Stockholm in December
What to expect
In Stockholm, December sits in early winter, with a clear seasonal rhythm running through the month. Most days feel cold but manageable, and relatively steady temperatures through the day. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well. With less daylight, it helps to start earlier and pace your day.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Stockholm.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 6.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 1
- Typical sun hours
- 08:36 - 14:49
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 14 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 77%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 88%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 0.7°C and low -2.3°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 100% of days (31.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
31.0 days / month
~100% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 31.0 days / month
- Probability ~100% of days
- Intensity Up to ~0°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~31 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 63% of days (19.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.5 days / month
~63% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.5 days / month
- Probability ~63% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~19 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 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 ~-2°C (P95)
Hard freeze conditions are possible on ~14 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 29% of days (9.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.1 days / month
~29% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.1 days / month
- Probability ~29% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5.9mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 25% of days (7.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.7 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.7 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. 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 ~17mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Show all disruptions (22 more)
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). 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 ~87km/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.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. 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 ~77km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.4 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~11mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 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 (0.3 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 ~92km/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.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. 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 ~17mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 1.1 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~8°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.
Wind chill risk Measures: Wind chill risk days. Observed about 3% of days (1.1 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-1°C (P95)
Wind chill risk is possible on ~1 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 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 ~19mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Short daylight Measures: Short daylight days (<=9h). Observed about 100% of days (31.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
31.0 days / month
~100% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 31.0 days / month
- Probability ~100% of days
- Intensity Up to ~6.6h (P95)
Short daylight windows are possible on ~31 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 99% of days (30.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
30.8 days / month
~99% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 30.8 days / month
- Probability ~99% of days
- Intensity Up to ~7°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~31 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 97% of days (30.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
30.0 days / month
~97% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 30.0 days / month
- Probability ~97% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~30 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 85% of days (26.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
26.5 days / month
~85% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 26.5 days / month
- Probability ~85% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~26 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 77% of days (23.9 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
23.9 days / month
~77% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 23.9 days / month
- Probability ~77% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~24 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 60% of days (18.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
18.5 days / month
~60% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 18.5 days / month
- Probability ~60% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~18 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 52% of days (16.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
16.3 days / month
~52% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 16.3 days / month
- Probability ~52% of days
- Intensity Up to ~9.4mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 44% of days (13.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.7 days / month
~44% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.7 days / month
- Probability ~44% of days
- Intensity Up to ~74km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~14 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 43% of days (13.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.3 days / month
~43% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.3 days / month
- Probability ~43% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~13 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 38% of days (11.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.8 days / month
~38% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.8 days / month
- Probability ~38% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~12 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 28% of days (8.8 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.8 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.8 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (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.
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 25% of days (7.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.7 days / month
~25% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.7 days / month
- Probability ~25% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). 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 ~30km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heavy snowfall (INACTIVE until snowfall_sum units confirmed; set threshold once units are verified) Measures: Heavy snowfall (INACTIVE until snowfall_sum units confirmed; set threshold once units are verified). 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 ~11 (P95)
Heavy snowfall (INACTIVE until snowfall_sum units confirmed; set threshold once units are verified) is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Stockholm?
Typical December days in Stockholm reach highs of 1°C (34°F) with nights around -2°C (28°F). It usually feels cold by day and very cold after dark. Overall, December sits in the middle of the Stockholm climate range.
What are temperatures like in December?
In December, you can usually expect highs of 1°C (34°F) and lows near -2°C (28°F). That means cold days and very cold nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 46 mm (1.8 in) across roughly 14 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 6 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 08:36 and sunset near 14:49. 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 1), so standard sun protection is enough.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 15 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 59 km/h (37 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.