Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired: Whether you are looking to sail to an island to enjoy empty white sandy beaches or a rocky mountainous walk there is always a choice. Sailing is by far the best way to explore this area. She currently lives in London. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. You cant expect to come home with a suntan from Scotland, but this delightful country will enchant you in so many ways with its fantastic scenery, fascinating history, wonderful wildlife, fabulous food and sensational sightseeing, and you can always warm up with a dram of highland whisky! Averages are for Leuchars, which is 4 miles from St Andrews. Get Scotland weather monthly averages. Time/General; Weather . of rain, Scotlands West Coast - A Sailors Paradise. The month with the fewest wet days in Scotland is January, with an average of 6.5 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. The Gulf Stream brings warm winds to Scotland's west coast. Mostly cloudy. Though there is very little snow in Scotland's major cities, snow and fog in the Highlands and high mountains are not uncommon and can often catch hikers by surprise. The day to day weather can vary enormously and is very unpredictably. The average growing degree days accumulated over the course of the year, where growing degree days are defined as the integral of warmth above a base temperature (. Annual Weather Averages Near Inverness. We assume no responsibility for any decisions made on the basis of the content presented on this site. The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph). The average rainfall accumulated over the course of a sliding 31-day period centered on the day in question. If you are going to be traveling in May, June, or early September, be sure to include lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect against the midges. Showing: Weather by CustomWeather, 2022 Need some help? Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris & Stornoway, frequently asked questions about winter in Scotland, In Scotland, we have an old proverb that goes, 'today's rain is tomorrow's whisky.'. In the north of the country, Lerwick in Shetland has about four hours more daylight at midsummer than London. Spring and summer in Scotland (June, July, August and September), however, are pure pleasure, with cool to warm balmy conditions (summer temperatures average 20-25C). Temperatures are warmer by spring, with averages of 43F to 59F, although there will still be snow in the mountains of the Highlands and the Cairngorms. The average temperature is of 5.0 C (41 F), with a minimum of 2.4 C (36.4 F) and a maximum of 7.5 C (45.5 F). Although the average high temperature throughout Scotland at this time of year is in the mid-60s, it is just an average. But September is just as likely to be a wet, chilly month with damp, penetrating cold, even indoors. Weather Today/Tomorrow ; . 2010-2022 World Weather & Climate InformationAll rights reserved. Why not come for an Easter break? That makes up for the short winter days, with mid-winter clocking up only six hours and 45 minutes of daylight. You can find palm trees in the Highland coastal town of Plockton. You can drill down to a specific season, month, and even day by clicking the graphs or using the navigation panel. It is one of the coldest months of the year. Change your preferences at If you're planning a city break in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Dundee, you'll still want to pack wooly tights and a proper winter coat. Why not stay in a castle, a lighthouse or on a working farm? As the tour brochures say, Scotland is a destination for all seasons! The average annual high temperature is around 11 degrees Celsius (51 Fahrenheit). 2014 surpassed 2006 as . Currently: 48 F. In the lowlands, the daily averages in January and February are 4 C (39 F) in the Shetland Islands, 4.5 C (40 F) in the Orkney Islands, and 5 C (41 F) in the Hebrides, and as for the cities, 3.5 C (38.5 F) in Inverness and 4 C (39 F) in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Packing for Scotland is, of course, dependent on the season of your visit, although all year round a couple of warm sweaters will not come amiss, an umbrella will undoubtedly be useful and stout, comfortable waterproof shoes essential. Long dark winter nights are the best time to see amazing constellations of starsat Scotland's designated. With 4.1in over 6 days, rainfall can happen throughout your trip. Please review our full terms contained on our Terms of Service page. Weather in Scotland in January Temperature hovers around 5c and at night it feels like 1c. The snowiest season lasts from the end of December through February, but snow remains in the highest peaks until well into the spring. Campers should fit their tents with insect-proof netting. Passing clouds. This report illustrates the typical weather for Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness year round, based on a statistical analysis of historical hourly weather reports and model reconstructions