SeasonMapPortree weather in December
United Kingdom
December in Portree: cold, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 22 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in Portree · #1250 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 41/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Portree in December
Notes from nearby Aviemore (144 km away)
Portree doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Aviemore, close enough to share the season.
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 Portree's card on the map.
Portree climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 8°C / 46°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 5°C / 40°F | |
| Sea temperature | 11°C / 52°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 195 mm / 7.7 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 22 days | |
| Humidity | 84% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 3°C / 38°F | |
| Sunshine | 2.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 6.7 h | |
| Wind | 27 km/h / 17 mph | |
| Snowfall | 3 cm / 1.2 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Portree 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 Portree'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).
Toughest weatherPortree's weather peaks June–August.
December coincides with Atlantic gales.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Portree in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Atlantic gales
15 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallyWind seasonClosuresWinter storms close the Skye Bridge to high-sided vehicles and stop the Mallaig ferry, sometimes for a couple of days at a time. Build slack into any onward plan between October and March. Source ↗
- Season
Out of season
1 Nov – 20 Mar · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosuresBoat trips, several restaurants and most of the visitor centres run Easter to October only. What is left is an empty island with weather on it, which some people come specifically for. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Portree — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Portree?
Portree in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Portree?
- December in Portree: cold, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 22 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Portree on SeasonMap's comfort score (41/100).
- What is the weather like in Portree in December?
- In December, Portree averages a daily high of 7.5°C and a low of 4.7°C, with about 194.9 mm of rain over roughly 22.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Portree in December?
- Portree has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
- Does it snow in Portree in December?
- Portree sees roughly 3 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Portree
Compare Portree in December
Warmer or cooler than Portree in December
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Isle of Skye's Aurora season around 15 Sep – 31 Mar, and Inverness' Aurora on strong nights around 15 Sep – 31 Mar.