Loire Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Loire, France in December.

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Saint-Étienne Saint-Chamond Loire Valley

Planning a getaway to the Loire, France 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 the Loire in December

The Loire, France is a region in France. December in the Loire generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 7°C (45°F) in Saint-Étienne to 10°C (50°F) in Loire Valley. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 3°C (37°F) in Loire Valley and 0°C (32°F) in Saint-Étienne.

For specific regional insights in the Loire, France, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Saint-Étienne with an average of 70 mm (2.8 in) to moderate rainfall in Loire Valley with 77 mm (3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. Saint-Étienne experiences about 74 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore the Loire by month

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

January7°C (45°F) February8°C (46°F) March13°C (55°F) April16°C (61°F) May20°C (68°F) June24°C (75°F) This monthJuly26°C (79°F) August26°C (79°F) September22°C (72°F) October16°C (61°F) November11°C (52°F) December7°C (45°F)
Best Time to Visit the Loire →

Best Places to Visit in the Loire in December

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

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 the Loire

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Loire, France?

Temperature range in the Loire (December)

Precipitation variation in the Loire (December)

Saint-Étienne

In December Saint-Étienne generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°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)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
74 hours
83 hours
Monthly rainfall
98 mm (3.9 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Saint-Étienne →

Saint-Chamond

In December Saint-Chamond generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°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)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
74 hours
83 hours
Monthly rainfall
101 mm (4 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
14 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Saint-Chamond →

Loire Valley

In December Loire Valley generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°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
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
77 hours
60 hours
70 hours
Monthly rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
77 mm (3 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Loire Valley →

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

In our records: France December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in France 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 France dropped to -25°C (-13°F) in Val Thorens on December 29, 2014.

Popular cities in December

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Saint-Étienne 7°C (45°F) 0°C (32°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Saint-Chamond 8°C (46°F) 1°C (34°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Loire Valley 10°C (50°F) 3°C (37°F) 77 mm (3 in)

The Loire weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Loire, France in December?

the Loire, France typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Saint-Étienne average around 7°C (45°F), and temperatures drop to about 0°C (32°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in the Loire, France in December?

Average temperatures in the Loire, France during December range from a nighttime low near 0°C (32°F) to a daytime high around 7°C (45°F) in Saint-Étienne.

Does the Loire, France get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in the Loire, France. Saint-Étienne averages only about 70 mm (2.8 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Loire, France?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit the Loire, France due to the typically poor weather in Saint-Étienne.

Generally speaking, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Saint-Étienne. The weather in January, February and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Loire.

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

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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