Climate in Paris in December

What are the average temperatures in Paris in December? What to pack for a trip to Paris for the Christmas markets? In this guide you will find all the information about the Parisian climate in winter with useful tips for packing your suitcase.

Paris weather in December

December is a magical time to visit Paris. Winter makes the City of Light even more romantic, and making the atmosphere even more special are the Paris Christmas markets that are, without a shadow of a doubt, among the most beautiful in Europe. If December is therefore a particularly evocative time to visit the city, it is certainly not the most suitable from a climatic point of view (here you will find many good reasons to go to Paris in winter).

Paris in December is cold and the chances of finding clear, sunny skies are slim. Quite likely, on the contrary, is the possibility of finding overcast and cloudy skies and heavy rain. Snow is also probable, although December is not the month with the highest probability of snowfall in the Parisian winter. In this guide we find out in detail what the weather is in Paris in December, what the average temperatures are, and what to expect during your trip. First of all, let's assume that average Parisian temperatures in December do not differ much from those in some northern Italian cities; in fact, in some cases it might even be warmer.

Temperatures in Paris in December

Daily maximum temperatures in Paris drop by 1 °C compared to November and range from 8 °C to 7 °C, rarely dropping below 1 °C or above 13 °C. Daily minimum temperatures are around 3 °C, and rarely drop below -4 °C or above 9 °C.

During December in Paris, cloudiness remains essentially constant, and the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy for about 73 % of the month. The chance of rain is fairly high at around 58%.

Snow in Paris in December

Snow in Paris is frequent. January is the month with the highest probability of snowfall in the city.

The possibility of snow should not discourage travellers. Unless there is a real blizzard, planes depart and land without problems even in snow. Snow then makes it possible to perceive, in many cases, the cold as less intense as well as creating a magical atmosphere that goes well with Christmas.

How to dress and what to pack

To avoid suffering from the cold in Paris in December, it is essential to prepare your suitcase properly. Bring heavy clothing, i.e. a good coat, preferably waterproof or alternatively an umbrella. Scarf or neck warmer, hat and gloves are essential. Shoes should be waterproof and better if boots or boots.

If it can be very cold outside, remember that the interiors of bars, restaurants and means of transport can be very hot. It is therefore important to dress onions and have the possibility of undressing in hot places. It is even good to wear short sleeves or a cotton jersey because it can get really hot in some places.