Climate in Cambridge (England)

The climate of Cambridge is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers.
The city is located in the east of England, about 100 km (60 mi) north-east of London, and is the capital of the county of Cambridgeshire.
Even though the rains are frequent, we are in the least rainy area of Great Britain, where the annual total is less than 600 millimeters (23.5 inches).
Winter is not very cold, but the sky is often cloudy, the humidity is high and there are periods when the wind blows moderate or strong. The rains are frequent.
On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to around -5 °C (23 °F), but can sometimes drop to lower values. The lowest record is -17.2 °C (1.0 °F), set in February 1947.
In summer, temperatures are generally mild or cool. It can also rain, albeit a little less often than in winter. However, we are in the warmest area of Great Britain, which also includes London, the only one where the average maximum temperature in July reaches or exceeds 23 °C (73 °F).
Furthermore, very hot periods cannot be ruled out, usually of short duration. In July 2022, the temperature reached 39.9 °C (103.8 °F) at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. The previous record was 38.7 °C (101.7 °F), set in July 2019, which was also the British national record.

Best Time

The best time to visit Cambridge is the summer, or more generally from mid-May to mid-September: temperatures are generally good for outdoors activities, although it's better to bring an umbrella, and a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening or for cool days.

Cambridge - Climate data

In Cambridge, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 4.7 °C (40.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18 °C (64.4 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 575 millimeters (22.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest month (February) to 60 mm (2.4 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 1525 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Cambridge - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.6 °C (34.9 °F) and a maximum of 7.8 °C (46 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35 °F) and a maximum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -13.6 °C (7.5 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it reached 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 28% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.3 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.6 °C (20.1 °F) in March 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.6 °C (58.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 27.9 °C (82.2 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.7 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -2.3 °C (27.9 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) and a maximum of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 0.1 °C (32.2 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.5 °C (20.3 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 29 °C (84.2 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.1 °C (17.4 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.9 °C (35.4 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.9 °C (12.4 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).