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Climate - Wales (United Kingdom)


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

Flag - United Kingdom

Wales map


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Index


  • Introduction - Valley, Lake Vyrnwy, Cardiff
  • Best Time
  • What to pack

Introduction



In Wales, a country belonging to the United Kingdom and overlooking the Irish Sea, the climate is oceanic, cool, humid and cloudy for most of the year.
The wind blows frequently too.
However, there are differences depending on the area. The coasts are milder, while the inland areas, where hills and low mountains are found, are colder, and can experience heavy snowfalls in winter.
Precipitation is abundant on the south-western coast and in inland hills, where it exceeds 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year, while it drops to 850-1,000 mm (33-40 in) on the remaining coasts.
Snow is rare on the coasts, while it becomes more frequent in the inland hills. It snows on average for about 10 days a year in Swansea, on the southern coast, for 25 days in the inland hills, and for more than 40 days in Snowdonia.
In winter, the temperature generally reaches -5/-6 °C (21/23 °F) on the coldest days along the coasts, and lower values in inland areas.
However, from time to time there may be more intense cold spells than usual. In December 2010, the temperature dropped to -17.5 °C (0.5 °F) in Llysdinam, Powys, to the east of the mountains, while in January 1940, it even dropped to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) in Rhayader, in the same area.
In summer, the temperature rarely reaches 30 °C (86 °F), and it does so only on the hottest days.
The record heat in Wales is 37.1 °C (98.8 °F), set in July 2022 in Hawarden Bridge, northeast of Snowdonia and a short distance from Liverpool. The previous record was 35 °C (95 °F), set in August 1990 in the same location.

Valley

The island of Anglesey is located in the northwest. In the RAF (Royal Air Force) station of Valley, the average temperature goes from 6 °C (43 °F) in February to 16 °C (61 °F) in August. Here are the average temperatures.
Valley - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January486.1394743
February486384742.8
March4107.2405044.9
April6129.1435448.3
May91511.8475953.2
June111714.1526357.4
July131915.8556660.5
August131915.9566660.7
September121714.4536357.9
October91411.8495853.2
November7118.9445248.1
December496.8404844.2
Year813.410.6546.456.151

Rainfall amounts to 855 mm (33.5 in) per year. The wettest season is autumn. Here is the average rainfall.
Valley - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January75314
February602.412
March552.211
April552.211
May5029
June552.29
July552.210
August702.811
September75311
October1003.914
November1054.116
December953.716
Year85533.7143

In the interior of Wales, there are hills and low mountains, where the climate becomes colder and wetter as the altitude increases.
In the national park of Snowdonia, we find Mount Snowdon, which reach 1,085 meters (3,560 feet) and is the highest in Wales. It is believed that one of the peaks of the area (Crib Goch) is the rainiest point in the whole of Great Britain: 4,475 mm (176 in) of rain fall there per year. On these peaks, it can snow from October to May. Temperatures vary a lot, and can become mild under the influence of south-west air masses.

Lake Vyrnwy

Already on the banks of Lake Vyrnwy, at an altitude of 360 meters (1,180 ft), the temperature is lower than at sea level. Here are the average temperatures.
Vyrnwy - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January163.4344238.2
February163.5344338.3
March285364640.9
April4117.1385144.8
May61410435750
June91612.7486154.8
July111814.4526458
August111814.2526457.5
September91512.2486054
October7129.1445348.5
November486.1394743
December264354339.2
Year5.511.58.541.952.747.5

Precipitation is plentiful, given that it amounts to 1,680 mm (66 in) per year. Here is the average rainfall.
Vyrnwy - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1907.518
February1656.515
March1254.915
April953.713
May1003.913
June1003.913
July1003.914
August1104.315
September1204.714
October1807.117
November1807.119
December2158.519
Year168066.1185

In the south-west of Wales, we find then the Brecon Beacons National Park, whose highest point is Pen y Fan, 886 meters high.

Cardiff

In Cardiff, the capital, located in the south, in the Bristol Channel, the average temperature ranges from around 5.5 °C (42 °F) in January to 16.5 °C (61.5 °F) in July.
Here, the temperature reached -10.2 °C (13.5 °F) in January 1987 and 33.5 °C (92.5 °F) in August 1990.
Here are the average temperatures.
Cardiff - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January385.5384641.8
February385.5374641.8
March4106.9395044.5
April6139.1425548.3
May81612476053.5
June111814.6526558.3
July132016.6556861.8
August132016.4556861.6
September111814.5526458.1
October91411.5485852.7
November6118.4435247
December486394742.8
Year7.513.710.645.656.651

In Cardiff, 1,150 mm (45 in) of rain fall per year, with a maximum between October and January and a relative minimum between April and June. Here is the average precipitation.
Cardiff - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1204.716
February853.311
March903.513
April702.811
May702.811
June652.610
July803.111
August953.711
September953.711
October1355.316
November1254.915
December1254.914
Year115045.3149

In Wales, the sky is often cloudy, however, the coasts, where there are 1,500/1,600 hours of sunshine per year, are the sunniest areas. In Cardiff, the sun shines for about 6 hours per day from May to August (which, considering the length of the days, are not many). Here are the average sunshine hours per day in Cardiff.
Cardiff - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January255
February2.575
March3.5110
April5.5170
May6190
June6.5190
July6.5200
August6190
September5150
October3.5105
November265
December1.550
Year4.21550

The temperature of the sea in Wales remains very cool, if not cold, even in summer: in August, the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean reaches 16 °C (61 °F). Here are the average water temperatures at Swansea (located on the coast, west of Cardiff).
Swansea - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1050
February948
March948
April1050
May1152
June1355
July1559
August1661
September1661
October1559
November1355
December1152
Year12.454.2

Caernarfon Castle

Best Time



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

What to pack



In winter: pack warm clothes, such as a sweater, a coat, a wind jacket, and a raincoat. For colder periods: pack gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
In summer: pack clothes for spring and autumn, a jacket and a sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella.

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