Country Snapshot: Climate Overview

London Climate Data

The climate of the United Kingdom is generally cool to mild with frequent clouds and rain.

The United Kingdom is located on the western seaboard of Europe in a position which experiences convergence between moist maritime air and dry continental air. As a consequence, weather patterns are extremely changeable between seasons and even within one day. Due to the moderating effects of the Atlantic Ocean, weather conditions are rarely extreme and in general the climate is cool to mild with frequent clouds and rain.

Seasons

Spring (March to May) is cool and dry across the country; however, it is possible to experience occasional snow showers at late as April. The southern half of the country is warmest with average temperatures of 10°C (50°F) through the season.

Summer (June to August) can be warm with August being the hottest month; however, rain can occur at any time during the season. It is very rare to encounter temperatures above 30°C (86°F) anywhere in the country.

Autumn (September to November) is typically very unsettled with frequent North Atlantic depressions crossing the country. The season is often the wettest and windiest period of the year.

Winter (December to February) is cool and windy with infrequent snowfall. Outside of the mountains, snow rarely lies on the ground for more than two or three days. Snowfalls are associated with northern air masses moving into the country, which often reverse to southern air flows within a few days. When high pressure conditions occur, winter days become clear with light winds, but this can create heavy overnight ground frost and foggy conditions.

Regional Variations

Although the climate is variable everywhere in the United Kingdom, long-term meteorological records suggest there are three distinct climatic regions.

Northern Ireland and Scotland are generally the coldest and wettest parts of the country. The northern latitude reduces temperatures, but Scotland also consists of many mountain ranges that experience snow cover for 6 months of the year. This also increases cloud cover and rainfall, with Scotland having the least sunshine hours of anywhere in the United Kingdom. Annual precipitation is 1,520 millimeters (60 inches), with much falling as snow.

Wales and western England are frequently under the influence of maritime tropical air masses from the southwest. This brings rain, but also generally brings warmer temperatures and less extreme winters. Western areas, being closest to the Atlantic, experience severe storm conditions to a significantly greater extent than eastern areas.

Southern and eastern England is the driest and warmest region, particularly the areas closest to continental Europe. London experiences just a third of Scotland’s annual rainfall and rarely experiences temperatures below freezing.