Weather
Edinburgh has a generally mild but rather varied climate. Locals will sometimes tell you that you can experience all four seasons in the same day.
Temperature
Temperatures in the hottest months (July and August) can often show daytime highs of around 20°C (68°F). Anything higher is regarded by local residents as a heatwave.
During the winter, the coldest months are usually December, January and February, with daytime highs typically around 4°C (39°F).
The temperature rarely stays below freezing during the day in winter, although at night it may fall to -5°C (23°F) or lower.
Edinburgh can be a windy place, and when the wind is from the north or east it can feel quite chilly, especially in the winter.
Precipitation
Rain, some of it heavy, is possible at any time of the year.
To date, the main effect of global warming in Scotland appears to be a slight increase in the chances of windy and wet weather.
Being on the east coast, however, Edinburgh tends not to experience such extreme weather as the far west of the country.
Edinburgh's coastal location is also a major reason why the city itself gets relatively little snow in winter, with the period from January to March being the most likely months.
Snowfalls in Edinburgh tend to be light and to thaw very quickly, often within hours.
- Edinburgh area weather and forecasts from the Met Office
- East of Scotland climate information from the Met Office
This article was published on Feb 13, 2009