Lapland Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Lapland, Sweden in December.

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Kiruna Jukkasjärvi Porjus

Planning a getaway to Lapland, Sweden 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 Lapland in December

Lapland, Sweden is a region in Sweden. December in Lapland generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -5°C (23°F) and nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) in Kiruna. In many regions in Sweden, December is characterized by its biting cold temperatures. If you're venturing into these areas during this time, it's crucial to be adequately prepared. Ensure you layer up with warm clothing to fight off the chill and stay comfortable.

To explore the conditions in Lapland, Sweden in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Jukkasjärvi with an average of 44 mm (1.7 in) to moderate snowfall in Porjus with 51 mm (2 in).

Explore Lapland by month

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

January-7°C (19°F) February-7°C (19°F) March-2°C (28°F) April3°C (37°F) May9°C (48°F) June15°C (59°F) July18°C (64°F) This monthAugust16°C (61°F) September11°C (52°F) October4°C (39°F) November-3°C (27°F) December-5°C (23°F)
Best Time to Visit Lapland →

Best Places to Visit in Lapland in December

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

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 Lapland

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Lapland, Sweden?

Temperature range in Lapland (December)

Precipitation variation in Lapland (December)

Kiruna

In December Kiruna generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
47 mm (1.9 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Kiruna →

Jukkasjärvi

In December Jukkasjärvi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
44 mm (1.7 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Jukkasjärvi →

Porjus

In December Porjus generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -5°C (23°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
51 mm (2 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
16 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Porjus →

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

In our records: Sweden December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in Sweden 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 Sweden was -35°C (-31°F) in Porjus on December 20, 1986.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kiruna -5°C (23°F) -13°C (9°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Jukkasjärvi -5°C (23°F) -12°C (10°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Porjus -5°C (23°F) -13°C (9°F) 51 mm (2 in)

Lapland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Lapland, Sweden in December?

Expect less favorable weather across Lapland, Sweden in December. The popular destination of Kiruna averages -5°C (23°F) by day and -13°C (9°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Lapland, Sweden in December?

Average temperatures in Lapland, Sweden during December range from a nighttime low near -13°C (9°F) to a daytime high around -5°C (23°F) in Kiruna.

Does Lapland, Sweden get a lot of snow in December?

Not particularly. Kiruna averages just 45 mm (1.8 in) of snow in December, making it a mostly dry month for Lapland, Sweden.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Lapland, Sweden?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Lapland, Sweden due to the typically less favorable weather in Kiruna.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July and August offering mostly good weather in Kiruna. In contrast, January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Lapland.

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

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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