Climate - Oxford (England)

The climate of Oxford is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers.
The city is located in southern England, 90 km (55 mi) north-west of London.
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 -6/-7 °C (19/21 °F), but can sometimes drop to lower values. In the ancient weather station of the Radcliffe Observatory, the cold record since 1815 is -16.6 °C (2.1 °F) and was set in January 1982.
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 maximum temperature in July reaches or exceeds 23 °C. (73 °F).
Furthermore, very hot periods cannot be ruled out, usually of short duration. The highest record is 36.5 °C (97.7 °F), set in July 2019.

Best Time

The best time to visit Oxford 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.

Oxford - Climate data

In Oxford, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.1 °C (41.1 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Oxford, precipitation amounts to 680 millimeters (26.8 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest months (February, March) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
In Oxford, there are on average around 1615 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Oxford - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Oxford is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 8 °C (46.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -8.2 °C (17.2 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 15.9 °C (60.6 °F) in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (8 mph).

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In February, the weather in Oxford is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -7.9 °C (17.8 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 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 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In March, the weather in Oxford is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °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 -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -6.1 °C (21 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 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 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In April, the weather in Oxford is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.9 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.9 °C (26.8 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 27.6 °C (81.7 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Oxford is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -0.2 °C (31.6 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in May 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Oxford is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 20.8 °C (69.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) in June 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 35 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 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Oxford is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.1 °C (73.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In August, the weather in Oxford is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 13 °C (55.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in August 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in Oxford is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51.2 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) in September 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 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 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In October, the weather in Oxford is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 15 °C (58.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 11 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 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In November, the weather in Oxford is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.7 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.8 °C (23.4 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In December, the weather in Oxford is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.3 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.3 °C (36.2 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °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 °F). However, it reached 15.9 °C (60.6 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 55 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 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).