Last updated: May 6, 2024
Under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification Scotland features a humid continental climate (Dfa).Temperatures typically range between -6 °C (21 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F) through the year, but rarely can drop to -34 °C (-29 °F) or can rise to as high as 38 °C (101 °F).The average annual precipitation amounts to about 810 mm (31.9 inches) and receives 91 rainy days on the 1 mm (0.04 inches) threshold annually.Scotland enjoys an average of 3118 hours of sunshine throughout the year, and daylight varies from 9 hours 1 minutes to 15 hours 18 minutes per day.
The warmest months in Scotland are June, July and August, with daily mean temperatures ranging from 23 to 25 °C (73 - 77 °F) throughout the day. The coldest temperatures usually occur in January, February and December, when daily mean temperatures range from -6 to -3 °C (21 - 27 °F) throughout the day. On average each year, Scotland experiences 91 days above 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 136 days below 0 °C (32.0 °F).
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum | 12°C (55°F) | 20°C (69°F) | 27°C (80°F) | 30°C (87°F) | 34°C (94°F) | 38°C (101°F) | 38°C (100°F) | 36°C (97°F) | 34°C (93°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 27°C (81°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
Mean maximum | 9°C (48°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 28°C (82°F) | 31°C (88°F) | 33°C (92°F) | 36°C (97°F) | 33°C (91°F) | 33°C (91°F) | 28°C (83°F) | 20°C (67°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
Average high | -1°C (30°F) | -1°C (31°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 21°C (69°F) | 29°C (84°F) | 30°C (86°F) | 28°C (83°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (47°F) | 2°C (36°F) |
Daily mean | -6°C (21°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 2°C (37°F) | 7°C (46°F) | 15°C (60°F) | 23°C (74°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 19°C (67°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 2°C (36°F) | -3°C (27°F) |
Average low | -11°C (13°F) | -11°C (12°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 1°C (35°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 19°C (67°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 4°C (40°F) | -3°C (27°F) | -8°C (19°F) |
Mean minimum | -25°C (-12°F) | -24°C (-11°F) | -13°C (8°F) | -9°C (16°F) | 1°C (35°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 13°C (56°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 5°C (41°F) | -7°C (20°F) | -12°C (11°F) | -20°C (-4°F) |
Minimum | -34°C (-29°F) | -32°C (-26°F) | -25°C (-13°F) | -18°C (0°F) | -0°C (32°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 11°C (51°F) | 9°C (49°F) | 4°C (39°F) | -13°C (9°F) | -16°C (4°F) | -27°C (-17°F) |
Compare temperature, precipitation, sunshine, UV index in Scotland, South Dakota, United States with other places around the world.
Scotland usually has the most precipitation in May, August and September, with an average of 10 rainy days and 108 mm (4.3 inches) of precipitation per month.The driest months in Scotland are January, February and November. On average, 21 mm (0.8 inches) of precipitation falls during these months.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.8) | 22 (0.9) | 67 (2.6) | 67 (2.6) | 131 (5.2) | 78 (3.1) | 90 (3.6) | 100 (4.0) | 93 (3.7) | 79 (3.1) | 22 (0.9) | 40 (1.6) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
The sunniest months in Scotland are June, July and August, when the sun shines an average of 11 hours 29 minutes a day.Least sunny months in Scotland: January, February and December receive an average of 6 hours 13 minutes of sunshine daily.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 154 | 210 | 232 | 261 | 284 | 351 | 371 | 334 | 265 | 231 | 219 | 201 |
Mean daily daylight hours | 9h 23m | 10h 31m | 11h 58m | 13h 26m | 14h 41m | 15h 18m | 14h 58m | 13h 51m | 12h 26m | 10h 58m | 9h 41m | 9h 1m |
Scotland experiences the highest level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in June, July and August, when the maximum UV index can reach values of 9 - 11, which corresponds to the Very High / Extreme category of sun exposure.January, November and December are in the Low / Moderate exposure category. In these months, the maximum values of the UV index do not exceed 3. For more detailed information, check out our hourly Scotland UV Index data.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UV Index (month maximum) | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |