What's the weather like in Costa Brava in December
Temperature
Temperatures continue to drop in the Costa Brava, Spain in December, when the winter season has just begun. During this month, the average temperature for the region starts off at 8.5°C on December 1st and steadily falls until it reaches 7.5°C on December 31st. Daily highs and daily lows follow the same pattern, dropping from 14°C to 13°C and from 3°C to 2°C, respectively, as the month develops.
With average temperatures this cold, you'll need to pack plenty of warm clothing such as jeans, trousers, jumpers and coats to make sure you stay comfortable whilst you're on holiday. Unless you're planning on visiting a spa or an indoor swimming pool, you're best off leaving your swimming gear at home because the sea and outdoor pools will be far too cold for swimming.
Although it only occurs on an average of once every ten days, temperatures have been known to rise above 18°C and fall below -3°C in the Costa Brava in December. The hottest December day ever registered at the weather station at the Girona airport the best located weather station for weather info on the Costa Brava is December 7th 2010, when temperatures as low as 22.5°C were recorded. On the other hand, the coldest December day ever registered here is December 20th 2009, when temperatures as low as -9.4°C were recorded.
Rain
At this time of year, the Costa Brava is subject to an average of 45mm (2 inches) of rainfall which is spread out across eight rainy days. With precipitation occurring on more than ¼ of the month, there is a fairly good chance that you'll get a shower or two during your holiday. If you don't want to risk rainfall spoiling your break, consider taking some waterproof clothing or an umbrella with you.
The highest monthly precipitation which has ever been recorded at the airport in Girona in December is 199.4 l/m2, which was recorded in 1991. The maximum number of rainy days ever registered here in December is 16, whilst the maximum number of snowy days ever recorded here during this month is two. The maximum amount of precipitation ever to fall within a single 24 period in December is 71.2 l/m2, all of which fell on December 1st 1991.
The probability of precipitation falling on an average day in the Costa Brava in December gradually decreases as the month progresses. Rainfall is least likely to fall on December 27th when it only falls on 25% of days, whilst rainfall is most likely to occur on December 1st when it falls on 28% of days. The most likely types of precipitation you can expect to see during your holiday in December are moderate rain, drizzle and light rain.
Average Sunshine Hours
Throughout December, the Costa Brava enjoys an average of seven hours of sunshine every day that's one hour less each day than in November. Despite the decrease in hours, seven daily sunshine hours is still more than enough time for you to get out exploring the local area and checking out the various attractions.
Average Sea Temperature
During this month, the average sea water temperature for the beaches in the Costa Brava is 16°C that's 2°C cooler than in November. Even though everyone feels water temperature differently, most will agree that this is far too cold for swimming. If you're determined to go for a dip during your holiday, you're best off visiting one of the heated or indoor swimming pools found throughout the Costa Brava.
Throughout December, the length of the day in the region is essentially constant, with a small difference of 13 minutes between the start and the end of the month. December 1st is the longest day of the month with 9:22 hours of daylight whilst December 14th is the shortest day of the month with 9:09 hours of daylight.
Humidity
During this month, the relative humidity for the Costa Brava ranges between 55% (mildly humid) and 98% (very humid) rarely falling below 35% (comfortable) or reaching 100%. On average, the most humid day of the month is December 1st, when the average daily humidity rises above 97% three days out of every four. At the other end of the scale, the driest day of the month is December 29th, when the average daily humidity falls below 65% three days out of every four.
Wind
In December, the average wind speeds in the Costa Brava fluctuate between 0 m/s (calm) and 4 m/s (gentle breeze) rarely exceeding 9 m/s (fresh breeze). The highest average wind speed of 1 m/s (light air) happens around December 23rd, when the average daily maximum is 4 m/s. On the other hand, the lowest average wind speed of 1 m/s (light hair) happens around December 2nd, when the average daily maximum is 4 m/s.
Costa Brava Hotels in December
Families and couples who want to stay in Lloret de Mar during their holiday should consider H TOP Royal Beach. Based in a central part of the village close to many amenities and attractions, this hotel provides accommodation in the form of twin, double, triple and family rooms, guaranteeing something for all sizes. There is a handful of services and facilities available onsite, including swimming pool, garden, terrace, bar, restaurant, 24-hour reception and children's playground.
When it comes to low-cost accommodation in the Costa Brava, Apartamentos Sa Gavina Medes is a top pick. Based in L'Estartit, this complex provides visitors with a choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, each of which comes with a balcony. Guests are encouraged to take full advantage of the services and amenities available within the hotel's grounds, including swimming pool, water sports, bike hire, parking and WiFi access.
For affordable luxury, you can't beat Don Juan Tossa. Located in Tossa de Mar, this complex provides accommodation in the form of comfortable spacious rooms, each of which features satellite TV and heating. There are plenty of services and facilities available for guests to enjoy onsite, including café, parking, free WiFi access, rooftop swimming pool, terrace, children's play area, games room and 24-hour reception.
Things to do in Costa Brava in December
If the weather takes a turn for the worst, seek shade in Blanco Grane Art Gallery. Situated in Tossa de Mar, this cultural attraction is home to the work of the painter Antonio Blanco Grané and is full of all sorts of masterpieces. With a collection of marine landscapes, circus scenes and still life, there's something for everyone to enjoy here. Due to the museum's very small size, you'll probably be able to admire all the paintings here within 20 minutes, making it a suitable day out for families with children who easily get bored. Many of the paintings within the gallery are for sale, so if you see something you like, you might even be able to take it home.
For more artwork, take the time to visit the Municipal Museum in Tossa de Mar. Here you'll find a wide collection of artwork from local and international artists who visited the area in the 1930s, providing plenty of different styles and techniques to admire. In addition to the art gallery, the building also features a museum with various Roman artefacts. Although info about the displays isn't written in English, you can pick up a basic English leaflet at the entrance to the museum which goes into some detail about a few of the exhibitions.
The Museu del Suro is another cultural attraction worthy of a visit during your holiday. Located in Palafrugell, this museum covers a huge period of history and focuses on the cork industry, ranging from the invention of cork by the Greeks in 3BC to corks in modern times. The building in which the museum is housed was originally a cork factory, so there are loads of genuine artefacts to admire. In addition to the many exhibits and displays, there are also films to watch, documentation to read and photographs to look at. The museum is completely free to enter and will only take around one hour to visit.
