Climate of London
London, the capital of the United Kingdom and largest city in the United Kingdom, has a temperate oceanic climate, with mild summers and cool winters. While the city annually has modest precipitation, annually averaging less than cities like Rome, New York City, or Shanghai, unlike those cities, London has many long periods (weeks sometimes) of overcast skies and frequent light mist-type precipitation, which may account for the rainy image of the city. Nevertheless, London averages about 1600 hours of sunshine annually, which is comparable with most northern European capitals. Like much of the U.K., the climate of London is shaped by the onshore flow of the high latitude Atlantic Ocean, which brings moist, cool air, and frequent cloudy skies.
Sunrise over Regent Street, London
Within the current boundaries of Greater London, the coldest temperature ever recorded was −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) at Northolt on 1 January 1962, and the highest temperature ever recorded was 38.1 °C (100.6 °F), recorded at Kew Gardens during the European Heat Wave of 2003.[1]. 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 (10 °F) warmer in the city than in the surrounding areas. The urban heat island effect creates a micro climate in inner London, as seen in the London weather centre climate table below.
Classifications
| Climatic scheme | Initials | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Köppen system[2][3] | Cfb | Oceanic climate[lower-alpha 1] |
| Trewartha system[4][5] | Do | Temperate oceanic climate |
| Alisov system[6] | N/A | Temperate climate[lower-alpha 2] |
| Strahler system[7] | N/A | Marine west-coast |
| Thornthwaite system[8] | Moist subhumid and mesothermal | |
| Neef system[9][10] | 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 [11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Tutiempo [12] | |||||||||||||
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 [13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [14][15] | |||||||||||||
| 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 [16] | |||||||||||||
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 [17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [18] | |||||||||||||
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 [19] | |||||||||||||
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[20][21][22] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: BBC Weather[23] | |||||||||||||
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 |
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Notes
- Also called marine west coast.
- Mid-latitude temperate maritime climate
References
- "Past weather events: Hot spell - August 2003" (PDF). Met Office. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- Union, Publications Office of the European (5 January 2017). "Modelling inclusion, testing and benchmarking of the impacts of ozone pollution on crop yields at regional level". publications.europa.eu. doi:10.2788/68501. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "London, England Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONING FOR THE GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000". www.fao.org. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Trewartha maps". kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- 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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