Wood Green rooftops in snow from Tottenham 02

According to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb). This type of climate features cool winters with frequent cloudy skies and rain showers (and on occasion snow), and mild summers.

Precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from clouds due to gravitational pull. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, rain and snow mixed ("sleet" in Commonwe ...

is fairly evenly distributed all year round. London has a long history of meteorological observations, with precipitation records beginning as early as January 1697 at

Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1759, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...

. Irregular observations were made at multiple locations in the ensuing years. An observing station has been located at

Greenwich Greenwich ( , , ) is an List of areas of London, area in south-east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London, east-south-east of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime hi ...

since 1841, giving London its longest continuous reliable temperature series. Other stations include

Heathrow Heathrow Airport , also colloquially known as London Heathrow Airport and named ''London Airport'' until 1966, is the primary and largest international airport serving London, the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdo ...

, beginning in 1948,

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

, beginning in 1910,

Northolt Northolt is a town in North West London, England, spread across both sides of the A40 trunk road. It is west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the seven major towns that make up the London Borough of Ealing and a smaller part in th ...

, beginning in 1948, and

St James's Park St James's Park is a urban park in the City of Westminster, central London. A Royal Park, it is at the southernmost end of the St James's area, which was named after a once isolated medieval hospital dedicated to St James the Less, now the ...

, beginning in 1910. The highest temperature ever observed in London is recorded at both

Heathrow Airport Heathrow Airport , also colloquially known as London Heathrow Airport and named ''London Airport'' until 1966, is the primary and largest international airport serving London, the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdo ...

and

on 19 July 2022 and the lowest is at

on 13 December 1981. The lowest daily maximum temperature is occurring on 3 occasions: 8 January 1841, 4 January 1867 and 12 January 1987. The highest daily minimum temperature recorded is , recorded in Kenley on 19 July 2022. In addition to this, London holds multiple national records, including the record maximum for the months of February, April, May and June. 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. Thunderstorms are a similarly occurring feature, occurring on average up to 16 days per year. London rarely experiences tornadoes, although an F2 struck

Kensal Green Kensal Green, also known as Kensal Rise, is an area in north-west London, and along with Kensal Town, it forms part of the northern section of North Kensington, London, North Kensington. It lies north of the canal in the London Borough of Brent ...

on 7 December 2006. Severe weather and extremes in temperature are uncommon. London is vulnerable to

climate change in the United Kingdom Climate change is affecting the environment and human population of the United Kingdom (UK). The climate of the United Kingdom, country's climate is becoming warmer, with drier summers and wetter winters. The frequency and intensity of storms, ...

, and there is increasing concern among

hydrological Hydrology () is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources, and drainage basin sustainability. A practitioner of hydrology is called a hydro ...

experts that London households may run out of water before 2050.

Classifications

Climate data tables

London Weather Centre

St James's Park - Weather Station near the centre of London

Heathrow - Airport Weather Station in the suburbs of West London

Kew Gardens - Weather Station in South West London on the banks of the River Thames

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.

Northolt - Airfield Weather Station in the North West of London

Temperature extremes range from in August 2003, down to in January 1962.

Greenwich - Weather Station in South East London near the river Thames

Average UV index

Notes

References

External links

BBC Weather - Forecast for LondonMet Office - Forecast for London
{{DEFAULTSORT:London

Climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteoro ...

Climate of England Climate by city Note: The Great Sink of 1858 Registered Temperatures up to 48 Centigrade and for Weeks averaged 34 - 36 in the Shade