Climate - Wight (England)

The climate of the Isle of Wight is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers.
However, the south coast of England, where the Isle of Wight is located, has a mild and sunny microclimate, compared to the rest of Great Britain.
Wight is a small island located a short distance from the south coast of England, beyond the strait called The Solent. However, it is the largest island in England, and the third largest in the United Kingdom after the two main islands (Great Britain and Ireland).
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.
Snow is rare, but can occasionally occur. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to around -2/-3 °C (27/28 °F °F), but can sometimes drop to lower values. At St Catherine's Point, the southernmost point of the island, the temperature reached -8 °C (17.5 °F) in February 1985, to -8.5 °C (16.5 °F) in January 1987, to -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in February 1991, and to -5 °C (23 °F) in December 2010.
In summer, temperatures are generally mild or cool. It can also rain, albeit a little less often than in winter.
Due to its coastal location, Wight is a little more sheltered from the heat waves that can sometimes affect the south east of England. However, hot periods cannot be ruled out, usually of short duration. The temperature reached 30 °C (86 °F) in June 1976, and 28.5 °C (83.5 °F) in August 2003, in July 2018 and in August 2020.
In Shanklin, located on the southeastern coast of the island, the average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 5.4 °C (42 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 17 °C (63 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 870 millimeters (34.3 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 115 mm (4.5 in) in the wettest (October). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 1,925 sunshine hours per year: we are at the highest levels in Britain. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 8 °C (46 °F) and 17 °C (63 °F). So, it never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit the Isle of Wight is the summer, from June to August, since it is the warmest of the year, although even in this season, it's better to bring a sweatshirt, a light jacket and an umbrella. The month of June is a bit cooler, so you may prefer July and August. September is a good month as well: it's a bit rainier than the summer months, but the temperatures are still pleasant, especially in the first part.
As previously mentioned, the sea is very cool even in summer, however, on sunny days, when the breeze is not too cool, you can sunbathe.