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Edinburgh Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide

Due to its proximity to the ocean the climate of Edinburgh is a lot milder than you might expect. Despite its northern location Edinburgh rarely experiences periods of frost. During the summer months, the average daytime temperature is around. During the winter it is around. The annual rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. However in the period from February to June, the precipitation is a bit lower. Edinburgh has about 1400 hours of sunshine per year.

Average maximum day and minimum night temperature

Visitors to Edinburgh can expect significant temperature changes throughout the year. Average daytime temperatures reach a pleasant 19°C in July. In December, the coolest month of the year, temperatures drop to a chilly 8°C.

At night, you can expect cooler temperatures, with averages dropping to around 2°C during this month. Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Precipitation and rainy days

Generally, Edinburgh experiences moderate precipitation patterns, averaging 933 mm yearly. Despite minor fluctuations, Edinburgh enjoys fairly consistent precipitation throughout the year. In October, you can expect around 89 mm of precipitation, while in April, Edinburgh receives about 65 mm.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow

Sunshine over the year

Edinburgh can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of May under a blue sky, with approximately 6.4 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in December, with only 1.6 hours of sunlight per day. Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Data from: Edinburgh, Scotland (9 KM, 5 Miles).

Daily hours of sunshine

Data from: Edinburgh, Scotland (9 KM, 5 Miles).

Average water temperature

The mean water temperature over the year ranges from 5°C in March to 13°C in July.

Water temperature over the year

Data from: Edinburgh, Scotland (9 KM, 5 Miles).

Forecast for Edinburgh

Sat   Jan 11
1°C | -3°C
S 1 m/s
0.4 mm
broken clouds and  chance of slight sleet

broken clouds and chance of slight sleet

Sun   Jan 12
7°C | -3°C
SW 3 m/s
overcast and no rain

overcast and no rain

Mon   Jan 13
12°C | 6°C
SW 9 m/s
0.8 mm
overcast and slight rain

overcast and slight rain

Select a Month of Interest

Check the conditions for any month of the year.

The best time of year to visit Edinburgh in the United Kingdom

Other facts from our historical weather data:
  • Which is the warmest month in Edinburgh?
    July has an average maximum temperature of 19°C and is the warmest month of the year.
  • Which is the coldest month in Edinburgh?
    The coldest month is December with an average maximum temperature of 8°C.
  • Which is the wettest month in Edinburgh?
    October tops the wettest month list with 89 mm of rainfall.
  • Which is the driest month in Edinburgh?
    April is the driest month with 65 mm of precipitation.
  • Which is the sunniest month in Edinburgh?
    May is the sunniest month with an average of 193 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.