Climate and Weather of Scotland
Scotland's oceanic climate is generally cool and very wet. The average annual high temperature is around 11°C. The day to day weather can vary enormously and is very unpredictable. The east coast has a marginally more continental climate than the west, which means it has drier weather, sunnier summers and colder winters.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. The average number of days with snow falling in Scotland ranges from 15 to 20 days, whereas on the peaks and mountains the number of days with snow falling is on average 100 days.
Scotland is generally cloudier than England. The coldest parts of Scotland are the higher areas, with an average of only 1100 hours of sun per year. The wettest places in the highlands account for more than 3000 mm annually, while many places along the east coast account for only 600 mm to 800 mm.
Summers from June to September in Scotland are for most people too cold for a sun and beach vacation. In the central lowlands and along the eastern coastal areas, summer daytime temperatures can reach 17°C to 19°C on average. During warm spells temperatures can shoot toward 30°C. However, such summer conditions are an exception.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Scotland?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.