SeasonMapWhitby weather in December
United Kingdom
December in Whitby: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Whitby · #1304 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 35/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Whitby in December
Other months in Whitby
August is peak season in Whitby and the forum is emphatic: absolutely heaving, especially once the North Yorkshire school holidays start, with parking a nightmare and restaurant tables hard to come by. Most self-catering lets go by the whole week, Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday. On weather, the coastal caveat matters — a north-easterly off the sea can drop the temperature by as much as 8°C compared with inland, against an August average of only 18°C here and a sea at 15. One visitor reports 27°C days, so it does happen. The regulars' honest line is that Whitby is lovely and better outside peak season.
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Whitby climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 9°C / 47°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 5°C / 40°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 4°C / 39°F | |
| Sea temperature | 9°C / 48°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 85 mm / 3.3 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 15 days | |
| Humidity | 85% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 5°C / 40°F | |
| Sunshine | 3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 7.4 h | |
| Wind | 31 km/h / 19 mph | |
| Snowfall | 0.9 cm / 0.4 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 32 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Whitby 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 Whitby'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 weatherWhitby's best weather comes in May, July and August — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Whitby — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Whitby?
Whitby in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Whitby?
- December in Whitby: cold, rainy, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Whitby on SeasonMap's comfort score (35/100).
- What is the weather like in Whitby in December?
- In December, Whitby averages a daily high of 8.6°C and a low of 4.7°C, with about 84.8 mm of rain over roughly 14.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Whitby in December?
- Whitby has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in December.
Other months in Whitby
Compare Whitby in December
Warmer or cooler than Whitby in December
Similar destinations in Northern Europe — December
Within 300 km: York's St Nicholas Fair on 12 Nov – 21 Dec, and Manchester's Christmas markets around 7 Nov – 22 Dec.