Shetland Climate by Month
Shetland has a steady cold climate throughout the year.
It also has a notably wet climate with much precipitation.
Now, let’s break down all the climate details for a clearer picture.
Average day and night temperature
The temperature in Shetland remains steady throughout the year, providing a consistently moderate climate. Average daytime temperatures range from a moderate 15°C in August, the warmest time of the year, to a chilly 8°C during cooler months like February. At night, temperatures typically average around 5°C during these months.
The mean minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year
Precipitation and rainy days
Shetland has a relatively rainy climate with high precipitation levels, averaging 1165 mm of rainfall annually. Significant seasonal changes in precipitation occur throughout the year. During the wetter season, January receives high rainfall, averaging 136 mm of precipitation, recorded across 26 rainy days. In contrast, the drier season, May brings less rainfall, with 52 mm over 17 rainy days.The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow
The average number of days each month with precipitation
Sunshine over the year
Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite dramatic in Shetland. While May receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 6.1 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 0.6 hours of sunlight per day.Monthly hours of sunshine
Daily hours of sunshine
The best time of year to visit Shetland in Scotland
Other facts from our historical weather data:August has an average maximum temperature of 15°C and is the warmest month of the year.
The coldest month is February with an average maximum temperature of 8°C.
January tops the wettest month list with 136 mm of rainfall.
May is the driest month with 52 mm of precipitation.
May is the sunniest month with an average of 182 hours of sunshine.
No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.