from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 2016. See all locations in Scotland. In summer (July, August, September) jeans and T-shirts will be fine during the day, with a light jacket for after dark. Scotland's high latitude means that we enjoy lovely long summer days and often an extended twilight. Visitors come here for Scotland's major museums and festivals, its historic castles in Edinburgh and Stirling, for salmon fishing on the Tweed, golfing in St Andrews, and outdoor activities in Perthshire. Show in Celsius. Balmoral, the Queen's private vacation home, is located here, and the house and grounds are visitor attractions when the royal family is not in residence. In the height of summer August the world-renowned Edinburgh festival and Military Tattoo draws visitors from around the world. When summer arrives the streets of the cities come alive with events and visitors. July and August are normally the warmest months in Scotland, with temperatures of an average 19C. During the winter it is around six degrees Celsius (42 Fahrenheit). Coldest Month: January (39 F avg) Wettest Month: October (2.13" avg) Windiest Month: March (12 mph avg) (Weather station: Glasgow Airport, United Kingdom). The most monthly precipitation in Scotland occurs in October with 5.8 inches. Scotland covers the north of the British Isles, pretty much on the same latitude as Labrador in Canada, which has freezing winters and icebergs. Based on weather reports collected during 1985-2015. Like everywhere in the British Isles, Scotland tends to be wet, but here in the highlands the rainfall is governed by the topography of the mountains. The daily average high and low air temperature at. We show the climate in Scotland by comparing the average weather in 3 representative places: Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness. We provide day and night temperature, sunshine hours, sea temperature and rainfall averages for Scotland See all locations in Scotland. Scotland, however, has the benefit of being warmed by the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, and although much colder than England to the south of the United Kingdom, it has a climate classified as temperate, and not too extreme. Annual Sunshine for Scotland The longest days in Scotland are in June , with an average of 18 hours of daylight per day. In mid-winter, there are seven hours of daylight, while in mid-summer, the day lasts more than 17 and a half hours. Scotland's climate is actually quite moderate and very changeable, although on occasion we get really hot or really cold weather. If it is dry, the heather-covered hills turn beautiful shades of gold and crisp, brisk temperatures prevail. It is cloudy more often than clear. Scotland's five ski centres provide some of the best value snowboarding and skiing in Europe. The percentage of days in which precipitation is observed, excluding trace quantities. You can expect average maximum temperaturesto range from approximately 7C (45F)to 13 C (55F) during the months of March, April and May. The average number of days with snow falling in Scotland ranges from 15 to 20 days. On the longest day, in June, the sun rises around 4 a.m. and doesn't set until after 10 p.m., giving over 17 hours of daylight. Climate in Scotland in october Climate in Edinburgh in october In the month of october, maximum temperature is 56F and minimum temperature is 49F (for an average temperature of 52F). See more current weather Annual Weather Averages Near Glasgow Averages are for Glasgow Airport, which is 7 miles from Glasgow. And, with the extra hours of daylight, you can pack a lot into your summer holiday. Weather in Scotland in February Temperature hovers around 6c and at night it feels like 2c. Fans of outdoor pursuits in Scotland need to prepare for the country's plagues of midges, tiny biting insects that swarm in clouds so thick they sometimes look like fog. The colours of autumn are eye-catching and vibrant, as the trees change from green to fiery reds, oranges and yellows. The average wind speed is 25 kph (16 mph). Dundee is Scotland's sunniest city, with an average of 1,523 hours of sunshine per year. Get notified about our newest bucket list destinations and more! The long daylight hours means that youcould play a round of golfin the middle of the nighton Orkney and Shetland. This is the designation usually given to the Western Highlands, the county of Argyll, Loch Lomond, and the Trossachs National Park, Islay, the Isle of Skye, the inner and outer Hebrides and many of Scotland's most beautiful lochs. However, the peaks and mountains of the Highlands experience around 100 days of falling snow. Cool. Despite being a relatively small country, one of the most surprising things about the Scottish climate is just how much it varies from one region to another. In terms of your general wardrobe, include layers that you can add on or remove to suit the changing weather conditions and your level of activity. The snowsports season varies each year, but generally it runs from November to April. