- Sunshine hrs/yr
- 1,400
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: climatestotravel.com, weather-and-climate.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Pack layers and waterproofs in all seasons — locals say you can experience four seasons in one day due to Atlantic weather systems.
- Summer highs (19°C (66°F) / 66°F) are cool compared to southern UK; always prepare for rain and chill even June–August.
- Sea water remains very cold year-round (never above 14°C (57°F) / 57°F), unsuitable for swimming.
- December–January see only ~1.6 hours of sunlight daily; northern latitude means very long summer days (useful for sightseeing).
- Wind is frequent but less severe than Aberdeen and northern coastal areas; Edinburgh's tall buildings can create wind-tunnel effects in certain streets.
- Winter rarely brings prolonged snow in the city centre; surrounding hills at higher elevation catch more.
Overview
- Classification
- Temperate maritime oceanic
- Description
- Cool, rainy year-round with frequently changeable conditions. Coastal location mitigates extremes; weather can shift from rain to sun and back within hours.
Rainfall
- Character
- Frequent but not heavy; it drizzles more often than it pours
- Distribution
- Even throughout year with slight dip February–June
- Driest Month
- April (~61 mm / 2.4 in)
- Wettest Month
- October (~85 mm / 3.3 in)
Annual Total
- Mm
- 868
- Inches
- 34.2
- Note
- Relatively low for Scotland's west coast; eastern location receives less rain
Snowfall
- Frequency
- Significant snow in city centre is relatively rare and does not persist long
- Elevation Caveat
- Higher surrounding hills may receive more snow
Sunshine
- Annual Hours
- 1400
- Darkest Month
- December (~1.6 hours daily average)
- Sunniest Month
- May (~6.4 hours daily average)
Best Months
Best Months
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
Worst Months
Worst Months
- November
- December
- January
- February
Temperature Peaks
- Warmest Months
- July and August
Peak Temperature
- Celsius
- °C
- Fahrenheit
- °F (66°F)
- Occasional Extreme
- 31°C (88°F) — rare, historical peaks in July 1975 and 2022
- Average Daytime Max
- 19
Best Months Detail
June–August offer temperatures 17–19°C (66°F) with 71–87 mm rainfall. May and September provide better balance of pleasant weather, longer days, and fewer crowds.
Temperature Troughs
- Coldest Months
- December and January
Trough Temperature
- Celsius
- °C
- Fahrenheit
- °F (34°F)
- Average Daytime Low
- 1
- Context
- Temperatures rarely fall below freezing due to maritime influence
Worst Months Detail
Darkest, coldest, dampest period with frequent fog, heavy precipitation, and stormy winds especially in autumn/early winter.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this climate & weather research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Edinburgh
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.