December could be a good time to visit Oulu, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around -4°C, and there are typically 2 sunny days in December. However, expect about 15 snowy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 35 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
December is usually the wettest month of the year in Oulu;
Average weather
☀️
-4°C
Avg. max. temperature
-31°C
Min.
+7°C
Max.
7 mm
Total precipitation
88%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
13 ⛅️
Cloudy
1 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Oulu has OK weather in December.
Average temperature in Oulu in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Oulu for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in December is -6°C with a maximum of +2°C and a minimum of -23°C.
The average maximum temperature goes down 24% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from -5°C to -11°C.
Is Oulu warm or cold in December?
Oulu is typically cold in December.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from 0°C to -4°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from -4°C to -9°C.
Wear your winter warms as it will be cold. To save space, layer, and don’t forget gloves and a scarf.
December is one of the coolest months in Oulu, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Oulu in December
Water in Oulu in December is Cold. It varies from -1°C to +5°C, with an average of +2°C.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around -4°C.
In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Oulu are reached in July, when the average sea temperature rises to +17°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of -1°C.
Can you swim in Oulu in December?
We would not recommend swimming in Oulu in December, the water is very cold (+2°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Oulu in December
Oulu weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
0°C
-4°C
-6°C
Min. temperature
-29°C
-31°C
-38°C
Max. temperature
+10°C
+7°C
+6°C
Rainfall
21 mm
7 mm
2 mm
Wind
4 m/s
3 m/s
3 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+5°C
+2°C
-1°C
Humidity
88%
88%
87%
Air pressure
1008 HPa
1006 HPa
1007 HPa
Sunny days
2
2
2
Cloudy days
12
13
15
Rainy days
5
1
0
Snowy days
11
15
14
December weather is still as ok as in November.It’s getting colder in December. From 0°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to -4°C.As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 21 mm to 7 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 88%.Winds are calmer in comparison to November, going down from 4 m/s to 3 m/s on average.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 2 sunny days during the month.
January brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Oulu in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Oulu is gradually decreasing during December, going from 3 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during December in Oulu based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in December is about 31 mm, with a 48% chance of snow on a typical day.
December is one of the snowiest months in Oulu.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last December in Oulu?
This is the weather in Oulu in December 2023:
1 December
🌨️
-5°C
2 December
🌨️
-6°C
3 December
🌨️
-7°C
4 December
🌨️
-8°C
5 December
🌨️
-12°C
6 December
☁️
-13°C
7 December
☁️
-8°C
8 December
🌨️
-7°C
9 December
🌨️
-11°C
10 December
🌨️
-10°C
11 December
🌨️
-10°C
12 December
☀️
-13°C
13 December
🌨️
-9°C
14 December
☁️
-8°C
15 December
🌨️
-6°C
16 December
🌨️
+1°C
17 December
☀️
+1°C
18 December
☀️
+2°C
19 December
🌨️
+1°C
20 December
☀️
-2°C
21 December
☁️
-6°C
22 December
☁️
-4°C
23 December
🌨️
-1°C
24 December
☁️
0°C
25 December
🌨️
-4°C
26 December
☁️
-4°C
27 December
☁️
-5°C
28 December
☁️
-6°C
29 December
☁️
-6°C
30 December
☁️
-10°C
31 December
☀️
-11°C
In December 2023 Oulu had 5 sunny days, 11 cloudy days, and 0 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was -6°C, with an absolute maximum of +2°C and a minimum of -13°C. The average humidity was 90%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 81%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Oulu climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Oulu in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1985 (+3°C) and the highest in 2020 (+8°C). The driest year was 2002 with only 247 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2021 with 603 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Oulu in December:
Is December a good time to visit Oulu?
It’s always a good time to visit Oulu, but the weather is changeable in December, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Oulu in December?
Not really, December is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Oulu in December?
Swimming in Oulu in December is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Oulu rainy in December?
Oulu is usually dry in December. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Oulu in December?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Oulu in December, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in Finland
Check out the weather for other cities in Finland.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Oulu, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.