Västerbotten Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to Västerbotten, Sweden this December and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Västerbotten in December

Västerbotten, Sweden is a region in Sweden. December in Västerbotten generally has very cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -4°C (25°F) in Tärnaby to 1°C (34°F) in Umeå. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -5°C (23°F) in Umeå and -10°C (14°F) in Tärnaby. In numerous regions in Sweden, December is marked by its cold weather conditions. If you're heading to these areas during this month, it's vital to be well-prepared. Dressing in layered and insulated outfits will ensure you stay warm.

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

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Sorsele with an average of 55 mm (2.2 in) to high snowfall in Hemavan with 105 mm (4.1 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Umeå gets roughly 25 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Västerbotten by month

Best Places to Visit in Västerbotten in December

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

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 Västerbotten

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

Temperature range in Västerbotten (December)

Precipitation variation in Västerbotten (December)

Umeå

In December Umeå generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -5°C (23°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-5°C (23°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
45 hours
25 hours
32 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Byske

In December Byske generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
0°C (32°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly snowfall
60 mm (2.4 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
50 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Skellefteå

In December Skellefteå generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -6°C (21°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
0°C (32°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly snowfall
63 mm (2.5 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
50 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Karlsten

In December Karlsten generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Min temperature
-7°C (19°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly snowfall
60 mm (2.4 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Vilhelmina

In December Vilhelmina generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly snowfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Umeå 1°C (34°F) -5°C (23°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Byske 0°C (32°F) -7°C (19°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Skellefteå 0°C (32°F) -6°C (21°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Karlsten -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Vilhelmina -3°C (27°F) -10°C (14°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Kittelfjäll -4°C (25°F) -10°C (14°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)

Västerbotten weather in December: frequently asked questions

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

December in Västerbotten, Sweden brings poor weather. In Umeå, daytime temperatures are typically around 1°C (34°F) and nighttime lows hover near -5°C (23°F).

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

Average temperatures in Västerbotten, Sweden during December range from a nighttime low near -5°C (23°F) to a daytime high around 1°C (34°F) in Umeå.

Does Västerbotten, Sweden get a lot of snow/rain in December?

Not particularly. Umeå averages just 69 mm (2.7 in) of snow/rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Västerbotten, Sweden.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Västerbotten, Sweden?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Umeå, December may not be the ideal time to visit Västerbotten, Sweden.

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

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Västerbotten.

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.

Bucket list

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