Weather-Climate
What is the weather in Northern Ireland like? And what is the best time to visit? Do you want to know the weather reports UK? And the local weather UK? Good questions. If you are from England/Scotland/Wales or the Republic of Ireland, you already know the answer; the weather is similar in all these places. If you are from continental Europe or further afield, then read on.
Spring – March to May
The weather in Northern Ireland during the Spring is mostly pleasant. Northern Ireland gets a fair amount of rain and it can be windy or cold at times. But you also get some glorious days, especially from April onwards. With nature in full bloom and the days getting longer, Spring is a good time to visit.
Summer – June to August
Summer is probably the best. The days in Northern Ireland are very long. Daylight begins before 5:00 in the morning and last until after 10:00 at night, which means plenty of time to visit places, walk about, enjoy a pleasant evening. Average day temperature in Belfast is 17.5 C in July. Temperatures in the lower to mid 20’s C are common. Lower 30’s are unusual with the highest recorded temperature being 30.8 C in 1983 in Belfast (highest in the Republic 33.3 C at Kilkenny Castle).
I would like to say that the sun shines continuously during the summer months, but the truth is, good weather is not guaranteed in Summer. Rainy days are not uncommon, especially in July. Coast lands can be very windy so make sure you bring a warm jumper.
Autumn – September to November
Autumn can be a glorious time with deciduous trees wrapped in beautiful gold and orange colors. The weather in Northern Ireland is usually unsettled. Strong winds and high amounts of condensation and clouds are common.
Winter – December to February
Winter can be a gloomy time. The days are very short and this makes touring harder. Sunset in Northern Ireland can be as early as 3:50 in December. The weather is usually cold, wet and windy. Temperatures above 12 C are unusual.
Having said that, Northern Ireland has a temperate maritime climate which means that temperatures below freezing during the day are not a daily occurrence while temperatures below 10 C are rare. Relatively high humidity makes you feel the cold more, but Northern Ireland has milder winters than many countries on the continent.
When to visit Northern Ireland
If you can plan your visit between May and September you are more likely to enjoy the best of Irish weather and use the long days to see the places worth seeing that we tell you about. If circumstances mean you visit between October and April, don’t panic. You can still have a good time and enjoy touring. Just make sure you dress well and eat some extra chocolate (did I say that?).
Remember: “There is not bad weather, only bad clothes!”
And finally, if you want to know the weather forecast UK for the next few days just visit good old BBC.
