December on the Camino Francés feels wintry and quiet. Days are short and often overcast, with frequent light rain or drizzle; cold snaps bring snow to high ground and sometimes to the plateau. Temperatures sit in a cold-to-cool band: near freezing at dawn, rising to the mid single digits or low teens on milder afternoons. Eastern sections see more mixed rain and snow, while the far west turns milder but wetter under Atlantic fronts. Bright, calm spells do appear between systems, but the trail is more often damp than dry.
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Crossing the Pyrenees into Navarre, December feels decidedly wintry: cloud dominates and precipitation is frequent, with rain in the valleys and regular snow on the higher ground. As the route descends toward Pamplona and the Ega valley, showers alternate with dull, dry spells and the odd clear window. Daytime temperatures run from around freezing in the heights to the low teens in sheltered lows.
Into La Rioja, skies stay mostly grey with on-and-off drizzle and occasional longer dry stretches. Cooler outbreaks can turn some showers wintry, especially near the higher ground north of the vineyards. Typical temperatures sit from around freezing at first light to the low teens in the afternoon.
Across the Burgos plateau and out onto the Meseta, expect long overcast spells with intermittent light rain or drizzle, broken by colder snaps that bring snow. Temperatures range from around freezing at dawn to near 10°C in the afternoon. Near León and over the Montes de León toward Foncebadón, precipitation becomes more mixed and can turn heavy, with sleet or snow on the climbs and brief thaws delivering soaking rain. West of the pass toward Ponferrada and Villafranca, showery days alternate with quieter, dry intervals, though wintry intrusions still appear.
Climbing to O Cebreiro, the weather turns wetter and can be wintry on the heights, with frequent showers and a fair chance of snow or sleet. Once over the crest, the air becomes milder but fronts arrive often, bringing many cloudy days with drizzle and periodic moderate to heavy rain. Typical afternoons sit from the mid single digits to low teens, with cooler nights. Closer to Santiago, showers remain frequent and the ground often stays damp between brighter breaks.
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