What's the Weather like in Montreal in December
Temperature
December marks the beginning of a long period of cold and snow in Canada, but is a great time to celebrate the commencement of winter.
During this time of the year, the weather gets pretty cold, with an average temperature of -9 degrees Celsius.
If you are thinking that the average temperature itself seems a little lower than usual, Montreal records the lowest December temperature at -14 degrees Celsius and a high of -4 degrees Celsius.
Humidity & Rainfall
With the start of winter, most of Montreal's precipitation starts falling as snow, as the amount of rainfall the city receives keeps gradually decreasing over the course of the month.
The city receives around 70 mm of rainfall over December, over a period of 8 days.
It is noted that throughout the month, the chance of a day with only rain decreases from 15 per cent to 6 per cent, while the chance of a day with mixed snow and rain remains constant at 7 per cent.
Snow
In December, most of the precipitation gradually begins to take form of snow, and the chance of a day with only snow increases from 8 per cent to 14 per cent over the course of December.
In the beginning of the month, the snowfall measures at an average of about 0.8 inches in a day(maximum -1.7inches/minimum 0.2 inches), while towards the end of the month, the average snowfall is about 1.2 inches per day (maximum- 2.2 inches/minimum -0.4 inches).
On an average, December sees about 23 inches of snowfall, and the city is reliably whitened for a considerable part of December.
Sunshine Hours
All through December, Montreal sees about 9 per cent chances of sunshine, with about 113 sun hours over a period of 23 sun days.
Wind
The average wind speed in Montreal gradually increases over the course of the month during December, starting out at 9.4 miles per hour at the beginning of December and ending at 10.1 miles per hour by the end of the month.
December records an average wind direction predominantly from the west, recording a peak proportion of 49 per cent on December 15th.
Dress Code
December has a potential for a deep cold weather and heavy snowfall, hence we recommend god protection to keep you snug and warm. Make sure you dress up in insulating layers, a heavy winter coat, winter mittens or gloves and a warm winter hat. Also make sure you stock up on snow boots.
Click here for Montreal's weather forecast for the next 14 days. Also, to get an idea of annual weather averages for Montreal, follow this link.
Montreal Hotels in December
Located in the heart of Old Montreal, Place d'Armes is an upscale choice to stay in, and mixes urban sophistication with a blanket of luxury. The hotel is housed in four stunning neoclassical buildings situated opposite the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica. A treasure embodying Montreal's finest architectural traditions, this beautiful hotel with luxury and character offers huge gorgeous rooms, personalised and special service to make you feel at home and comfortable. The hotel has two in-house restaurants, a bistro and an Izakaya to cater to your dining needs, and the food here is delectable.
Located at a 3 minute walk from the nearest metro station, and a distance of 1 kilometre from the Old Montreal historic district and 7 km from Olympic Stadium, the Best Western Plus Hotel has a neat, redbrick building architecture. The hotel features warm, comfortable and colourful rooms with facilities like flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges and Keurig coffeemakers. The hotel accommodates children under the age of 12 for free in a parent's room. With a hearty complimentary breakfast offered, the hotel offers added amenities including a fitness room, meeting facilities, and a lobby lounge with a fireplace.
Chateau Versailles Hotel is a mid-range three star hotel set in 3 refined townhouses of the early 1900's. This neat place is located at a 6-minute walk from Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, at a distance of 1.1 km from Parc du Mont-Royal and 3.9 km from the Université du Québec à Montréal campus. Rooms here are spacious, airy and comfortable and offer facilities like free Wi-Fi , flat-screen TVs with movies and video games, Keurig coffeemakers, minibars, fireplaces, desks, sitting areas and/or Jacuzzi tubs. Along with a breakfast buffet and complimentary afternoon tea, the place features other amenities like a business centre, a 24-hour exercise room and sauna.
An affordable and elegant place to stay, the Hôtel Brossard is located adjacent to Highways 10, 15 and 20 in western Brossard and is at a distance of 11.7 km from downtown Montréal and 13.9 km from Aéroport Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil. The hotel offers neat, comfortable and stylish rooms and suites with standard facilities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks, air-conditioning and mini-fridges and added facilities for suites that include plush living areas, electric fireplaces, kitchenettes or full kitchens. The hotel offers a wholesome and delicious continental breakfast, and additional features like meeting rooms and on-site parking.
