
161 mm (6.3 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bowness-on-Windermere →

Ambleside

In December Ambleside generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high 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)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
62 hours
49 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
147 mm (5.8 in)
158 mm (6.2 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
22 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Ambleside →

Penrith

In December Penrith generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly rainfall
115 mm (4.5 in)
128 mm (5 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Penrith →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cumbria, 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 Cumbria in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Windermere 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 159 mm (6.3 in)
Keswick 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Bowness-on-Windermere 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 161 mm (6.3 in)
Ambleside 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 158 mm (6.2 in)
Penrith 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Kendal 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)

Cumbria weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Windermere averages a daytime maximum of 8°C (46°F) in December, with overnight lows close to 2°C (36°F).

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

Windermere typically receives notable rainfall in December, about 159 mm (6.3 in) on average across Cumbria, the United Kingdom.

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

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Cumbria, the United Kingdom due to the typically poor weather in Windermere.

On average, the best time to visit Cumbria, the United Kingdom is in May, July and August with generally tolerable weather in Windermere. The weather in January, February, March, 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 Cumbria.

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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