SeasonMapElbrus weather in December
Russia
December in Elbrus: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.
#3 of 12 months in Elbrus · #156 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 88/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Elbrus in December
Other months in Elbrus
A climbing guide's seasonal breakdown places March at the tail end of Elbrus's winter climbing season — colder temperatures and harder conditions on the routes than the spring window that follows. Their overall framing: December through March is genuine winter mountaineering, not a beginner's introduction to the peak.
Add your own note from Elbrus's card on the map.
Elbrus climate normals — December
| Daytime high | -3°C / 26°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -10°C / 15°F | |
| Feels like (high) | -7°C / 19°F | |
| Rainfall | 95 mm / 3.7 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 13 days | |
| Humidity | 73% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | -11°C / 12°F | |
| Sunshine | 6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9 h | |
| Wind | 5 km/h / 3 mph | |
| Snowfall | 100.4 cm / 39.5 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 40 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Elbrus 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.
BusyRussian New Year holidays, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Elbrus'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 weatherElbrus's best weather comes in February, March and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Elbrus in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Border-zone permit and registration
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyThe mountain sits in a controlled border zone, so foreign climbers need a permit applied for weeks ahead and are expected to register a route with the rescue service before going high. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
15 Nov – 15 May · usuallyThe cable cars run from Azau up to Garabashi at well over three thousand metres, so the season here is one of the longest in Europe and holds through spring when the valleys have gone. Source ↗
- Holiday
Russian New Year holidays
30 Dec – 9 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyRussia takes the first ten days of January off and a good share of it comes to ski here. Beds in Terskol and Cheget go months ahead and the lift queues are the year's longest. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 100 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Elbrus — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Elbrus?
Elbrus in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Elbrus?
- December in Elbrus: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Elbrus on SeasonMap's comfort score (88/100).
- What is the weather like in Elbrus in December?
- In December, Elbrus averages a daily high of -3.4°C and a low of -9.7°C, with about 94.5 mm of rain over roughly 12.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Elbrus in December?
- Elbrus has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 40 in December.
- Does it snow in Elbrus in December?
- Elbrus sees roughly 100.4 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Elbrus
Compare Elbrus in December
Warmer or cooler than Elbrus in December
Similar destinations in Eastern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Mestia's Ski season around 15 Dec – 15 Apr, and Gudauri's Ski season around 10 Dec – 15 Apr.