Switzerland weather in December 2026

Expect daytime maximum temperatures of 3°C in Switzerland in December based on long-term weather averages. There are 2 hours of sunshine per day on average with 14 days with some rainfall and typically 69 mm of rainfall in the month, which might fall as snow.

  • 3°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Switzerland (Bern)3
    3°C max day temperature
  • 2 hours of sunshine per day
  • 14 days with some rainfall in December in Switzerland (Bern)14
    14 days with some rainfall
  • -3°C minimum night-time temperature in December in Switzerland (Bern)-3
    -3°C min night temperature
  • 9 hours of daylight per day in December in Switzerland (Bern)9
    9 hours of daylight per day
  • No heat & humidity in December in Switzerland (Bern)0
    No heat & humidity
  • 69 mm monthly rainfall in December in Switzerland (Bern)69
    69 mm of monthly rainfall
  • UV (maximum) index 1 (Low) in December in Switzerland (Bern)1
    1 (Low) UV index

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The December weather guide for Switzerland (Bern) shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia), the Met Office & the Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Find out more about our data sources.

What is the weather in Switzerland in December like?

By December, winter has set in over all of Switzerland. It's also the month with the fewest number of daylight hours.

Mostly cloudy on the Central Plateau

On the Swiss Central Plateau, between the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Alps, which includes major cities like Zurich and Bern, December is typically cold, damp, and often grey.

Fog and low cloud are features of the weather in this large region of Switzerland throughout the winter, leading to low levels of sunshine everywhere. At best, during the day in December, it is usually just a few degrees above zero, falling to below zero at night. If it is cold enough, snow can fall, but it usually does not settle for long.

Wintry in the Jura Mountains

In the Jura Mountains, it is colder than on the plateau mainly because of the elevation. Also, because most places are above the fog and low cloud, there is a touch more sunshine; two to three hours per day on average compared with an hour less on the plateau.

Expect temperatures to fall below zero every night and barely rise much above zero during the day. Snowfall is fairly common in towns and cities in the Jura Mountains in December. It does not always settle, but by the second half of the month, there is usually a blanket of snow cover everywhere above 1,200 metres.

Expect even more snow in the Alps

In the Swiss Alps, December marks the start of the peak winter season with normally abundant snowfall above 1,500 metres. Snow usually falls on up to a third of days in the month when weather systems move in from the Atlantic Ocean. During the first half of the month, most ski resorts get their lifts up and running, and all are usually fully functioning by Christmas.

Daytime temperatures may still rise above zero, but at night, it is always much colder. Some destinations in the Swiss Alps are among the sunniest in the country in December, especially at higher elevations.

This is because temperature inversions often trap clouds in the lower valleys, leaving alpine regions to enjoy clear blue skies and bright sun. St Moritz and Crans-Montana, for example, usually see more than three hours of sunshine per day on average.

Still sunny but not so warm in the south

Meanwhile, on the lakes in the far south of the country, the weather, not surprisingly, is both slightly warmer and sunnier than elsewhere.

Temperatures range from a minimum of 2°C at night to around 8°C during the day, with nearly four hours of sunshine on average per day. There is less rainfall here than in the preceding months, with fewer than 10 days of rain in the months with some rain. However, it still can be quite cold.

Switzerland temperatures in December

Below are average maximum temperatures at popular countries, regions and places in Switzerland in December. Select a holiday destination to see more weather parameters.

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How cold is it in Switzerland in December?

Daytime temperatures usually reach 3°C in Bern, Switzerland in December, falling to -3°C at night.

How sunny is it in Switzerland in December?

There are normally 2 hours of bright sunshine each day in Bern, Switzerland in December - that's 24% of daylight hours.

Does it rain in Switzerland in December?

There are usually 14 days with some rain in Bern, Switzerland in December and the average monthly rainfall is 69mm. Rain may fall as snow in this month.

Switzerland December sunrise & sunset times

Browse the sunrise and sunset times for Switzerland in December 2026. Select a month to view Switzerland sunrise and sunset times for the next 12 months. The Switzerland sunrise and sunset times shown below are for Bern.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Date Sunrise times Sunset times
Tuesday, 1st December 2026 07:55 16:43
Wednesday, 16th December 2026 08:10 16:42
Thursday, 31st December 2026 08:16 16:51

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