Rome in December
What to expect
In Rome, December sits in early winter, with a clear seasonal rhythm running through the month. Most days sit on the cooler side, with evenings that ease back comfortably. With less daylight, it helps to start earlier and pace your day. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Rome.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 9.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 3
- Typical sun hours
- 07:29 - 16:40
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 13 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 52%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 81%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 13.5°C and low 5.3°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 73% of days (22.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.7 days / month
~73% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.7 days / month
- Probability ~73% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~23 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 19% of days (6.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.0 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.0 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 19% of days (5.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.8 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.8 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~39mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~79km/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.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~81km/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.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.4 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~38mm (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 (0.9 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 ~43mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 5% of days (1.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 65% of days (20.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
20.0 days / month
~65% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 20.0 days / month
- Probability ~65% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~20 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 52% of days (16.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.2 days / month
~52% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.2 days / month
- Probability ~52% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~16 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 48% of days (14.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.7 days / month
~48% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.7 days / month
- Probability ~48% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~15 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 47% of days (14.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.6 days / month
~47% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.6 days / month
- Probability ~47% of days
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~15 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 39% of days (12.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.1 days / month
~39% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.1 days / month
- Probability ~39% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 30% of days (9.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.2 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.2 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~9 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 (8.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.0 days / month
~26% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.0 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.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 19% of days (5.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.8 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.8 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~68km/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 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 ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~4 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 9% of days (2.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.7 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.7 days / month
- Probability ~9% 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.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. 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 ~94% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 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 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 ~94 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 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 0.7 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 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.
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~3.1mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Hard freeze nights Measures: Hard freeze nights (min <=-2C). 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 ~-2°C (P95)
Hard freeze conditions are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 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 ~32km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Rome?
Typical December days in Rome reach highs of 13°C (55°F) with nights around 5°C (41°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 5°C (41°F). Expect cool afternoons and cold evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 98 mm (3.9 in) across roughly 13 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 07:29 and sunset near 16:40. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are usually low (around 3), so standard sun protection is enough.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 9 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 48 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.