Toronto

Ontario Weather in December

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

Planning a journey to Ontario, Canada this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Ontario in December

Ontario, Canada is a region in Canada. Ontario, Canada has a wide variety of climate types. During December, you can expect temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. During December, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Red Lake at -9°C (16°F) to cold in Saint Catharines at 4°C (39°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -1°C (30°F) in Saint Catharines and -17°C (1°F) in Red Lake. In many areas in Canada, December brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Ontario, Canada, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Red Lake with an average of 31 mm (1.2 in) to high snowfall in Rockport with 110 mm (4.3 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in December. Toronto sees roughly 78 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Ontario by month

Best Places to Visit in Ontario in December

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

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 Ontario

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

Temperature range in Ontario (December)

Precipitation variation in Ontario (December)

Toronto

In December Toronto generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
88 hours
78 hours
85 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Ottawa

In December Ottawa generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -9°C (16°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
0°C (32°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-9°C (16°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
85 hours
83 hours
98 hours
Monthly snowfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Niagara Falls

In December Niagara Falls generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
4°C (39°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
82 hours
68 hours
93 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
60 mm (2.4 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
16 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Mississauga

In December Mississauga generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
96 hours
88 hours
78 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
81 mm (3.2 in)
76 mm (3 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Niagara on the Lake

In December Niagara on the Lake generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Monthly sun hours
82 hours
68 hours
93 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
41 mm (1.6 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
13 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Toronto 4°C (39°F) -3°C (27°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Ottawa 0°C (32°F) -9°C (16°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Niagara Falls 4°C (39°F) -3°C (27°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Mississauga 3°C (37°F) -3°C (27°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Niagara on the Lake 3°C (37°F) -2°C (28°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Kingston 2°C (36°F) -5°C (23°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)

Ontario weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ontario, Canada in December?

December in Ontario, Canada brings poor weather. In Toronto, daytime temperatures are typically around 4°C (39°F) and nighttime lows hover near -3°C (27°F).

What is the average temperature in Ontario, Canada in December?

Daytime temperatures in Toronto peak at roughly 4°C (39°F) in December, dropping to about -3°C (27°F) overnight.

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

Rain is generally moderate to light in Ontario, Canada during December, with Toronto averaging close to 83 mm (3.3 in).

Is December a Good Time to Visit Ontario, Canada?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Ontario, Canada due to the typically poor weather in Toronto.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July, August and September offering mostly perfect weather in Toronto. In contrast, January, February, March, April, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Ontario.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.