Nice in December
What to expect
December in Nice is early winter, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The overall feel is cool without being harsh, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Daylight is shorter, so timing matters more than in longer-day months. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Nice.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 9 h
- UV index (max)
- 2
- Typical sun hours
- 07:56 - 16:56
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 10 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 53%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 76%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 13.1°C and low 6.6°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 68% of days (21.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
21.1 days / month
~68% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 21.1 days / month
- Probability ~68% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~21 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 14% of days (4.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.3 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.3 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~45mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 14% of days (4.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.3 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.3 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~45mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~85km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 3% of days (0.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 10% of days (3.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.0 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.0 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4.7mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.5 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.5 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~50mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.0 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~52mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 3% of days (0.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~65mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Short daylight Measures: Short daylight days (<=9h). Observed about 68% of days (21.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
21.1 days / month
~68% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 21.1 days / month
- Probability ~68% of days
- Intensity Up to ~9.0h (P95)
Short daylight windows are possible on ~21 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 45% of days (14.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.1 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.1 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 42% of days (13.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.0 days / month
~42% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.0 days / month
- Probability ~42% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~13 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 40% of days (12.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.3 days / month
~40% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.3 days / month
- Probability ~40% of days
- Intensity Up to ~32mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 32% of days (9.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.9 days / month
~32% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.9 days / month
- Probability ~32% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~10 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 31% of days (9.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.5 days / month
~31% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.5 days / month
- Probability ~31% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~10 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 26% of days (8.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.1 days / month
~26% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.1 days / month
- Probability ~26% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 24% of days (7.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.4 days / month
~24% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.4 days / month
- Probability ~24% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~7 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 18% of days (5.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.7 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.7 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~6 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 15% of days (4.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.5 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.5 days / month
- Probability ~15% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~5 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 11% of days (3.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.3 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.3 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 0.8 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~95 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Nice?
Typical December days in Nice reach highs of 13°C (55°F) with nights around 6°C (43°F). It usually feels cool by day and cold after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 13°C (55°F), while nights drop to around 6°C (43°F). Expect cool afternoons and cold evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 86 mm (3.4 in) across roughly 10 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 9 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 07:56 and sunset near 16:56. Daylight is quite limited, and it can feel like a short-day season.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are usually low (around 2), so standard sun protection is enough.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 7 km/h (4 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 49 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.