Nova Scotia Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Nova Scotia, Canada in December.

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Halifax Lunenburg Baddeck Pictou

Are you planning a trip a to Nova Scotia, Canada in December and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Nova Scotia in December

Nova Scotia, Canada is a region in Canada. December in Nova Scotia generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 2°C (36°F) in Margaree Valley to 6°C (43°F) in Yarmouth. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 0°C (32°F) in Yarmouth and -5°C (23°F) in Margaree Valley. In many regions in Canada, 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 learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Nova Scotia, Canada, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From high snow/rainfall in Amherst with an average of 119 mm (4.7 in) to heavy snow/rainfall in Birch Plain with 182 mm (7.2 in). Going by our weather data, it is the wettest month of the year in Halifax.

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Halifax gets around 108 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Nova Scotia by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Nova Scotia in December

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

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 Nova Scotia

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Nova Scotia, Canada?

Temperature range in Nova Scotia (December)

Precipitation variation in Nova Scotia (December)

Halifax

In December Halifax generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
106 hours
108 hours
108 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
137 mm (5.4 in)
144 mm (5.7 in)
120 mm (4.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Halifax →

Lunenburg

In December Lunenburg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
106 hours
108 hours
108 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
146 mm (5.7 in)
152 mm (6 in)
127 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Lunenburg →

Baddeck

In December Baddeck generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
3°C (37°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
160 mm (6.3 in)
174 mm (6.9 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Baddeck →

Pictou

In December Pictou generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
3°C (37°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly sun hours
64 hours
77 hours
109 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
121 mm (4.8 in)
129 mm (5.1 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Pictou →

Digby

In December Digby generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
139 mm (5.5 in)
152 mm (6 in)
123 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Digby →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Halifax 5°C (41°F) -3°C (27°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Lunenburg 5°C (41°F) -2°C (28°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Baddeck 3°C (37°F) -4°C (25°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Pictou 3°C (37°F) -5°C (23°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Digby 5°C (41°F) -2°C (28°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Truro 3°C (37°F) -6°C (21°F) 127 mm (5 in)

Nova Scotia weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Nova Scotia, Canada in December?

Nova Scotia, Canada typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the season. Daytime highs in Halifax average around 5°C (41°F), and temperatures drop to about -3°C (27°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Nova Scotia, Canada in December?

In Halifax, the average daytime high in December is 5°C (41°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -3°C (27°F).

Does Nova Scotia, Canada get a lot of snow/rain in December?

Yes, December tends to be a wetter month in Nova Scotia, Canada. Average snow/rainfall in Halifax sits around 144 mm (5.7 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Nova Scotia, Canada?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Nova Scotia, Canada with often poor weather in Halifax.

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Halifax. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, April, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Nova Scotia.

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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