Climate of London facts for kids
| Weather chart for London, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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59
8
3
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45
9
3
|
39
12
4
|
42
15
6
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46
18
9
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47
22
12
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46
24
14
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53
23
14
|
50
20
12
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65
16
9
|
67
11
5
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57
9
3
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| temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm |
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Imperial conversion
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The climate of London features a temperate oceanic variety (Cfb). 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. 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. Other stations include Heathrow, beginning in 1948, Hampstead, beginning in 1910, Northolt, beginning in 1948, and St James's Park, beginning in 1910.
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 1962. 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. 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. In addition to this, London holds multiple national records, including the record maximum for the months of February, April, May and June.
The city can sometimes experience extremes. Snowfall is an infrequent occurrence in winter; between 1961 and 1990 it fell on an average of 16 days per year, although infrequently heavily. This number has decreased markedly since 1990. Thunderstorms are a similarly occurring feature, occurring on average up to 16 days per year. London has been known to experience tornadoes. An F2 struck Kensal Green on 7 December 2006.
Contents
- Climate data tables
- London Weather Centre
- Heathrow - Airport Weather Station in the suburbs of West London
- Kew - Weather station in South West London, adjacent to the River Thames
- Hampstead - Weather Station in North London
- Northolt - Airfield Weather Station in the North West of London
- Greenwich - Weather Station in East London located near the river Thames
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 |
| Average high °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 (60.4) |
| 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) |
12.8 (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 (49.6) |
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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
7.5 (45.5) |
| 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 (23.69) |
| 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 | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI | |||||||||||||
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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 | |||||||||||||
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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 | |||||||||||||
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 |
| 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) |
| 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) |
43.2 (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) |
639.8 (25.19) |
| Source: Met Office | |||||||||||||
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 |
| Average high °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) |
| Average low °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 (45.5) |
| 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) |
591.8 (23.30) |
| 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: All other data from Met Office, | |||||||||||||
