Spending Christmas in Yekaterinburg drops you right into the heart of a real Russian winter. Daytime temperatures usually hover around -7°C (19°F), while nights can tumble to about -15°C (5°F), and you’ll almost always see snow on the ground.
Short daylight hours and the city’s spot in the Ural region guarantee cold, crisp air. There’s a reliable chance of snowfall during the holiday season.
The weather really shapes how you’ll experience the city at Christmas. Snow covers the streets, mornings start frosty, and sunshine is in short supply.
Light to moderate winds sweep through, making the chill even more noticeable. About half the days in December bring some kind of snow, so you’ll want to plan for both brisk outdoor adventures and plenty of cozy indoor time.
Overview of Christmas Weather in Yekaterinburg
You can expect very cold conditions around Christmas, with frequent snow cover and not much daylight. Temperatures stay well below freezing, and heavy cloud cover keeps the days short and dim.
Typical Temperature Range
In late December, the average high temperature in Yekaterinburg sits at about 14°F (-10°C). The average low drops near 1°F (-17°C).
Sometimes, nighttime temperatures fall below -10°F (-23°C) during a cold snap. The air feels frigid pretty much all the time, and without proper clothing, even a quick walk outside can be rough.
Unlike autumn, you won’t get much of a break from the cold; it just sticks around.
To give you a sense of it:
- Highs: 12–18°F (-11 to -8°C)
- Lows: -5–5°F (-20 to -15°C)
- Extremes: Sometimes it dips below -20°F (-29°C)
You’ll want to prepare for true winter, not just chilly weather.
Weather Patterns During Late December
Clouds rule the sky most of the time, with overcast conditions on about 75% of days. Sunshine is rare, and you only get about 6 to 7 hours of daylight each day.
Snow falls pretty often, adding up to about 4 to 5 inches for the month. Usually, earlier storms have already covered the ground before December even starts.
Rain doesn’t really show up since it stays way below freezing. Winds average around 8 mph, usually blowing from the west.
The wind and cold together make it feel even colder. Humidity stays low, so despite all the snow, the air actually feels dry.
Comparison With Other Times of Year
Christmas weather in Yekaterinburg is some of the harshest you’ll find all year. In July, though, average highs reach 70–73°F (21–23°C), and daylight stretches to almost 18 hours.
Even early autumn feels totally different. September still gets highs above 55°F (13°C), but by December, the city is deep into winter.
No real thaw happens until spring. Late December is tough, sure, but it’s also when the city’s climate feels most dramatic.
Temperature Details in December
December sits among the coldest times of the year in Yekaterinburg. Temperatures drop well below freezing, and the cold stays steady.
You’ll see cloud cover often, and there’s not much difference in warmth compared to the rest of winter.
Daily High and Low Temperatures
During December, the average daily high temperature usually falls between -7°C and -10°C (about 20°F to 14°F). Highs rarely reach above freezing, so it always feels cold outside.
The average daily low temperature sits between -12°C and -15°C (around 5°F). Nights feel even colder, especially with the wind and long hours of darkness.
By mid to late December, daylight lasts only about 7 hours. This short window keeps things cold, so highs and lows don’t differ much.
If you’re planning a trip, get ready for steady cold. You’ll need warm clothing, insulated boots, and layers if you want to be outside.
Temperature Extremes and Records
Averages tell part of the story, but extremes show how harsh it can get. Some years, daytime highs barely crawl up to -20°C (-4°F), and nights can drop close to -30°C (-22°F).
Every now and then, December can be surprisingly mild. One of the warmest on record had an average high near -3°C (27°F) and a low around -8°C (18°F).
January usually claims the title for coldest month, but December often brings the first severe cold snaps. Early freezes can ice over the streets and coat everything in frost.
You won’t run into these extremes every day, but knowing what’s possible helps you plan for outdoor time.
Trends Leading Up to Christmas
Early December can start off a bit less intense, with highs closer to -7°C (19°F). As the month rolls on, temperatures tend to drop.
By Christmas week, highs settle near -10°C (14°F) and lows hit about -15°C (5°F). Cloud cover is common, with 70–75% of days mostly cloudy or overcast.
This keeps things damp and chilly, and you won’t get much sunshine. Snow piles up by mid-December, and with the ground frozen and daylight short, the city feels cold and dark.
If you arrive around Christmas, expect a true winter vibe. The steady drop in temps leading up to the holiday makes it feel colder than the numbers might suggest.
Precipitation and Snowfall Patterns
December in Yekaterinburg brings frequent snowfall, barely any rain, and lots of clouds. Almost all precipitation falls as snow, with rare exceptions.
The city’s continental climate means Christmas almost always feels wintry, and you’ll see measurable snow on the ground.
Average Precipitation Levels
December lands in the middle of the snowy season, which stretches from late September to mid-May. Yekaterinburg usually gets an average snowfall of about 115 mm in December.
Rainfall is almost nothing—less than 1 mm for the whole month. You can expect about 3–4 days with measurable snow in December.
Those days bring light to moderate snow showers, but heavy snow isn’t rare. Unlike spring or summer, precipitation doesn’t spread out over lots of days.
Instead, December tends to pack its snow into a few bigger storms. That means you might get several dry, cold days followed by a sudden burst of fresh snow.
| Month | Avg. Rainfall | Avg. Snowfall | Days with Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov | 4.5 mm | 134 mm | 4–5 days |
| Dec | 0.4 mm | 115 mm | 3–4 days |
| Jan | 0.1 mm | 98 mm | 3–4 days |
Chance of Snowfall on Christmas
The odds of having snow on the ground at Christmas in Yekaterinburg are, well, almost guaranteed. December highs sit near -8°C, and lows drop to about -16°C.
