Yorkshire Dales National Park Weather in December

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

Thinking about venturing to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom 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 the Yorkshire Dales National Park in December

The Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in the Yorkshire Dales National Park generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 7°C (45°F) and nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) in Hawes.

For a closer look at conditions across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Guisborough with an average of 75 mm (3 in) to high rainfall in Settle with 135 mm (5.3 in). Looking at the climate data spanning the last 30 years, this month sees the heaviest rainfall of the year in Hawes.

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Hawes gets roughly 38 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore the Yorkshire Dales National Park by month

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

Best Places to Visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in December

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

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 Yorkshire Dales National Park

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

Temperature range in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (December)

Precipitation variation in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (December)

Hawes

In December Hawes generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
38 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
108 mm (4.3 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
118 mm (4.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
22 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Leyburn

In December Leyburn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°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
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
57 hours
52 hours
58 hours
Monthly rainfall
83 mm (3.3 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Grassington

In December Grassington generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
38 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
97 mm (3.8 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
101 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Aysgarth

In December Aysgarth generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
38 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
20 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Askrigg

In December Askrigg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
38 hours
45 hours
Monthly rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
112 mm (4.4 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
22 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Hawes 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
Leyburn 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Grassington 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Aysgarth 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Askrigg 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Reeth 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)

The Yorkshire Dales National Park weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom in December?

In December, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom generally has poor weather conditions. Hawes sees daytime temperatures near 7°C (45°F), with nights cooling to roughly 1°C (34°F).

What is the average temperature in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom in December?

In Hawes, the average daytime high in December is 7°C (45°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 1°C (34°F).

Does the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in December?

Hawes typically receives notable rainfall in December, about 124 mm (4.9 in) on average across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Hawes, December may not be the ideal time to visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, May, July, August and September provide tolerable weather in Hawes. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

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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