Climate of London
London[1], the capital of England and largest city in the United Kingdom, has a temperate oceanic climate, with cool to warm summers and cold winters. While the city annually has modest precipitation, there are long periods of overcast skies and frequent light mist-type precipitation, which may account for the rainy image of the city.
Within the current boundaries of Greater London, the coldest temperature ever measured was −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) at Northolt in January 1963, and the highest temperature ever recorded was 38.1 °C (100.6 °F), measured at Kew Gardens during the European Heat Wave of 2003. London averages about 1600 hours of sunshine annually. 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, 2001-2014 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
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 (61.0) |
11.9 (53.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.8 (60.5) |
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 (50.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
12.9 (55.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
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 (49.7) |
Source 1: Weather Online [2] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Tutiempo [3] |
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 (73.0) |
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) |
Mean daily maximum °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 (52.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
13.9 (57.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
7.4 (45.4) |
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 (2.17) |
40.9 (1.61) |
41.6 (1.64) |
43.7 (1.72) |
49.4 (1.94) |
45.1 (1.78) |
44.5 (1.75) |
49.5 (1.95) |
49.1 (1.93) |
68.5 (2.70) |
59.0 (2.32) |
55.2 (2.17) |
601.7 (23.68) |
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 [4] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute [5] |
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 (61.0) |
18.5 (65.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.7 (80.1) |
30.6 (87.1) |
34.2 (93.6) |
35.0 (95.0) |
38.1 (100.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
38.1 (100.6) |
Mean daily maximum °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 (68.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
15.4 (59.6) |
Mean daily minimum °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 (44.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −12.8 (9.0) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
2.1 (35.8) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 57.2 (2.25) |
41.9 (1.65) |
42.8 (1.69) |
45.3 (1.78) |
48.8 (1.92) |
49.3 (1.94) |
46.8 (1.84) |
51.2 (2.02) |
52.2 (2.06) |
69.7 (2.74) |
60.6 (2.39) |
56.6 (2.23) |
622.4 (24.51) |
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 [6] |
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) |
Mean daily maximum °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) |
14.2 (57.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.0 (41.0) |
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 (10.0) |
−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 (10.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 64.7 (2.55) |
46.6 (1.83) |
48.9 (1.93) |
51.5 (2.03) |
58.0 (2.28) |
54.2 (2.13) |
50.4 (1.98) |
64.4 (2.54) |
56.9 (2.24) |
77.7 (3.06) |
68.3 (2.69) |
62.9 (2.48) |
704.5 (27.74) |
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 [7] |
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 |
Mean daily maximum °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) |
15.0 (59.1) |
Mean daily minimum °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) |
6.7 (44.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58.2 (2.29) |
43.2 (1.70) |
45.5 (1.79) |
45.8 (1.80) |
56.0 (2.20) |
47.5 (1.87) |
45.3 (1.78) |
51.3 (2.02) |
50.6 (1.99) |
72.2 (2.84) |
64.9 (2.56) |
59.0 (2.32) |
639.5 (25.16) |
Source: Met Office [8] |
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 |
Mean daily maximum °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) |
Mean daily minimum °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 (57.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
11.2 (52.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.1 (41.2) |
2.8 (37.0) |
7.5 (45.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.03) |
38.2 (1.50) |
40.5 (1.59) |
45.0 (1.77) |
46.5 (1.83) |
47.3 (1.86) |
41.1 (1.62) |
51.6 (2.03) |
50.4 (1.98) |
68.8 (2.71) |
58.0 (2.28) |
53.0 (2.09) |
592 (23.29) |
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: Met Office [9] |
See also
References
- ^ "London", Wikipedia, 23 September 2018, retrieved 25 September 2018
- ^ "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 November 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. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
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