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Scottish weather is known to be fickle, wet and dreary but what
is the weather really like. What time of year does the best weather
in Scotland generally occur and what should you pack to deal with
the weather.
Scottish Weather Through the Year
Spring Weather in Scotland
Let's start with spring, since it's mid-April as I'm writing this.
Daytime temperatures in March, April and May tend not to be too
warm. The temperature in Scotland during the day can vary from around
4degC to around 13degC with the occasional warmer day up to around
18degC. Night time temperatures tend to hover around 0degC but can
go a few degrees colder. Winds in spring are generally not that
bad but you can have occasional gales at any time, but more likely
in March than April or May. Rain is definitely a feature of springtime
and heavy showers can be frequent. Any time until the end of April,
especially in the highlands you can get snow or hail showers. These
generally don't lie except on the mountains. May often has good
long settled spells without bad rain or particularly cold nights
and because the midges haven't come out yet it is one of the best
months to visit Scotland weather-wise.
Summer Weather in Scotland
In summer in Scotland temperatures get slightly warmer reaching
an average around 18-22degC during the day. Night time temperatures
will usually drop to around 10degC. June can be fairly settled often
with long spells of good weather. Rain can be on the horizon at
any time though so bear that in mind if you are planning to be outdoors.
From June until the end of August, Scottish midges are around on
the west coast and in the Highlands of Scotland. Even if the weather
is good, the midge can make life intolerable out of doors so some
kind of midge protection is advisable.
Autumn weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland can be spectacular. When a high pressure
sites over the country, the combination of blue skies, cool crisp
temperatures and autumn foliage on the trees make for a memorable
experience. Temperatures in daytime tend to site around 5-13degC.
Rain and high winds happen frequently and can make life out of doors
miserable, but if you happen to visit when the sky is blue, make
sure you have your camera handy.
Winter weather in Scotland
Winter in Scotland is often not as cold as you might expect given
the latitude of the country. The Gulf Stream keeps the weather a
lot warmer than you might find in Russia or Canada at equivalent
latitudes. Daytime temperatures in winter can vary from around -2degC
to 10degC although very occassionaly it gets colder. Night times
are often frosty and temperatures of -5degC are frequent. On the
mountains, snow can occur at any time through the winter, though
at lower elevations, it tends to be rain more than snow. We do get
snow occasionally, but roads departments are well equipped to handle
it and get most routes open quicly after a snowstorm. Long nights
and short days are a particular feature of winter.
External Links
BBC weather
Mountain
Weather Information Service - Top notch mountain weather forecasts.
This is by far the best weather forecasting we can find for scotland's
mountains. Between this forecast and the avalanche information service
below, you have all you need.
The Met Office
Scottish Avalanche Information
Service - forecasts and records avalanche danger in major climbing
areas
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