Climate of London
Sunrise over Regent Street, London
London, the capital and largest city in England and the United Kingdom has a temperate oceanic climate, with regular but generally light precipitation throughout the year. Summer temperatures rarely rise much above 33 °C (91.5 °F), though higher temperatures have become more common recently. The highest temperature ever recorded in London was 38.1 °C (100.6 °F), measured at Kew Gardens during the European Heat Wave of 2003. In modern times, heavy snowfalls have been very infrequent. During recent winters, snow has generally only settled once or twice and it is rarely more than an inch (2.5 cm) or so. Despite its reputation as being a rainy city, London receives less precipitation (601 mm (24 in) in a year), than Rome, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Naples and less than half the precipitation of Sydney. This is despite the fact that sub-tropical regions usually receive fewer rainy or overcast days. London's large built-up area creates a microclimate (an "urban heat island"), with heat stored by the city's buildings. Sometimes temperatures are 5 °C (9 °F) warmer in the city than in the surrounding areas.
Climate data tables
London Weather Centre
| Climate data for London Weather Centre | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.9 (48) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.4 (72.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.8 (69.4) |
16.1 (61) |
11.9 (53.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.8 (60.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
17.3 (63.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
10.0 (50) |
7.0 (44.6) |
12.8 (55) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 5.0 (41) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
| Source #1: [1] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: [2] | |||||||||||||
Heathrow - Airport Weather Station in the suburbs of West London
| Climate data for Heathrow Airport, elevation 25 m, 1981-2010, extremes 1948–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.8 (73) |
27.4 (81.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
34.8 (94.6) |
36.7 (98.1) |
37.9 (100.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
37.9 (100.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.9 (64.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.9 (67.8) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.1 (52) |
8.3 (46.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.9 (39) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
13.9 (57) |
13.7 (56.7) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.2 (8.2) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.6 (42.1) |
5.9 (42.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−7 (19) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 55.2 (2.173) |
40.9 (1.61) |
41.6 (1.638) |
43.7 (1.72) |
49.4 (1.945) |
45.1 (1.776) |
44.5 (1.752) |
49.5 (1.949) |
49.1 (1.933) |
68.5 (2.697) |
59.0 (2.323) |
55.2 (2.173) |
601.7 (23.689) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 61.5 | 77.9 | 114.6 | 168.7 | 198.5 | 204.3 | 212.0 | 204.7 | 149.3 | 116.5 | 72.6 | 52.0 | 1,632.6 |
| Source #1: Met Office[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: KNMI[4] | |||||||||||||
Kew - Weather station in South West London, adjacent to the River Thames
| Climate data for Kew, 5m asl, 1981-2010, extremes 1901-present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.1 (61) |
18.5 (65.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.7 (80.1) |
30.6 (87.1) |
34.2 (93.6) |
35.0 (95) |
38.1 (100.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
27.8 (82) |
18.9 (66) |
15.7 (60.3) |
38.1 (100.6) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.0 (68) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
13.0 (55.4) |
12.7 (54.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.4 (45.3) |
4.1 (39.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.8 (9) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.9 (39) |
2.1 (35.8) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−3.9 (25) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−12.8 (9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 57.2 (2.252) |
41.9 (1.65) |
42.8 (1.685) |
45.3 (1.783) |
48.8 (1.921) |
49.3 (1.941) |
46.8 (1.843) |
51.2 (2.016) |
52.2 (2.055) |
69.7 (2.744) |
60.6 (2.386) |
56.6 (2.228) |
622.5 (24.508) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59.8 | 79.9 | 118.2 | 173.3 | 205.3 | 203.6 | 218.4 | 211.1 | 146.4 | 117.2 | 70.6 | 49.6 | 1,653.4 |
| Source: Met Office[5] | |||||||||||||
Hampstead - Weather Station in North London
The weather station enclosure is the most elevated of any in the London area, and as a result daytime temperatures are typically one degree lower than Heathrow, Kew, Northolt and Greenwich.
| Climate data for Hampstead 137m asl 1981-2010, extremes 1960-present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) |
18.3 (64.9) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
29.8 (85.6) |
33.7 (92.7) |
34.4 (93.9) |
37.4 (99.3) |
29.4 (84.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
37.4 (99.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 7.1 (44.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
14.6 (58.3) |
10.3 (50.5) |
7.4 (45.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.0 (41) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.1 (55.6) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
4.8 (40.6) |
2.5 (36.5) |
7.0 (44.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.8 (12.6) |
−12.2 (10) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−12.2 (10) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 64.7 (2.547) |
46.6 (1.835) |
48.9 (1.925) |
51.5 (2.028) |
58.0 (2.283) |
54.2 (2.134) |
50.4 (1.984) |
64.4 (2.535) |
56.9 (2.24) |
77.7 (3.059) |
68.3 (2.689) |
62.9 (2.476) |
704.5 (27.735) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 57.5 | 76.4 | 107.1 | 151.6 | 192.2 | 191.0 | 199.9 | 193.0 | 140.8 | 109.9 | 69.4 | 51.6 | 1,540.4 |
| Source: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute[6] | |||||||||||||
Northolt - Airfield Weather Station in the North West of London
Temperature extremes range from 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) in August 2003, down to −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) in January 1962.
| Climate data for Northolt, 38m asl, 1981-2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
22.9 (73.2) |
19.7 (67.5) |
15.4 (59.7) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.2 (46.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.8 (40.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
13.2 (55.8) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.6 (45.7) |
4.1 (39.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
6.8 (44.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58.2 (2.291) |
43.2 (1.701) |
45.5 (1.791) |
45.8 (1.803) |
56.0 (2.205) |
47.5 (1.87) |
45.3 (1.783) |
51.3 (2.02) |
50.6 (1.992) |
72.2 (2.843) |
64.9 (2.555) |
59.0 (2.323) |
639.8 (25.189) |
| Source: Met Office[7] | |||||||||||||
Greenwich - Weather Station in East London located near the river Thames
| Climate data for London (Greenwich), 7m asl, 1981-2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.2 (73.8) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
2.4 (36.3) |
4.1 (39.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
8.4 (47.1) |
11.5 (52.7) |
13.9 (57) |
13.7 (56.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.1 (41.2) |
2.8 (37) |
7.5 (45.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.031) |
38.2 (1.504) |
40.5 (1.594) |
45.0 (1.772) |
46.5 (1.831) |
47.3 (1.862) |
41.1 (1.618) |
51.6 (2.031) |
50.4 (1.984) |
68.8 (2.709) |
58.0 (2.283) |
53.0 (2.087) |
591.8 (23.299) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 49.9 | 71.4 | 107.1 | 159.8 | 181.2 | 181.0 | 192.1 | 195.1 | 138.9 | 108.1 | 58.5 | 37.4 | 1,480.5 |
| Source: All other data from Met Office,[8] | |||||||||||||
See also
References
- ↑ "London Weather Centre analysis". Weather Online. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ↑ "climate: Climate London Weather Centre". Tutiempo. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ↑ "Climate Normals 1981-2010". MetOffice. November 2012. Retrieved 29 Nov 2012.
- ↑ "Climate Normals 1971–2000". Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ↑ "Kew 1981-2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ↑ "Hampstead 1971-2000". Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ↑ "Kew 1981-2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ↑ "Greenwich 1981–2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
External links
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