Climate of London
(Redirected from The weather in London)
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London features a humid temperate oceanic climate (Cfb).[1] This gives the city cool winters, warm to hot summers with precipitation fairly evenly distributed all year round. London has a very rich history of meteorological observations, with precipitation records beginning as early as January 1697 at Kew Gardens.[2] Irregular observations were made at multiple locations in the ensuing years. An observing station has been located at Greenwich since 1841, giving London its longest continuous reliable temperature series.[3] Other stations include Heathrow, beginning in 1948,[4] Hampstead, beginning in 1910,[5] Northolt, beginning in 1948,[6] and St James's Park, beginning in 1910.[7]
The highest temperature ever observed in London is 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) provisionally[8] recorded at both Heathrow Airport and St James's Park on 19 July 2022 and the lowest is −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) 1 January 1962.[9] The lowest daily maximum temperature is −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) occurring on 3 occasions: 8 January 1841, 4 January 1867 and 12 January 1987.[10] The highest daily minimum temperature recorded is 25.8 °C (78.4 °F), recorded in Kenley on 19 July 2022.[11] This is also the highest minimum temperature ever reported anywhere in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, London holds multiple national records, including the record maximum for the months of February, April, May and June.[12]
The city can sometimes experience extremes. Snowfall is an infrequent occurrence in winter, falling on an average of 16 days per year, though infrequently heavy.[13] Thunderstorms are a similarly occurring feature, occurring on average up to 16 days per year.[14] London has been known to experience tornadoes. An F2 struck Kensal Green on 7 December 2006.
London is vulnerable to climate change in the United Kingdom, and there is increasing concern among hydrological experts that London households may run out of water before 2050.[15]
Classifications
| Climatic scheme | Initials | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Köppen system[16][17] | Cfb | Oceanic climate[a] |
| Trewartha system[18][19] | Do | Temperate oceanic climate |
| Alisov system[20] | — | Temperate climate[b] |
| Strahler system[21] | — | Marine west-coast |
| Thornthwaite system[22] | C2 B'1
|
Moist subhumid and mesothermal |
| Neef system[23][24] | — | West side/maritime climate |
Climate data tables
London Weather Centre
| Climate data for London Weather Centre, 2001-2009 seminormals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
22.4 (72.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.8 (69.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
11.9 (53.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.8 (60.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
9.8 (49.7) |
| Source 1: Weather Online [25] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Tutiempo [26] | |||||||||||||
Heathrow - Airport Weather Station in the suburbs of West London
| Climate data for Heathrow Airport, elevation: 25 m (82 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.8 (73.0) |
27.4 (81.3) |
31.8 (89.2) |
34.8 (94.6) |
40.2 (104.4) |
37.9 (100.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
28.8 (83.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.6 (61.9) |
40.2 (104.4) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.4 (74.1) |
20.2 (68.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.5 (52.7) |
8.8 (47.8) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.6 (42.1) |
5.8 (42.4) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
16.8 (62.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.7 (65.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
12.3 (54.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.7 (53.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) |
2.7 (36.9) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.8 (47.8) |
5.3 (41.5) |
3.1 (37.6) |
7.8 (46.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.2 (8.2) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.6 (42.1) |
5.9 (42.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58.8 (2.31) |
45.0 (1.77) |
38.8 (1.53) |
42.3 (1.67) |
45.9 (1.81) |
47.3 (1.86) |
45.8 (1.80) |
52.8 (2.08) |
49.6 (1.95) |
65.1 (2.56) |
66.6 (2.62) |
57.1 (2.25) |
615.0 (24.21) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.5 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 111.7 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 61.1 | 78.8 | 124.5 | 176.7 | 207.5 | 208.4 | 217.8 | 202.1 | 157.1 | 115.2 | 70.7 | 55.0 | 1,674.8 |
| Source 1: Met Office [27] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [28][29] | |||||||||||||
Kew Gardens - Weather Station in South West London on the banks of the River Thames
| Climate data for Kew Gardens, elevation: 6 m (20 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
29.1 (84.4) |
30.6 (87.1) |
34.2 (93.6) |
40.1 (104.2) |
38.1 (100.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
40.1 (104.2) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.6 (47.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
20.3 (68.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) |
5.6 (42.1) |
7.7 (45.9) |
10.1 (50.2) |
13.3 (55.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
2.0 (35.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.0 (55.4) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.9 (44.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.8 (9.0) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
2.1 (35.8) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 59.9 (2.36) |
45.4 (1.79) |
39.0 (1.54) |
43.6 (1.72) |
44.6 (1.76) |
49.7 (1.96) |
45.2 (1.78) |
55.1 (2.17) |
51.9 (2.04) |
67.9 (2.67) |
66.0 (2.60) |
59.2 (2.33) |
627.5 (24.70) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.8 | 9.9 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 113.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 60.2 | 80.7 | 128.0 | 181.0 | 213.4 | 209.8 | 221.9 | 206.5 | 152.0 | 117.4 | 69.7 | 52.7 | 1,693.2 |
| Source: Met Office [30] | |||||||||||||
Hampstead - Weather Station in North London
The weather station enclosure is the most elevated of any in the London area, and as a result daytime temperatures are typically one degree lower than Heathrow, Kew, Northolt and Greenwich.
