Scotland Climate

Climate of Scotland is most of the times cool and wet. Being under the influence of north Atlantic Drift, a warm sea current, keeps the country’s coast ice-free during the winter months. Scotland climate is oceanic to be precise, witnessing no severe variants or any exceptional events happening like droughts, floods or tornadoes. The day-to-day climate here can vary greatly and often unpredictable. It can catch you unawares if one is not prepared, as it usually gets windy, cloudy and chilly. Scotland’s eastern coast remains drier and cooler as compared to the western. But most of the times the climate of Scotland is highly variable, which changes frequently by the mile and every minute, as well as by the altitude. This is the reason of it being the talk of the town.

With the Scotland climate, the best time to visit the country is April-September, wherein the days are long in midsummer, particularly in the north where it stays light almost to midnight. Moreover, with many of the tourist attractions like castles, and museums closed during the winter months and opening only for limited viewing hours does not make it the right time. In all cases, the months November-January should be avoided, if possible as the days become very short, and the darkness, cold and drizzling can get on your nerves. Looking at the unpredictable climate of Scotland it is necessary to equip yourself with a hefty sweater, no matter when you go.

• Temperature
  Due to the hilly terrace and the Atlantic Ocean, the temperatures in Scotland are a few degrees cooler than in England. The months of January and February are the coldest months in Scotland, with the daytime maximum temperatures hovering around 5° to 7°C. The warmest months are July and August, with the temperatures of an average 19°C.
• Sunshine
  Scotland remains clouds, with the influence of the low-pressure systems from the Atlantic Ocean and country’s hilly nature. The Scotland’s mountainous regions are the coldest, receiving 1100 hrs of sunshine per year, with the figures being highest in the months of May and June and at their lowest in December. Scotland’s high latitude results in winter days being very short, summer days are very long with an extended twilight.
• Snow and Visibility
  The country witnesses on the average 15 to 20 days of snow, with the mountains receiving snow for 100 days on an average. Hill fog can play a spoilsport hampering the visibility, otherwise the country enjoys great visibility. Sometimes the Sea fog from the North Sea, known as "haar" can also sometimes mess up what could be a perfect day.
• Rainfall
  Opposite to the popular belief that the whole of Scotland region experiences high rainfall, but the rainfall varies, ranging from 3000mm per year in the western Highlands to under 800mm per year near the east coast. The regions wet areas see an average of 250 days of rain per year, with the driest parts experiencing an average of about 150 days of rain per year.
• Winds
  Most commonly the wind in Scotland blows in a south-west direction but it changes markedly from day to day accordingly to weather systems.