London (Greater London) weather (2024)

FAQs

What's the weather meant to be like in London today? ›

Overcast changing to sunny intervals by early evening. Sunny intervals. Sunny changing to overcast by lunchtime.

According to the Koppen Climate Classification, London has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb). This type of climate features cool winters with frequent cloudy skies and rain showers (and on occasion snow), and mild summers. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed all year round.

Given that it is so far north, London and the British Isles are surprisingly temperate. We have the warm Gulf Stream to thank for our relatively mild weather, as it pulls warm water from the Caribbean up to Western Europe, making it warmer than it should be given its latitude.

Summertime in London (June to August)

During these months, it's the warmest and driest time of the year with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 23°C on average. The longest days are found during the summer when London can be light from 6am through to 9pm.

January and February are the coldest months in London. November and August see the highest rainfall in London. The summer months of May, June, July is the best time to visit London. London is less crowded during the shoulder season which comprises of Mid-September through November, March through April.

Modern London has the equable climate of South East England, with mild winters and temperate summers. The average daytime air temperature is 52 °F (11 °C), with 42 °F (5.5 °C) in January and 65 °F (18 °C) in July. Statistics show that the sun shines, however briefly, on five days out of six.

This great world city is far more than just the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. London is bustling, vibrant, multicultural and cosmopolitan. London is both old and new, a place where traditional pubs rub shoulders with the newest co*cktail bars.

There's certainly a rainy “season” in London, but not in the same way as they do in tropical climes. The city sees rain throughout all four seasons, but the months with the most average amount of rainfall are November (66.63mm), October (65.07mm), and December (57.05mm), according to Met Office data.

The United Kingdom is generally warmer than Canada during the winter. During the summer the United Kingdom is generally cooler than Canada. During the spring and the autumn there is not much difference. Most of the populated part of Canada is well south of the UK, but colder in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Does it rain every day in London? ›

Rainfall in London

The number of rainy days (with more than 0.25mm of rainfall) is fairly consistent throughout the year, with between 11 and 15 rainy days every month. Overall rainfall is highest in November and August (64mm and 59mm respectively) and is lowest in March and April (37mm each).

Blame it on the jet stream

The problem lies in the jet stream, a narrow band of air high up in the atmosphere, which affects the UK weather. Even a small shift can affect what's happening on the ground.

Tips: It might not rain in summer but it will be humid and sticky.

London's hottest day ever brought on madness that far exceeded the temperature. It is very hot in Britain. At midday on Tuesday, the U.K. recorded its highest-ever temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius, or 104.5 Farenheit.

London, in the south-east of the UK, is a region characterised by a warm and dry climate in the summer and a cold and dry climate in the winter. Cumbria, in the mountainous north-west of England, has generally cooler temperatures and more rainfall throughout the year.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is the coldest month in the UK, running roughly from December to February (although November can often suffer very wintry conditions too). Temperatures often get as low as freezing point (0^oC), though not too much colder usually.

While London does experience four separate seasons, light showers and cloudy skies are prevalent throughout the year. Daily highs range from 48°F (9°C) in the winter to 73°F (23°C) in the summer, and weather conditions can fluctuate quite a bit over the course of a day.

London's climate is changing. We're having hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. We're also having extreme weather like heavy rainfall and heatwaves more often. Most scientists agree that this is caused by human actions that emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.