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Highland Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Highland, Scotland in December.

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Edinburgh Balmacara Glasgow Lamlash

Planning a getaway to Highland, Scotland 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 Highland in December

Highland, Scotland is a region in Scotland. Highland, Scotland offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In December, one might encounter cold temperatures, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 7°C (45°F) in Inverinate to 10°C (50°F) in Lamlash. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 6°C (43°F) in Lamlash and 1°C (34°F) in Inverinate.

For specific regional insights in Highland, Scotland, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Edinburgh with an average of 87 mm (3.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Mallaig with 282 mm (11 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Edinburgh receives around 48 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Highland by month

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

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April12°C (54°F) May15°C (59°F) June18°C (64°F) July19°C (66°F) This monthAugust19°C (66°F) September17°C (63°F) October14°C (57°F) November10°C (50°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Highland →

Best Places to Visit in Highland in December

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

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 Highland

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Highland, Scotland?

Temperature range in Highland (December)

Precipitation variation in Highland (December)

Edinburgh

In December Edinburgh 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 less favorable 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
70 hours
48 hours
54 hours
Monthly rainfall
82 mm (3.2 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Edinburgh →

Glasgow

In December Glasgow 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 less favorable 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
55 hours
37 hours
37 hours
Monthly rainfall
129 mm (5.1 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Glasgow →

Balmacara

In December Balmacara generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable 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)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
34 hours
35 hours
Monthly rainfall
204 mm (8 in)
223 mm (8.8 in)
237 mm (9.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Balmacara →

Lamlash

In December Lamlash generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
8°C (46°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
55 hours
37 hours
37 hours
Monthly rainfall
187 mm (7.4 in)
189 mm (7.4 in)
174 mm (6.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
22 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Lamlash →

Sallachy

In December Sallachy generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable 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
38 hours
34 hours
35 hours
Monthly rainfall
195 mm (7.7 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Sallachy →

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

In our records: Scotland December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Scotland 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 Scotland dropped to -20°C (-4°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Balmacara 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 223 mm (8.8 in)
Glasgow 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
Lamlash 10°C (50°F) 6°C (43°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Sallachy 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 215 mm (8.5 in)
Inverinate 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 220 mm (8.7 in)

Highland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Highland, Scotland in December?

Expect less favorable weather across Highland, Scotland in December. The popular destination of Edinburgh averages 8°C (46°F) by day and 2°C (36°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Highland, Scotland in December?

Average temperatures in Highland, Scotland during December range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 8°C (46°F) in Edinburgh.

Does Highland, Scotland get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in Highland, Scotland. Edinburgh averages only about 87 mm (3.4 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Highland, Scotland?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Highland, Scotland due to the typically less favorable weather in Edinburgh.

Generally speaking, June, July and August provide very good weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Highland.

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

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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