Snow in Lapland / Saariselkä / December
Snow almost certain. By mid-December there was snow on the ground in Saariselkä in every one of the last 10 winters, typically 42 cm. Early in the month that was 10 of 10 winters, by the end of December 9 of 9.
Measured at Inari Saariselkä matkailukeskus by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in 9 of the last 10 winters.
How the snow builds up (or melts) during December, over the last 10 winters.
| Date | Any snow | 20+ cm | Typical depth | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 10 of 10 | 7 of 10 | 30 cm | 11–49 cm |
| 15 December | 10 of 10 | 9 of 10 | 42 cm | 18–52 cm |
| 31 December | 9 of 9 | 9 of 9 | 56 cm | 27–73 cm |
Daily temperatures at Inari Saariselkä matkailukeskus over the last ten Decembers.
Tours you can book for your trip. Husky and snowshoe tours need a proper snow cover, so check the numbers above.
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By 15 December there was snow on the ground in Saariselkä in every one of the last 10 winters, typically 42 cm. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in 9 of 10.
The average daily high in December is about -6 °C and the average low about -13 °C. The coldest night in the last ten Decembers reached -31 °C.
Around mid-December the sun doesn't rise at all in Saariselkä (polar night), but there are a few hours of blue twilight around noon.
Yes, December is in the northern lights season, when the nights are long and dark. You need a clear sky and some solar activity, so stay a few nights and get away from town lights.