Climate - Derry (Northern Ireland)

The climate of Derry is oceanic, with quite cold, rainy winters and mild, relatively rainy summers.
Derry, or Londonderry, is located in Northern Ireland, a short distance from Lough Foyle, the river estuary that runs through the city and opens up into a bay before flowing into the sea.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 15.3 °C (59 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 855 millimeters (33.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 50 mm (2 in) in the driest month (May) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest ones (October, December). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is quite cold: temperatures are not so low, but wind and humidity can increase the sensation of cold. The sky is often cloudy, and rainfall is frequent. Sometimes, intense Atlantic depressions can cause wind storms.
Snowfalls are rare and not abundant. Usually, cold spells are not intense and do not last long. The temperature rarely drops below -5 °C (23 °F), however, it can occasionally drop to lower values. At Eglinton airport, the temperature reached -12 °C (10.5 °F) in December 1995 and in December 2010.

In spring, from March to May, the temperature slowly rises, and Atlantic fronts become a bit less frequent. In May, it is often still quite cold, especially in the first half of the month.

Summer, from June to August, is cool, with quite frequent rains.
Hot days are rare: the temperature may not reach 25 °C (77 °F) for an entire month, however, it can sometimes reach higher values. The temperature reached 28 °C (82.5 F) in July 2003 and in June 2018, and 29 °C (84 °F) in July 2006.

Autumn, from September to November, is gray, cloudy and rainy, and with each passing week, it gets progressively colder. In November, the wind is often moderate or strong.



On average, there are around 1,345 sunshine hours per year. So, the sun doesn't shine often. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 9 °C (48 °F) and 15 °C (59 °F). So, it is cold all year round. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Derry is the summer, from June to August, since it is the mildest of the year. The 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.