Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park Weather in December

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

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Radium Hot Springs Castle Junction

Planning a getaway to Kootenay National Park, Canada 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 Kootenay National Park in December

Kootenay National Park, Canada is a region in Canada. December in Kootenay National Park generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. The month of December is in the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -11°C (12°F) in Castle Junction to -7°C (19°F) in Radium Hot Springs. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -16°C (3°F) in Radium Hot Springs and -19°C (-2°F) in Castle Junction. On average, December is the coldest month of the year in Kootenay National Park, Canada. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

To explore the conditions in Kootenay National Park, Canada in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Castle Junction with an average of 43 mm (1.7 in) to moderate snowfall in Radium Hot Springs with 54 mm (2.1 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Radium Hot Springs receives around 45 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Kootenay National Park by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Kootenay National Park — and find the best time to visit. (based on Radium Hot Springs)

January-5°C (23°F) February-3°C (27°F) March2°C (36°F) April6°C (43°F) May12°C (54°F) June17°C (63°F) This monthJuly22°C (72°F) August21°C (70°F) September16°C (61°F) October7°C (45°F) November-1°C (30°F) December-7°C (19°F)
Best Time to Visit Kootenay National Park →

Best Places to Visit in Kootenay National Park in December

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

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 Kootenay National Park

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

Temperature range in Kootenay National Park (December)

Precipitation variation in Kootenay National Park (December)

Radium Hot Springs

In December Radium Hot Springs generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C (3°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-16°C (3°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
80 hours
45 hours
57 hours
Monthly snowfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Radium Hot Springs →

Castle Junction

In December Castle Junction generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -11°C (12°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -19°C (-2°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Min temperature
-15°C (5°F)
-19°C (-2°F)
-18°C (0°F)
Monthly sun hours
80 hours
45 hours
57 hours
Monthly snowfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Castle Junction →

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

In our records: Canada December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Canada 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 Canada dropped to -51°C (-60°F) in Mayo on December 22, 2022.
  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in Canada was -49°C (-56°F) in Mayo on December 20, 2022.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Radium Hot Springs -7°C (19°F) -16°C (3°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Castle Junction -11°C (12°F) -19°C (-2°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)

Kootenay National Park weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kootenay National Park, Canada in December?

Kootenay National Park, Canada typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Radium Hot Springs average around -7°C (19°F), and temperatures drop to about -16°C (3°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Kootenay National Park, Canada in December?

Daytime temperatures in Radium Hot Springs peak at roughly -7°C (19°F) in December, dropping to about -16°C (3°F) overnight.

Does Kootenay National Park, Canada get a lot of snow in December?

Not particularly. Radium Hot Springs averages just 54 mm (2.1 in) of snow in December, making it a mostly dry month for Kootenay National Park, Canada.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Kootenay National Park, Canada?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Kootenay National Park, Canada due to the typically poor weather in Radium Hot Springs.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July and August offering mostly perfect weather in Radium Hot Springs. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

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

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

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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