The climate of Belfast features a temperate maritime climate (Köppen: Cfb) with relatively mild summers, cool winters and abundant rainfall throughout the year. There are several weather stations in Belfast, with the main stations being at Stormont Castle which since 1959 has been recording temperature and rainfall records. Another weather station closer to the city centre at Newforge has been recording observations since 1982. Further afield, another station is located at Belfast International Airport, which has been recording observations since 1930.
Within the Belfast City District, the highest temperature recorded is at Ravenhill Road on 21 July 2021, and the lowest temperature recorded is at Newforge on 22 December 2010. Although at Belfast International Airport located 12 miles west of the city, a temperature of was recorded on 18 July 2022 whilst a temperature of was recorded on 22 December 2010.
Classifications
Temperature The average yearly high temperature in Belfast is and the average yearly low is . The average daily mean is .
Averages
Extremes Due to Belfast having an oceanic climate, extremes of temperatures are rare. Furthermore, as the city is located on the coast of the Irish Sea, wind chill is enhanced as a result of stronger winds as well as heat indexes being higher than areas further inland as a result of the higher humidity found close to bodies of water.
Highest daily temperatures PeriodRecord temperatureStationDate January Newforge 26 January 2003 February NewforgeUpper Falls 14 February 199813 February 1998 March Ravenhill Road 28 March 2012 April Milltown 25 April 1975 May Ravenhill Road 22 May 2010 June Ravenhill Road 29 June 1995 July Ravenhill Road 21 July 2021 August Ravenhill Road 21 August 1995 September Stormont Castle 8 September 2023 October Oldpark Filters 1 October 1985 November Malone 1 November 1971 December Rosetta 20 December 1971
Lowest daily temperatures PeriodRecord temperatureStationDate January Shaws BridgeRosebank 11 January 198212 January 1982 February Malone 16 February 1969 March Black Mountain 2 March 1965 April Divis Mountain 10 April 1978 May Divis Mountain 03 May 1967 June Divis MountainShaws Bridge 2 June 19752 June 1984 July Divis Mountain 22 July 1970 August Shaws Bridge 28 August 1982 September Divis Mountain 22 September 1979 October Malone 31 October 1988 November Malone 27 November 1989 December Newforge 20 December 1971
Daily record warm minima PeriodRecord temperatureStationDate January Upper Falls 10 January 1998 February Ravenhill RoadUpper Falls 12 February 199813 February 1998 March Ravenhill Road 18 March 2005 April NewforgeRavenhill Road 28 April 19946 April 2011 May Ravenhill Road 31 May 2018 June Ravenhill Road 29 June 2019 July Stormont Castle 20 July 1995 August Ravenhill Road 14 August 2001 September Ravenhill Road 5 September 1999 October Ravenhill Road 8 October 2021 November Stormont Castle 11 November 2022 December Ravenhill Road 11 December 1994
Daily record cold maxima PeriodRecord temperatureStationDate January Divis MountainRavenhill Road 1 January 19798 January 2010 February Black Mountain 7 February 1969 March Black Mountain 1 March 1965 April Divis Mountain 15 April 196616 April 1966 May Black Mountain 4 May 1968 June Divis Mountain 11 June 197723 June 1978 July Divis Mountain 4 July 1978 August Black Mountain 15 August 1972 September Divis Mountain 27 September 1975 October Malone 17 October 1973 November Black Mountain 25 November 1965 December Ravenhill Road 21 December 2010
Highest Averages PeriodRecord meanYearYear 2025 Spring (March–May) 2025 Summer (June–August) 1995 Autumn (September–November) 2022 Winter (December–February) 1988–89 January 2005 February 1998 March 2012 April 2011 May 2024 June 2023 July 2013 August 1995 September 2021 October 1969 November 1994 December 1988
Lowest Averages PeriodRecord meanYearYear 1979 Spring (March–May) 1979 Summer (June–August) 1972 Autumn (September–November) 1974 Winter (December–February) 1962–63 January 1979 February 1963 March 2013 April 1986 May 1979 June 1972 July 1965 August 1986 September 1974 October 1981 November 1969 December 1976
Precipitation Precipitation is fairly regular throughout the year in Belfast, with no wet or dry season as a result of its oceanic climate. All extreme rainfall records were recorded at Stormont Castle since 1961.
Averages
Extremes
Lowest PeriodRecord rainfallYearYear 1975 Spring (March–May) 2020 Summer (June–August) 1983 Autumn (September–November) 2004 Winter (December–February) 1963–64 January 2006 February 1986 March 1961 April 1980 May 1991 June 1992 July 1982 August 1995 September 2014 October 1978 November 2004 December 1971
Highest PeriodRecord rainfallYearYear 2002 Spring (March–May) 1993 Summer (June–August) 2012 Autumn (September–November) 2002 Winter (December–February) 2015–16 January 2008 February 1966 March 2024 April 1991 May 1993 June 2012 July 2023 August 2008 September 1999 October 2023 November 2002 December 1978
Other Phenomena Sunshine, UV and daylight Like most of the British Isles, Belfast sees frequent overcast and cloudy skies due to the oceanic controlled climate and high latitude.
Wind The mean yearly wind speed at 10m in Belfast is . Records were recorded at Belfast International Airport.
PeriodMean wind speed at 10mAnnualJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Station Data
Sea temperature data for BelfastMonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYearAverage sea temperature °C (°F)9.1(48.4)8.3(46.9)8.2(46.8)8.9(48.0)10.2(50.4)11.9(53.4)13.7(56.7)14.3(57.7)14.2(57.6)13.4(56.1)12.3(54.1)10.6(51.1)11.2(52.2)Source: seatemperature.org
Notes
References