SeasonMapAviemore weather in December
United Kingdom
December in Aviemore: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.
#3 of 12 months in Aviemore · #836 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 65/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Aviemore in December
Aviemore's forum calls the Cairngorms genuinely fiercer than England's Peaks or Lakes in December — regulars describe conditions swinging from freezing rain to surprisingly pleasant within the same week, and snow is famously unpredictable, with one visitor reporting brilliant snow one year and barely a smattering the next. The only real certainty is short daylight — around eight hours on a good day.
Add your own note from Aviemore's card on the map.
Aviemore climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 6°C / 43°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 0°C / 32°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 3°C / 37°F | |
| Rainfall | 98 mm / 3.8 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 93% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 2°C / 35°F | |
| Sunshine | 1.5 h/day | |
| Daylight | 6.8 h | |
| Wind | 20 km/h / 12 mph | |
| Snowfall | 25 cm / 9.8 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 31 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Aviemore 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 United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Aviemore'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).
Best weatherAviemore's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Aviemore in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Cairngorm ski season
15 Dec – 10 Apr · usuallyThe season on Cairngorm normally runs December to April, but Scottish snow arrives and vanishes in weeks rather than months. Check the hill's own report the morning you go, not the week before. Source ↗
- Hazard
Avalanche forecast season
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyAvalanche seasonThe Northern Cairngorms forecast runs from mid-December to mid-April, and the plateau above the ski area kills people most winters. Read it before you leave the car park. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Aviemore — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Aviemore?
Aviemore in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Aviemore?
- December in Aviemore: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Aviemore on SeasonMap's comfort score (65/100).
- What is the weather like in Aviemore in December?
- In December, Aviemore averages a daily high of 6.1°C and a low of 0.2°C, with about 97.5 mm of rain over roughly 16.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Aviemore in December?
- Aviemore has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 31 in December.
- Does it snow in Aviemore in December?
- Aviemore sees roughly 25 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Aviemore
Compare Aviemore in December
Warmer or cooler than Aviemore in December
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Inverness' Aurora on strong nights around 15 Sep – 31 Mar, and Edinburgh's Christmas market around 15 Nov – 4 Jan.