Durham Weather in December

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

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Durham Darlington Barnard Castle Stanley

Planning a getaway to Durham, 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 Durham in December

Durham, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Durham generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 7°C (45°F) in Lanehead to 9°C (48°F) in Hartlepool. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Hartlepool and 1°C (34°F) in Lanehead.

For specific regional insights in Durham, the United Kingdom, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Coxhoe with an average of 68 mm (2.7 in) to high rainfall in Holwick with 104 mm (4.1 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in December. Durham sees roughly 53 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Durham by month

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

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly21°C (70°F) August20°C (68°F) September18°C (64°F) October14°C (57°F) November11°C (52°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Durham →

Best Places to Visit in Durham in December

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

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 Durham

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

Temperature range in Durham (December)

Precipitation variation in Durham (December)

Durham

In December Durham generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
72 hours
53 hours
63 hours
Monthly rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Durham →

Darlington

In December Darlington generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate 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)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
57 hours
52 hours
58 hours
Monthly rainfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Darlington →

Barnard Castle

In December Barnard Castle generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate 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)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
57 hours
52 hours
58 hours
Monthly rainfall
84 mm (3.3 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Barnard Castle →

Stanley

In December Stanley generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate 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)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
65 hours
53 hours
59 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Stanley →

Stockton-on-Tees

In December Stockton-on-Tees generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
57 hours
52 hours
58 hours
Monthly rainfall
74 mm (2.9 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Stockton-on-Tees →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Durham 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Darlington 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Barnard Castle 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Stanley 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Stockton-on-Tees 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Hartlepool 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)

Durham weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

Durham, the United Kingdom typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Durham average around 8°C (46°F), and temperatures drop to about 3°C (37°F) at night.

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

Average temperatures in Durham, the United Kingdom during December range from a nighttime low near 3°C (37°F) to a daytime high around 8°C (46°F) in Durham.

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Durham, the United Kingdom during December, with Durham averaging close to 71 mm (2.8 in).

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

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

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

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Durham.

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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