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. Because Scotland has a generally damp climate, the cold is penetrating and more uncomfortable than the temperature might indicate. December is a month with cold maximum daytime temperatures around 7C (45F) and nighttime temperatures around 1C (35F) in Edinburgh. The east coast has a marginally more continental climate than the west, which has drier weather, sunnier summers and colder winters. Annual Weather Averages Near St Andrews. Winter temperatures here range from 30 F to 38 F with a much colder wind chill factor in the high mountains. Spring (May and June) before the busy, peak tourist season is perfect for exploring the great outdoors or touring the many attractions. Weather.com brings you the most accurate monthly weather forecast for Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom with average/record and high/low temperatures, precipitation and more. Beta site: were developing a new website to help make your trip to Scotland even better. The daily average wide-area surface water temperature. Compare with another month. (Weather station: Aberdeen / Dyce, United Kingdom). This nation-wide website presents information about the weather and climate for almost every country around the world. How is the weather in Scotland in a specific month? Need travel inspiration? Bring sunscreen as well. Pack some fleece tops to layer on over long-sleeved T-shirts and sweaters if necessary. Cool. . Like everywhere in the British Isles, Scotland tends to be wet, but here in the highlands the rainfall is governed by the topography of the mountains. (Weather station: Edinburgh Airport, United Kingdom). The east coast has a marginally more continental climate than the west, which has drier weather, sunnier summers and colder winters. Currently: 52 F. Record-breaking heatwaves, in line with the current climate extremes worldwide, are not unheard of. Select a city to see its average temperature, precipitation and hours of sunshine over the year. Weather data is prone to errors, outages, and other defects. Cloudy. December, January and February are generally the coldest months in Scotland, with the average maximum temperature usuallyaround5C (41F). The average temperature is of 14.7 C (58 F), with a minimum of 10.7 C (51.3 F) and a maximum of 18.6 C (65.5 F). Although the difference between the Highlands and the Lowlands sometimes seems more cultural than actual, Scotland is divided by a real geological division, the Highland Boundary Fault, that runs from Arran and Helensburgh, just west of Glasgow to Stonehaven, just south of Aberdeen on the east coast. Spring (May and June) before the busy, peak tourist season is perfect for exploring the great outdoors or touring the many attractions. In the height of summer August the world-renowned Edinburgh festival and Military Tattoo draws visitors from around the world. Scotland's oceanic climate is generally cool and very wet. While other regions, notably Ben Nevis and Glen Coe in the Highlands, have ski areas, they are more likely to rely on snowmaking equipment than the ski areas of the Cairngorms. 1.38 inches How much sun does Scotland get in May? The coolest month in Scotland is December when the average maximum temperature is 8, average temperature is 5 and average minimum temperature is 3. See more current weather Annual Weather Averages Near Edinburgh Averages are for Edinburgh Airport, which is 6 miles from Edinburgh. Later in the year, if the spring has been unusually warm and humid, there is another wave of biting midges, mostly along the west coast, that hatch at the end of August or early September. In December, on the other hand, there are only six hours and 40 minutes of daylight. But nights can still be 10 to 15 degrees colder than days, so be preparedand don't forget about the midges. Scotland's climate is cool and wet with extreme variations in daylight hoursfrom as little as five hours in mid-winter to 20 hours in mid-summer. Record-breaking heatwaves, in line with the current climate extremes worldwide, are not unheard of. Extended weather forecast in Patna. The cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and the parts of southern Scotland, known as the Borders, are in the Lowlands. Even if you do experience an April shower or two, there is a fantastic range of galleries, museums and other attractions to keep you entertained all year-round, regardless of the weather. Your Trip to Scotland: The Complete Guide, Loch Lomond, and the Trossachs National Park. Climate & Weather Averages in St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom. It's often the case that you can drive for 20 minutes and find that the conditions are completely different. The days are long, and the hard angle of the northern sun, mainly reflected off lochs, can be surprisingly intense. While having the tremendous advantages of temporal and spatial completeness, these reconstructions: (1) are based on computer models that may have model-based errors, (2) are coarsely sampled on a 50 km grid and are therefore unable to reconstruct the local variations of many microclimates, and (3) have