| Climate data for Hampstead, elevation: 137 m (449 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) |
18.3 (64.9) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.6 (79.9) |
29.8 (85.6) |
33.7 (92.7) |
34.4 (93.9) |
37.4 (99.3) |
29.4 (84.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
37.4 (99.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.9 (51.6) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.4 (68.7) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.3 (72.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
14.8 (58.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.9 (40.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
15.1 (59.2) |
11.6 (52.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
10.9 (51.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
2.3 (36.1) |
3.7 (38.7) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
11.2 (52.2) |
13.3 (55.9) |
13.4 (56.1) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.7 (36.9) |
7.3 (45.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.8 (12.6) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 69.5 (2.74) |
51.4 (2.02) |
42.8 (1.69) |
49.6 (1.95) |
50.5 (1.99) |
58.5 (2.30) |
50.5 (1.99) |
67.7 (2.67) |
59.1 (2.33) |
78.6 (3.09) |
75.7 (2.98) |
68.3 (2.69) |
722.1 (28.43) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.1 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 119.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 60.0 | 76.1 | 114.2 | 155.2 | 199.2 | 193.7 | 199.8 | 188.3 | 145.5 | 106.3 | 67.2 | 54.0 | 1,559.4 |
| Source 1: Met Office[31] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI [32] | |||||||||||||
Northolt - Airfield Weather Station in the North West of London
Temperature extremes range from 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) in August 2003, down to −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) in January 1962.
| Climate data for RAF Northolt, elevation: 40 m (131 ft), 1991–2020 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.2 (70.2) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
20.0 (68.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
11.3 (52.3) |
8.6 (47.5) |
15.4 (59.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.5 (41.9) |
11.2 (52.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
2.0 (35.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
13.2 (55.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.9 (46.2) |
4.5 (40.1) |
2.3 (36.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 62.9 (2.48) |
49.1 (1.93) |
42.4 (1.67) |
45.6 (1.80) |
51.8 (2.04) |
50.2 (1.98) |
48.6 (1.91) |
56.6 (2.23) |
51.4 (2.02) |
70.2 (2.76) |
71.4 (2.81) |
63.1 (2.48) |
663.3 (26.11) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.6 | 10.1 | 9.1 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 10.7 | 11.6 | 11.3 | 117.0 |
| Source: Met Office [33] | |||||||||||||
Greenwich - Weather Station in South East London near the river Thames
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
19.7 (67.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
35.3 (95.5) |
37.5 (99.5) |
30.0 (86.0) |
25.6 (78.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
37.5 (99.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.3 (73.9) |
20.3 (68.5) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.4 (47.1) |
10.7 (51.3) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.7 (62.1) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
12.4 (54.3) |
8.8 (47.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
11.9 (53.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) |
3.2 (37.8) |
4.7 (40.5) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.8 (38.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.4 (15.1) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 43.9 (1.73) |
39.9 (1.57) |
36.5 (1.44) |
38.6 (1.52) |
44.0 (1.73) |
49.3 (1.94) |
36.3 (1.43) |
53.0 (2.09) |
52.4 (2.06) |
58.3 (2.30) |
59.9 (2.36) |
50.7 (2.00) |
562.9 (22.16) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 10.5 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 105.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 44.4 | 66.1 | 109.7 | 152.9 | 198.7 | 198.6 | 209.2 | 198.0 | 140.6 | 99.7 | 58.5 | 50.1 | 1,526.4 |
| Source 1: Met Office[34][35][36] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: BBC Weather[37] | |||||||||||||
Average UV index
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.4 |
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Peel, M.C.; Finlayson, B.L. "World Map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification". The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Monthly precipitation totals KEW GARDENS 1697- 1987". Wetterzentrale.de. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Temperaturmonatsmittel GREENWICH/MARITIME M 1841- 1960". Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Heathrow". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Hampstead". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Northolt". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "St James's park". CEDA Archive. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1549448971676012546[bare URL]
- ^ "1962". Trevor Harley. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "British weather in January". Trevor Harley. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Last night was hottest ever recorded with temperatures staying above 25°C". metro.co.uk. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "UK climate extremes". Met Office. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Yearly Snowfall Averages for the United Kingdom". Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Thunderstorms" (PDF). Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ Saphora Smith (16 May 2022). "London could run out of water in 25 years as cities worldwide face rising risk of drought, report warns". The Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
London already receives about half the amount of rain that falls in New York City, and climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of droughts in the region
- ^ Union, Publications Office of the European (5 January 2017). Modelling inclusion, testing and benchmarking of the impacts of ozone pollution on crop yields at regional level. publications.europa.eu. Publications Office. doi:10.2788/68501. ISBN 9789279649455. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "London, England Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONING FOR THE GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000". www.fao.org. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Trewartha maps". kkh.ltrr.arizona.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ Cmapm, Kliimavöötmed svg: Urmasderivative work (16 June 2011), Русский: Климатические пояса Земли по Б. П. Алисову., retrieved 1 July 2019
- ^ "World Strahler Climate Map".
- ^ Feddema, Johannes J. (January 2005). "A Revised Thornthwaite-Type Global Climate Classification". Physical Geography. 26 (6): 442–466. doi:10.2747/0272-3646.26.6.442. ISSN 0272-3646. S2CID 128745497.
- ^ "Klimaklassifikation". www.spektrum.de (in German). Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Klimazonen nach E. Neef (1989)". Klett-Perthes.
- ^ "London Weather Centre analysis". Weather Online. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "climate: Climate London Weather Centre". Tutiempo. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ "London Heathrow Airport". Met Office. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Heathrow Airport Extreme Values". KNMI. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ "Heathrow 1981–2010 mean maximum and minimum values". KNMI. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ "Kew 1991–2020 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Hampstead 1991–2020 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Indices data - Hampstead 1859". KNMI. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Northolt 1991–2020 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Greenwich 1991–2020 averages". Met Office. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Hot Spell - August 2003". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "Record Breaking Heat and Sunshine - July 2006". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ "London Forecast". Met Office. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Average UV index London, United Kingdom – weather-atlas.com
External links