North Yorkshire Weather in December

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

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York Scarborough Whitby Bridlington

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

What to Expect in North Yorkshire in December

North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in North Yorkshire generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

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

For specific regional insights in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Skipwith with an average of 61 mm (2.4 in) to high rainfall in High Bentham with 137 mm (5.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during December. York experiences about 48 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore North Yorkshire by month

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

January8°C (46°F) February9°C (48°F) March11°C (52°F) April14°C (57°F) May17°C (63°F) June19°C (66°F) This monthJuly22°C (72°F) August21°C (70°F) September19°C (66°F) October15°C (59°F) November11°C (52°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit North Yorkshire →

Best Places to Visit in North Yorkshire in December

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

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 North Yorkshire

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

Temperature range in North Yorkshire (December)

Precipitation variation in North Yorkshire (December)

York

In December York 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
67 hours
48 hours
42 hours
Monthly rainfall
64 mm (2.5 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in York →

Scarborough

In December Scarborough generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°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)
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
66 hours
52 hours
56 hours
Monthly rainfall
90 mm (3.5 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Scarborough →

Whitby

In December Whitby generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°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)
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
66 hours
52 hours
56 hours
Monthly rainfall
97 mm (3.8 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Whitby →

Bridlington

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

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
12°C (54°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
64 hours
54 hours
57 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
20 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Bridlington →

Harrogate

In December Harrogate 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
39 hours
24 hours
32 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
77 mm (3 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Harrogate →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
York 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Scarborough 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Whitby 9°C (48°F) 5°C (41°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Bridlington 10°C (50°F) 6°C (43°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Harrogate 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Filey 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)

North Yorkshire weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom in December?

North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in York average around 8°C (46°F), and temperatures drop to about 2°C (36°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom in December?

Average temperatures in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom during December range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 8°C (46°F) in York.

Does North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom. York averages only about 64 mm (2.5 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in York, December may not be the ideal time to visit North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom.

On average, the best time to visit North Yorkshire, the United Kingdom is in July and August with generally perfect weather in York. On the other hand, the weather in January, February and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in North Yorkshire.

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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