Climate of London
The climate of London features a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb).[1] This gives the city cool winters, warm summers with frequent precipitation all year round. London has a very rich history of meteorological observations, with precipitation records beginning as early as January 1697 at Kew Gardens.[2] Irregular observations were made at multiple locations in the ensuing years. An observing station has been located at Greenwich since 1841, giving London its longest continuous reliable temperature series.[3] Other stations include Heathrow, beginning in 1948,[4] Hampstead, beginning in 1910,[5] Northolt, beginning in 1948,[6] and St James's Park, beginning in 1910.[7]
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| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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London on a snowy day in 2018.
The highest temperature ever observed in London is 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) on 10 August 2003 and the lowest is −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) 1 January 1963.[8] The lowest daily maximum temperature is −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) occurring on 3 occasions: 8 January 1841, 4 January 1867 and 12 January 1987.[9] The highest daily minimum temperature recorded is 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) on 29 July 1948. This is also the highest minimum temperature ever reported during the month of July in the United Kingdom.[10] In addition to this, London holds multiple national records, including the record maximum for the months of February, April, May and June.[11]
The city can sometimes experience extremes. Snowfall is a somewhat common occurrence in winter, falling on average 16 days per year, although it is infrequently heavy. Thunderstorms are a similarly rare feature, occurring on average 15 days per year. London has been known to experience tornadoes. Most recently an F2 struck Kensal Green on 7 December 2006.
Classifications
| Climatic scheme | Initials | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Köppen system[12][13] | Cfb | Oceanic climate[lower-alpha 1] |
| Trewartha system[14][15] | Do | Temperate oceanic climate |
| Alisov system[16] | N/A | Temperate climate[lower-alpha 2] |
| Strahler system[17] | N/A | Marine west-coast |
| Thornthwaite system[18] | Moist subhumid and mesothermal | |
| Neef system[19][20] | N/A | West side/maritime climate |
Climate data tables
London Weather Centre
| Climate data for London Weather Centre, 2001-2014 seminormals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
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) | 6.7 (44.1) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.7 (58.5) |
18.2 (64.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.3 (66.7) |
17.3 (63.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
| Average low °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 [21] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Tutiempo [22] | |||||||||||||
Heathrow - Airport Weather Station in the suburbs of West London
| Climate data for LHR, elevation: 25 m (82 ft), 1981–2010 normals, 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) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.8 (73.0) |
27.4 (81.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
34.8 (94.6) |
37.9 (100.2) |
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 (52.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.2 (41.4) |
5.3 (41.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
9.9 (49.8) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
| Average low °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) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−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) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.1 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 10.8 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 109.6 |
| 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 [23] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [24][25] | |||||||||||||
Kew Gardens - Weather Station in South West London on the banks of the River Thames
| Climate data for Kew Gardens, elevation: 6 m (20 ft), 1981–2010 normals, 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) |
21.2 (70.2) |
22.0 (71.6) |
29.1 (84.4) |
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) |
| 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 (68.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
5.3 (41.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
| 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 (9.0) |
−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) |
622.5 (24.51) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.6 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 10.7 | 11.1 | 10.6 | 113.7 |
| 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 | 1,653.3 |
| Source: Met Office [26] | |||||||||||||
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, elevation: 137 m (449 ft), 1981–2010 normals, 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) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) |
4.6 (40.3) |
7.0 (44.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.4 (54.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.6 (63.7) |
14.9 (58.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Average low °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) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.0 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 120.1 |
| 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 1: Met Office[27] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [28] | |||||||||||||
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 NHT, elevation: 40 m (131 ft), 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.2 (64.8) |
17.9 (64.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
7.6 (45.7) |
5.2 (41.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
| 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 (2.29) |
43.4 (1.71) |
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) |
639.8 (25.19) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.4 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.5 | 114.2 |
| Source: Met Office [29] | |||||||||||||
Greenwich - Weather Station in South East London near the river Thames
| Climate data for Greenwich Park, elevation: 47 m (154 ft), 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
19.7 (67.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
35.3 (95.5) |
37.5 (99.5) |
30.0 (86.0) |
25.6 (78.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
37.5 (99.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.6 (58.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.4 (47.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.6 (42.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.6 (65.5) |
18.5 (65.3) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.6 (52.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.6 (40.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.8 (56.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.8 (47.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.4 (15.1) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 41.6 (1.64) |
36.3 (1.43) |
40.3 (1.59) |
40.1 (1.58) |
44.9 (1.77) |
47.4 (1.87) |
34.6 (1.36) |
54.3 (2.14) |
51.0 (2.01) |
61.1 (2.41) |
57.5 (2.26) |
48.4 (1.91) |
557.4 (21.94) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.4 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 109.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 44.7 | 65.4 | 101.7 | 148.3 | 170.9 | 171.4 | 176.7 | 186.1 | 133.9 | 105.4 | 59.6 | 45.8 | 1,410 |
| Source 1: Met Office[30][31][32] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: BBC Weather[33] | |||||||||||||
Average UV index
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.4 |
Notes
- Also called marine west coast.
- Mid-latitude temperate maritime climate
References
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- "Temperaturmonatsmittel GREENWICH/MARITIME M 1841- 1960". Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Heathrow". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Hampstead". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Northolt". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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- "1962". Trevor Harley. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
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- "UK climate extremes". Met Office. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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- Cmapm, Kliimavöötmed svg: Urmasderivative work (16 June 2011), Русский: Климатические пояса Земли по Б. П. Алисову., retrieved 1 July 2019
- "World Strahler Climate Map".
- Feddema, Johannes J. (January 2005). "A Revised Thornthwaite-Type Global Climate Classification". Physical Geography. 26 (6): 442–466. doi:10.2747/0272-3646.26.6.442. ISSN 0272-3646.
- "Klimaklassifikation". www.spektrum.de (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Klimazonen nach E. Neef (1989)". Klett-Perthes.
- "London Weather Centre analysis". Weather Online. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- "climate: Climate London Weather Centre". Tutiempo. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- "London Heathrow Airport". Met Office. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- "Heathrow Airport Extreme Values". KNMI. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- "Heathrow 1981–2010 mean maximum and minimum values". KNMI. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- "Kew 1981–2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Hampstead 1981–2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Indices data - Hampstead 1859". KNMI. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Northolt 1981–2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Greenwich 1981–2010 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- "Hot Spell - August 2003". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- "Record Breaking Heat and Sunshine - July 2006". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- "London Forecast". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- Average UV index London, United Kingdom – weather-atlas.com
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