Manchester

Greater Manchester Weather in December

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

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Manchester Hale Stockport Bolton

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

What to Expect in Greater Manchester in December

Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Greater Manchester generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) in Manchester.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Manchester with an average of 97 mm (3.8 in) to high rainfall in Bury with 113 mm (4.4 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month sees the heaviest rainfall of the year in Manchester.

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Manchester gets roughly 45 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Greater Manchester by month

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

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March11°C (52°F) April13°C (55°F) May17°C (63°F) June19°C (66°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 Greater Manchester →

Best Places to Visit in Greater Manchester in December

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

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 Greater Manchester

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

Temperature range in Greater Manchester (December)

Precipitation variation in Greater Manchester (December)

Manchester

In December Manchester 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
11°C (52°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
61 hours
45 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
88 mm (3.5 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Manchester →

Hale

In December Hale 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
61 hours
45 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Hale →

Stockport

In December Stockport 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
61 hours
45 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Stockport →

Bolton

In December Bolton generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high 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
65 hours
53 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
102 mm (4 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
97 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
20 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bolton →

Altrincham

In December Altrincham 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
61 hours
45 hours
48 hours
Monthly rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
98 mm (3.9 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Altrincham →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Manchester 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Hale 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Stockport 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Bolton 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Altrincham 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Sale 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 101 mm (4 in)

Greater Manchester weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom in December?

Expect poor weather across Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom in December. The popular destination of Manchester averages 8°C (46°F) by day and 2°C (36°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom in December?

Daytime temperatures in Manchester peak at roughly 8°C (46°F) in December, dropping to about 2°C (36°F) overnight.

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

December is on the drier side in Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom. Manchester averages only about 97 mm (3.8 in), with most days staying dry.

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

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

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Manchester. In contrast, January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Greater Manchester.

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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