Weather in Edinburgh – best time to visit Scotland’s capital
Edinburgh, much like rest of Scotland has a mild, maritime climate. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean, and especially of the warm North Atlantic Current can be felt in moderate, as for this geographic latitude, temperatures and high humidity. Below 0 degrees Celsius temperatures are registered only in the harshest winters, although even in the “driest” of months you can expect around 20 rainy days in a month.
Current weather in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh weather in the summer
For a large majority of tourist, summer is the best time to visit Edinburgh. During the months of June, July and August the temperatures are fairly stable, usually remaining between 18-20 degrees Celsius. With the record high temperature ever registered at 31.4 °C the chances of uncomfortable heat pestering tourist on a city break in Edinburgh are close to none. Usually, any temperature above 20 °C is regarded by the locals as “hot”…
August is the sunniest month in the Scottish capital, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day. It is also the best time to experience bathing in the North Sea. Water temperature along the Edinburgh coast is the highest in August, reaching 15 degrees Celsius.
Do expect, however, around 10 (on average) rainy days throughout August. The downside of visiting Edinburgh in the summer are the tourist crowds, which flood the city (unless you enjoy company of fellow travellers, that is). If you would like to experience Scotland’s capital during shoulder season, with less people and at reduced rates, a visit during spring, or the fairly short Autumn is a good solution.
Weather in Edinburgh – see chart of temperature and rainfall for Edinburgh, Scotland.
Spring in Edinburgh
March is usually considered a part of the long Edinburgh winter season. A significant rise in the temperatures can only be felt from April onwards. In both April and May in Edinburgh, expect the temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius and a good amount of sunny days. Due to the particularities of the local climate April in Edinburgh is a sunnier month than, for example, June. Be prepared, however, for a weather to change unexpectedly. A raincoat and/or a umbrella will surely come in handy.
Winter weather Edinburgh
The lengthy winter season in Edinburgh brings a rather harsh weather, although, as mentioned before, usually without below zero temperatures during daytime. Edinburgh, often referred to as the ‘Windy City’ experiences strong whipping winds, which especially in the winter time are often accompanied by rain. Between November and May European windstorms, with winds gusts exceeding 100 km/h may occur. Those are, fortunately, rarely ever dangerous. The worst of registered windstorms to hit Scotland ever took place in 1968.
In general, when visiting Edinburgh in the winter, prepare for chilly, rainy and possibly stormy days, inviting to exploring the indoor activities and attractions of the city.
Edinburgh autumn
In September and October in Edinburgh, tourists are often surprised by a good amount of sunshine hours. Warm, sunny afternoons are best spent in many of the city’s parks, where the changing colours of the foliage offer an unforgettable spectacle. The daytime temperatures between 10-15 degrees Celsius start decreasing from around mid-October.
Topics: edinburgh, scotland, weather-edinburgh, spring-in-edinburgh, visit-edinburgh