particular difficulty with the weather in some coastal areas, especially small islands. The average sea temperature is of 11.5 C (52.5 F). Night +41 F. This statistic shows the average mean temperature in Scotland from 1995 to 2020. Average weather in December 2020. We'd recommend bringing waterproof outerwear and hats instead. By searching for a location or selecting a climate station on the map above, you can view climate averages for the 30-year period 1991-2020. There's only about a 20-degree difference between average winter temperaturesin the low 40s Fahrenheitand average summer temperatures, which are typically in the mid-60s F. Nights, year-round, are much colder than daylight hours. Hourly Week 10 days 14 days . Camping and outdoor suppliers usually sell it. Visitors flock here for the region's stark and dramatic mountain scenery, for its lochside cycling and hiking, for whisky tourism, and the many opportunities for sports and adventure in Glencoe and through Fort William. In the period of consideration, monthly mean air temperatures peaked in July 2021 at. The number of hours during which the Sun is at least partly above the horizon. The summer months (June through August) are the warmest of the year, with extensive . The drier season lasts 7.0 months, from August 27 to March 29. At this time of year there is actually no complete darkness in the far north of Scotland. December, January and February are generally the coldest months in Scotland, with the average maximum temperature usually around 5C (41F). For the last 100 years, the coldest winter was in 1963 (average temperature 0.19 C or 32.34 F) and the mildest was in 1989 (average 5.15 C or 41.27 F). Weather Today Weather Hourly 14 Day Forecast Yesterday/Past Weather Climate (Averages) Currently: 50 F. A beautiful time to visit, this season sees daffodils, bluebells, cherry blossom and rhododendrons bursting into bloom. The eastern part of the country, from Inverness across to Aberdeenshire and down to Angus, Fife and the Lothians, enjoys an annual rainfall that is actually similar to (or less than) New York, Barcelona, Rome or even Rabat in Morocco. The details of the data sources used on this page vary between places and are discussed in detail on each place's dedicated page: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. WeatherSpark.com. Summer temperatures average about 65 F. The best chance of clear, dry weather for this area's outdoor activities in from the end of June to the end of August. You're permitted to use this graph as long as you provide prominent attribution with a link back close to the use of the graph. In Glasgow, one of the U.K.'s rainiest cities, average monthly rainfall during the wettest monthsbetween September and Januaryis about 21 inches, and the daily chance of rain hovers around 50 percent. Monthly record low temperatures measured in Norrland, Sweden 2020, by location; Average annual minimum temperature in Luxembourg-City 2008-2019 The average hourly temperature, color coded into bands. The average of mean hourly wind speeds at. During the summer months, the average daytime temperature is around eighteen degrees Celsius (64 Fahrenheit). 10 days. The highest monthly average temperature in Scotland for July is 75.7 degrees. Inbetween seasons (March, April, May, October and November) a waterproof parka to wear over a couple of light layers will suffice, but in mid-winter (December, January and February) take along a thick overcoat, boots, hat, scarf and gloves. With four very distinct seasons, the best time to visit Scotland is dependent on what you intend to get out of your holiday. Although the average high temperature throughout Scotland at this time of year is in the mid-60s, it is just an average. Based on weather reports collected during 1985-2015. For example: January and February are generally the coldest months in Scotland, with the daytime maximum temperatures that ranges of an average of around 5 to 7C. Scotland's coast is so profoundly indented that its climate is almost island-like. The coldest city in May in Scotland is Shetland when we check our database. The wettest parts of Scotland experience an average of 250 days of rain per year, whereas the driest parts only experience an average of about 150 days of rain per year. . In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Inverness is usually very mild. Weather Today Weather Hourly 14 Day Forecast Yesterday/Past Weather Climate (Averages) Currently: 48 F. Monthly mean air temperatures peaked in July 2021 at around 11 degrees Celsius ( 51 Fahrenheit.. A destination for all seasons lasts from the end of december through February, but generally it runs from to... Hours more daylight at midsummer than London makes up for the short winter days, the. Of days in Scotland are in June, with the extra hours of daylight mid-60s, it dry... Places: Edinburgh Airport, which has drier weather, sunnier summers and colder winters July 75.7...: Aberdeen / Dyce, United Kingdom above the horizon 1.38 inches how much sun Scotland! 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