Best time to visit Scotland
Scotland has its best weather in June to September. Peak season is July and August. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for June and September.
Scotland weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F | 36°F | 3.1 in | 14 | 3.7 h |
| February | 45°F | 37°F | 2.9 in | 13 | 5.4 h |
| March | 47°F | 37°F | 3 in | 16 | 6.7 h |
| April | 51°F | 39°F | 2.1 in | 12 | 9.4 h |
| May | 57°F | 45°F | 2.8 in | 13 | 10.2 h |
| June | 62°F | 50°F | 3 in | 14 | 10.8 h |
| July | 65°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 17 | 10.2 h |
| August | 64°F | 53°F | 3.2 in | 15 | 9.6 h |
| September | 61°F | 50°F | 2.9 in | 13 | 7.8 h |
| October | 55°F | 46°F | 3.7 in | 15 | 5.3 h |
| November | 48°F | 40°F | 3.1 in | 14 | 4.3 h |
| December | 45°F | 38°F | 3.9 in | 16 | 2.6 h |
Scotland month by month
Scotland in January
Highs around 43°F, lows near 36°F. About 14 rainy days and 3.7 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights · Winter storms
Hardest monthScotland in February
Highs around 45°F, lows near 37°F. About 13 rainy days and 5.4 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights · Winter storms
Hardest monthScotland in March
Highs around 47°F, lows near 37°F. About 16 rainy days and 6.7 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights
Mixed weatherScotland in April
Highs around 51°F, lows near 39°F. About 12 rainy days and 9.4 h of sunshine a day.
Mixed weatherScotland in May
Highs around 57°F, lows near 45°F. About 13 rainy days and 10.2 h of sunshine a day.
Good weatherScotland in June
Highs around 62°F, lows near 50°F. About 14 rainy days and 10.8 h of sunshine a day.
Midges
Best weatherScotland in July
Highs around 65°F, lows near 53°F. About 17 rainy days and 10.2 h of sunshine a day.
Midges
Best weatherPeak seasonScotland in August
Highs around 64°F, lows near 53°F. About 15 rainy days and 9.6 h of sunshine a day.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe · Midges
Best weatherPeak seasonScotland in September
Highs around 61°F, lows near 50°F. About 13 rainy days and 7.8 h of sunshine a day.
Best weatherScotland in October
Highs around 55°F, lows near 46°F. About 15 rainy days and 5.3 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights
Good weatherScotland in November
Highs around 48°F, lows near 40°F. About 14 rainy days and 4.3 h of sunshine a day.
Northern lights
Mixed weatherScotland in December
Highs around 45°F, lows near 38°F. About 16 rainy days and 2.6 h of sunshine a day.
Hogmanay · Northern lights · Winter storms
Hardest month
Seasons and events
- Jun–Aug
Midges
Midge season runs from May to October and peaks in midsummer, mainly in the west Highlands, the islands and damp rural areas. They are most active at dawn and dusk.
Source: VisitScotland - Aug
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
For three weeks in August, Edinburgh hosts the Fringe, one of several arts festivals that fill the city that month.
Source: Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Oct–Mar
Northern lights
Best from October to March on dark, clear nights. Skye, Caithness and the Cairngorms are good spots. A strong aurora can occasionally be seen from Edinburgh.
Source: VisitScotland - Dec
Hogmanay
Edinburgh's New Year festival runs from 29 December to New Year's Day, with a torchlight procession, a street party and midnight fireworks over the castle.
Source: Edinburgh's Hogmanay - Dec–Feb
Winter stormsWeather risk
Atlantic storms mostly form in the winter months, and deep systems often track past the north coast of Britain.
Source: Met Office
Plan Scotland for June
Lay the trip out day by day in Waiz, on a timeline and a map, and plan it with friends in real time. Pro adds AI itineraries and the forecast for every day.
Questions about visiting Scotland
August scores highest for weather in Edinburgh, with highs around 64°F and about 15 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is June to September.
December is the wettest month in Edinburgh, with about 3.9 in of rain over 16 days. April is the driest, with about 2.1 in.
Peak season is July and August, according to VisitScotland. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for June and September.
July is the warmest month in Edinburgh, with average highs of 65°F. January is the coolest, at 43°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