Those temps keep the snow frozen and on the ground. Snowfall is also pretty common during Christmas week.
You’ve got about a 10–15% chance of fresh snow on any given day in late December. Even if it doesn’t snow right on Christmas Day, the ground will almost always be covered in a thick layer.
Snowpack builds up steadily from November, so by late December, you’ll see several centimeters of accumulation. Christmas in Yekaterinburg is reliably white, unlike a lot of northern cities where snow cover can be hit or miss.
Rain Versus Snow in December
Rain just doesn’t happen in December because it stays so cold. With highs rarely above -8°C, all precipitation falls as snow.
On average, December has 0.0 days of rain and 3.4 days of snow. Mixed precipitation is rare, but on the odd warmer day, you might see sleet or a quick rain-snow mix—though that’s more of an October or April thing.
By December, it’s too cold for liquid rain. So, if you’re packing, skip the rain gear.
Roads and sidewalks stay icy and snow-covered, and snow boots will serve you better than an umbrella.
Cloud Cover and Sunshine
In late December, Yekaterinburg gets heavy cloudiness and barely any sunshine. The sky stays overcast most of the day, and daylight is short thanks to the city’s northern location.
Typical Cloudiness in December
You’ll see a lot of cloud cover in December. Overcast skies dominate, and clear or sunny days are rare.
The city averages just 1 to 2 hours of sunshine per day, making it one of the darkest stretches of the year. Snowfall adds to the gray look, and frequent snow showers or flurries can blur the line between sky and ground.
If you’re outside, expect muted light all day. You’ll probably need to turn on lights indoors, even during the day.
Some travelers say the constant cloudiness gives everything a calm, subdued feel.
Daylight Hours Around Christmas
Daylight is pretty limited during Christmas in Yekaterinburg. Around December 25, you get about 6 hours and 50 minutes of daylight.
Sunrise comes late, usually after 9:30 a.m., and sunset happens before 4:00 p.m. The short days and heavy clouds mean natural light is hard to come by.
Even when the sun’s up, it stays low on the horizon, so you get dim light instead of bright sunshine. If you want to see the city outdoors, aim for midday.
That’s your best shot at “bright” conditions, even if it’s still cloudy. A lot of visitors stick to indoor attractions in the morning and late afternoon to make the most of what little daylight there is.
Humidity, Dew Point, and Wind Conditions
In late December, Yekaterinburg’s air feels cold and a bit damp. Humidity usually stays high, and wind adds another layer of chill.
Dew point values sit well below freezing. Winds shift between calm stretches and sharper gusts, mostly coming from the west or northwest.
Average Humidity and Dew Point
In December, you’ll usually see relative humidity hovering between 75–85%. The cold air feels heavier and somehow cuts right through you.
This level of humidity doesn’t really help in winter. Instead, it just adds to the damp, chilly vibe outside.
The dew point typically sits well below 0°C, often between -12°C and -16°C. Even with high relative humidity, the air barely holds any moisture.
That’s why your skin feels dry, but snow and frost stay put on the ground.
At night, as temperatures sink, the dew point drops even more. You’ll notice frost forming easily on windows, sidewalks, and cars.
If you’re traveling, keep in mind that this crisp air can dry out your throat and skin fast. Carrying a water bottle or some lip balm isn’t a bad idea.
Wind Speed and Direction
Around Christmas, winds in Yekaterinburg tend to be light to moderate, usually 8–15 km/h. When cold fronts sweep in from the northwest or west, gusts can pick up and bring in even colder Arctic air.
That kind of wind drops the temperature you actually feel. For example, if it’s -12°C and the wind is blowing at 15 km/h, it can feel more like -18°C.
You’ll get plenty of calm days, but sometimes the wind chill just hits harder than you’d expect.
Most winds cross the Ural Mountains, which shakes up the local weather patterns. Sometimes the wind direction shifts suddenly, but usually, it comes from the west in winter.
If you’re heading out, grab a scarf or something windproof to help keep the chill off your skin.
Weather Data Sources and Reliability
You’ll get the most accurate winter weather info for Yekaterinburg from direct station measurements and long-term climate records. That mix helps paint a clear picture of both the day-to-day and the bigger weather patterns in December.
Local Weather Stations
Several official weather stations run by Russian meteorological services keep tabs on Yekaterinburg’s weather. These stations check temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed every day.
They keep collecting data all year, even when it’s brutally cold and the equipment needs extra care to keep from freezing up.
Most stations use standard instruments like thermometers in Stevenson screens, automated rain gauges, and anemometers for wind. The main city station sits near Koltsovo Airport, so it’s always gathering data and feeds into international aviation weather networks.
You actually benefit from all this because the readings stick to global standards and stay reliable. They report in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, and they don’t forget about visibility, pressure, or dew point.
Those details really matter in December, when you’re dealing with fog, snow cover, and that low winter sun that makes everything feel a bit more dramatic.
Historical Data Coverage
Long-term climate records can really help you get a sense of what to expect around Christmas. Yekaterinburg’s weather archives go back more than a century. Modern datasets cover at least 30 years, which feels pretty substantial.
You’ll find daily averages, extremes, and precipitation totals in these records. The most trustworthy numbers come from 1992 to 2021, giving us a solid baseline.
Average highs sit around -7 °C, and lows dip to about -14 °C in December. Records also show about 27 mm of precipitation for the month, and most of that falls as snow.
Each year, new observations update these historical datasets. When you mix recent station reports with the archives, you get a good look at both the short-term swings and the longer-term patterns in Yekaterinburg’s winter climate.