Portugal - weather in December

In December, the first month of winter, the weather in Portugal is usually mild and rainy in the northwest, where the climate is subtropical oceanic, it is moderately cold in the northeast, where the climate is semi-continental, while it is mild and relatively rainy in the center-south, which has a Mediterranean climate.
In the mountains of the center-north, and in particular in the Serra da Estrela, there is instead a cold mountain climate.
Sometimes, especially in the first half of the month and in the center-south, the weather still takes on autumnal characteristics.

On the coast, the average daily temperature is 11 °C (52 °F) in Porto, in the north, 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) in Lisbon, in the center-south, and 13.5 °C (56.5 °F) in Faro, on the southern coast (Algarve).

Precipitation is frequent and abundant in the northwest, where it can exceed 200 millimeters (8 inches) in the month, while it gradually decreases going south. December in Portugal is the rainiest month of the year.
In the mountains, precipitation can occur in the form of snow. There is also a small area in the Serra da Estrela where it is possible to ski. The ski season usually starts in mid-December.

The wind blows often, and at times, especially in the north, it can be strong.

However, the Azores anticyclone can bring periods of good weather even in winter, more likely in the center-south.

In fact, in the south there is a good amount of sunshine (on average, 5 hours a day or more).

Portugal is fairly sheltered from cold waves, however, when cold air arrives from the North Atlantic, and more rarely from Eastern Europe, there can be somewhat cold periods, during which it can snow in the inland areas of the northeast, at hill altitudes (see Bragança). In Lisbon and on the southern coast the temperature never drops below freezing, while it can drop to 0 °C (32 °F) or a little below in Porto and on the northern coast.

During the month, the length of the days gradually decreases until December 21, the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. In December, the average day in Portugal is just over 9 hours in the north and 9 and a half hours in the south.

The following tables show the climate averages in the month of December in Portugal in a selection of locations.

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Monthly climate averages - December

(from north to south)























See also: Portugal, the weather in November - January
The climate of Portugal