Bars and Restaurants
A fantastic luxury restaurant to try while on your trip to Montreal would be the Damas Restaurant. This elegant and beautiful restaurant serves delectable Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, and while the price is a little on the higher side, the taste, service and the ambiance makes an experience here worthwhile. The restaurant has a setup that makes you feel like you're back on the old streets of Damascus, and food here is fresh, prepared with utmost care and with attention to the minutest details. While every dish on their menu is exceptionally good, we highly recommend that you try the Fattoush salad.
Bar a tapas Sorocco is another brilliant place you can visit with friends and family, for a cosy, comfortable and enriching experience. This small, romantic restaurant offers Spanish-inspired and Mediterranean cuisine with tasty meals, classics with a twist and revolutionary dishes. Situated on the St. Denis St. in Montreal, this unassuming restaurant is located close to the Mont-Royal Metro station. Brilliant Tapas, exceptional service and hearty food, all ensure that this restaurant is a perfect place to spend an evening filled with hearty talks and laughter, and make your visit an experience to remember.
An unsuspecting coffee shop just off the Notre Dame square, Espace Cafe & Espresso Bar offers a wonderful selection of quick and cheap eats, if you want to stop down for a quick bite. The menu mainly features varieties of Panini, pastries, sandwiches, soups and wraps in addition to some delicious coffee and croissants. This snug, warm espresso bar is perfect for a hearty breakfast before some city exploration, and delivers quick, efficient and friendly service to customers. At Espace, we highly recommend to you the espresso coffee and the chicken Brie Panini.
Located at a stone's throw from the La Fontaine Park, the La Banquise is a famous restaurant specializing in the dish of Poutine. Open 24 hours with an extensive Poutine menu, it serves over 30 different types of authentic Poutine and is highly regarded as a Poutine heaven among locals and tourists alike. This fun and quirky place is mostly frequented by young people and tourists, and is definitely worth a visit if you happen to drop by the La Fontaine Park. If here, we recommend to you the Classic Poutine for a truly classic experience.
Things to do in Montreal in December
If you are looking for a night indoors, and want to have a rich, sensory winter experience, the Cirque du Soleil tent is something you must not miss. A famous Canadian entertainment company headquartered in Montreal sets up tents all over the globe, and is the largest theatrical producer in the world. The tent organises enchanting fairs, theatrical shows, magical performances and entertaining troupes, making for a perfect night out with family. Especially if you have children, or are a fan of the performing arts, you should give this a go! Tickets and more information about their shows and touring schedules are available on their website.
Located in the heart of Montreal, La Fontaine Park is a brilliant place to spend time ice skating during the winters. This is an urban park situated in the borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Canada. During the winters, the natural ice rink at the park comprises of long waterways, and gliding down one is quite different from going round and round a standard ice rink. The outdoor skating season in Montreal begins somewhere in mid-December and lasts until mid-March. If you enjoy ice skating, do not miss visiting this amazing rink in La Fontaine Park this winter.
The Biosphere is a museum in Montreal dedicated to the environment, and is located at the heart of the city- Parc Jean-Drapeau. This notable architectural masterpiece designed by the famous architect Buckminster Fuller, has interesting educational exhibits, interactive activities and games on important environmental concerns like air, climate change, water, sustainable development, biodiversity, etc. for all age groups. The museum also hosts wonderful events and special animated activities to help people learn about solutions and steps one should take to protect the environment. Open Wednesday to Sunday, this is another great choice to spice up a dull, cold afternoon.
One thing you definitely must not miss if you're in Montreal for Christmas is the popular Christmas Parade otherwise known as Defile du Pere Noel at St. Catherine Street. This traditional parade marks the arrival of the holiday season in downtown Montreal, and sees the young, the old and people of all ages come together to celebrate Quebec's most happiest and busiest Christmas celebrations of all time. The parade features a huge array of street performers, dancers, musicians, artists and more than twenty floats with the Christmas fairies, elves and Santa Clauses. This exciting Christmas festival sees about 300,000 people each year celebrating holiday tradition and the spirit of Christmas in Quebec. It is surely a wonderful chance to soak into the rich cultural history of Montreal, even if for a few hours. With the St. Catherine Street beginning at Notre-Dame St, you have a nice opportunity to set foot at a magical Christmas store the Noel Eternel -extremely popular and highly regarded in the whole of Montreal. This lovely store is open all year round, has a magical Christmas vibe and an amazing collection of ornaments, trinkets and almost everything you need for your Christmas tree, with a host of other Christmas supplies. We are sure you will find something to love and take back as a souvenir on your way homeward!
