Åre weather in December

December in Åre: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Åre🇸🇪 Sweden · Scandinavia · Ski79
  1. 83Jan
  2. 86Feb
  3. 88Mar
  4. 73Apr
  5. 41May
  6. 18Jun
  7. 12Jul
  8. 15Aug
  9. 25Sep
  10. 56Oct
  11. 69Nov
  12. 79Dec

#4 of 12 months in Åre · #475 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 79/100 (tier B)

Days
-2°C
Nights
-7°C
Wet days
13
Sun
0.5 h
Humidity
88%
Daylight
5 h
Åre, Sweden
Photo: Robert Pügner · Pexels

Traveller notes on Åre in December

Notes from nearby Trondheim (134 km away)

Åre doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Trondheim, close enough to share the season.

Forum posters describe December in Trondheim as bringing short, cold days with ground typically covered in snow, noting that locals lean toward cross-country skiing rather than walking this time of year. Posters are direct that heavy snow arriving right before or during a visit can rule out most walking plans entirely, though the tram ride up to Lian is consistently flagged as a safe, reliable option regardless of conditions. Posters consistently recommend wool long underwear along with a hat and gloves as genuine essentials, noting that special outerwear pants aren't really needed for strolling around the city itself. Posters flag that many students leave for the holidays, leaving Trondheim noticeably quieter than usual through late December. Posters generally rate December as workable but genuinely weather-dependent, with flexibility the key to enjoying a winter visit.
Tripadvisor community · December · 1 month ago · about Trondheim · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Åre

Are-forum threads on Swedish mountain hiking describe the resort's own lifts as running through summer to serve hikers and bikers, posters calling this a genuinely easy way to reach higher trails without a full climb. Regulars call the wider region a real draw for hiking, fishing and biking this time of year, activities considerably different from the resort's winter identity. Posters recommend riding a lift up and choosing a walking route back down, a real option for anyone wanting views without the full ascent. Regulars call the surrounding mountains rewarding for August specifically, cooler temperatures and real daylight both still generous. Posters recommend real layers regardless of how the valley floor feels, mountain weather here shifting considerably faster than the lowlands. Regulars call August a solid window for anyone chasing outdoor activity over winter crowds. The record: 16.7C days feeling like 16C, 9C nights, 81.1mm across over 14 days and 81 percent humidity.
AreAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Are-forum reviews call spring genuinely one of the strongest windows for skiing here, posters describing late-season conditions as especially good compared to resorts further south that wind down earlier. Regulars call the far-north location a real advantage, long daylight returning fast with the sun not setting until well past eight in the evening by late March and into April. Posters describe plenty of snow as typically still on the ground, a real contrast to lower-elevation Swedish resorts closer to Stockholm where April snow is genuinely uncertain. Regulars recommend real layers regardless of the long daylight, mornings staying properly cold even as afternoons turn comfortably mild. Posters call the combination of reliable snow and extended daylight a genuine reason to prioritize spring here. Regulars recommend checking conditions before a very late-April trip. The record: 5.7C days feeling like 2C, -2.8C nights, a notably high 27.4cm of fresh accumulation and 79 percent humidity.
AreAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Are-forum threads confirm this is repeatedly named the standout Swedish ski destination, easiest to reach by direct train from Stockholm and the only resort in the Nordics regulars compare favorably to a proper Alpine village rather than a scattered collection of lifts. Posters call January genuinely cold and dark, daylight hours sharply limited this far north, real headlamp or early-dusk planning standard for anyone skiing a full day. Snow reliability is called strong this time of year, the resort's own snowmaking backing up natural falls when needed. Regulars are consistent the village itself, not just the slopes, is a real draw - bars, restaurants and a proper apres-ski scene that posters call unmatched elsewhere in Scandinavia. Layered, genuinely cold-rated gear is standing advice throughout January regardless of how clear a given day looks. The record: a frigid -3.1C by day dropping to -8.7C at night, a notably high 67.2cm of fresh snowfall and 86 percent humidity.
AreJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
February to April is the best of the Swedish ski season on the forum's account, and February is its peak - which in Are means the most reliable conditions and the highest prices of the year together. The regulars' warning is about the marginal temperatures rather than the deep cold: a spell hovering between about +5 and -5C is the genuinely unpleasant outcome, turning everything to a mix of snow, rain and slush, while a properly cold February is agreeable. Daylight is short but workable - the afternoon goes dark between five and six - and they are firm that it is a clothing problem, not a reason to stay in. The record: -1.7C days, -8.1C nights, 39.5cm of snow, 10.4 precipitation days and only 3.8 hours of sun.
PeakSeasonPeakPrice · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Åre's card on the map.

Åre climate normals — December

Daytime high-2°C / 29°F🥶 freezing
Nighttime low-7°C / 20°F
Feels like (high)-6°C / 21°F
Rainfall57 mm / 2.3 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days13 days
Humidity88%💦 very humid
Dew point-6°C / 21°F
Sunshine0.5 h/day
Daylight4.8 h
Wind16 km/h / 10 mph
Snowfall50.7 cm / 20 in
Air quality (US AQI)35🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Åre in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyChristmas holidays in Sweden, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Åre's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherÅre's weather peaks January–March.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Åre in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Mud season between the lifts

    1 Oct – 4 Dec · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

    Summer trails and lifts close in September and reliable snow rarely arrives before December, so hotels and restaurants scale back or shut for a few weeks and the village empties out. Source ↗

  • Season

    Ski season

    5 Dec – 3 May · usually

    Sweden's biggest ski area opens in the first half of December and the lifts usually run to the start of May. Midwinter is dark and cold; the season is really bought for March and April. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Polar night

    About 4.8 hours of daylight a day in December; the light is the story, not the sights.

    from the climate normals

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 51 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Åre?

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Åre in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Åre?
December in Åre: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Åre on SeasonMap's comfort score (79/100).
What is the weather like in Åre in December?
In December, Åre averages a daily high of -1.6°C and a low of -6.9°C, with about 57.4 mm of rain over roughly 13.4 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Åre in December?
Åre has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in December.
Does it snow in Åre in December?
Åre sees roughly 50.7 cm of snowfall in December.