Lisbon in December
What to expect
December in Lisbon is early winter, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The overall feel is cool without being harsh, with only small changes from morning to evening. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. Daylight is shorter, so timing matters more than in longer-day months.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Lisbon.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 9.5 h
- UV index (max)
- 3
- Typical sun hours
- 07:46 - 17:17
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 12 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 56%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 83%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 15.0°C and low 9.7°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 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 ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~8 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 17% of days (5.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.2 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.2 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 17% of days (5.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.1 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.1 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~5 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 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 ~98km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 10% of days (3.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.1 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.1 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~33mm (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 9% of days (2.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.6 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.6 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~3 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (18 more)
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 ~26mm (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.
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~107km/h (P95)
Severe gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). 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 ~43mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind disruption Measures: Disruptive wind days. 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 ~108km/h (P95)
Disruptive wind is possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions 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 70% of days (21.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
21.6 days / month
~70% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 21.6 days / month
- Probability ~70% of days
- Intensity Up to ~94% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~22 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 53% of days (16.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.6 days / month
~53% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.6 days / month
- Probability ~53% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~17 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 45% of days (14.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.0 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.0 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 42% of days (12.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.9 days / month
~42% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.9 days / month
- Probability ~42% of days
- Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~13 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 37% of days (11.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.4 days / month
~37% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.4 days / month
- Probability ~37% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~11 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 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 ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~9 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 27% of days (8.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.2 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.2 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 12% of days (3.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.8 days / month
~12% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.8 days / month
- Probability ~12% of days
- Intensity Up to ~36km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~4 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 11% of days (3.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.4 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.4 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.
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 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). 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 ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Windy days Measures: Windy days (mean wind >=35 km/h). 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 ~40km/h (P95)
Strong mean winds are possible on ~0 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 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 ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Lisbon?
Typical December days in Lisbon reach highs of 15°C (59°F) with nights around 10°C (50°F). It usually feels cool by day and cool 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 15°C (59°F), while nights drop to around 10°C (50°F). Expect cool afternoons and cool evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 86 mm (3.4 in) across roughly 12 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 10 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 07:46 and sunset near 17:17. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are moderate (around 3); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 16 km/h (10 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 60 km/h (37 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.