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 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) at Ravenhill Road on 21 July 2021,[1] and the lowest temperature recorded is −13.5 °C (7.7 °F) at Newforge on 22 December 2010.[1] Although at Belfast International Airport located 12 miles west of the city, a temperature of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F) was recorded on 18 July 2022[2] whilst a temperature of −14.9 °C (5.2 °F) was recorded on 22 December 2010.[3]
Temperature
The average yearly high temperature in Belfast is 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and the average yearly low is 6.3 °C (43.3 °F). The average daily mean is 9.9 °C (49.8 °F).
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
| Period | Record temperature | Station | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.0 °C (59.0 °F) | Newforge | 26 January 2003 |
| February | 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) | Newforge Upper Falls | 14 February 1998 13 February 1998 |
| March | 20.2 °C (68.4 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 28 March 2012 |
| April | 23.1 °C (73.6 °F) | Milltown | 25 April 1975 |
| May | 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 22 May 2010 |
| June | 30.0 °C (86.0 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 29 June 1995 |
| July | 31.2 °C (88.2 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 21 July 2021 |
| August | 29.3 °C (84.7 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 21 August 1995 |
| September | 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) | Stormont Castle | 8 September 2023 |
| October | 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) | Oldpark Filters | 1 October 1985 |
| November | 17.8 °C (64.0 °F) | Malone | 1 November 1971 |
| December | 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) | Rosetta | 20 December 1971 |
Lowest daily temperatures
| Period | Record temperature | Station | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −12.6 °C (9.3 °F) | Shaws Bridge Rosebank | 11 January 1982 12 January 1982 |
| February | −12.2 °C (10.0 °F) | Malone | 16 February 1969 |
| March | −9.6 °C (14.7 °F) | Black Mountain | 2 March 1965 |
| April | −6.0 °C (21.2 °F) | Divis Mountain | 10 April 1978 |
| May | −5.0 °C (23.0 °F) | Divis Mountain | 03 May 1967 |
| June | −0.1 °C (31.8 °F) | Divis Mountain Shaws Bridge | 2 June 1975 2 June 1984 |
| July | 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) | Divis Mountain | 22 July 1970 |
| August | 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) | Shaws Bridge | 28 August 1982 |
| September | −1.1 °C (30.0 °F) | Divis Mountain | 22 September 1979 |
| October | −3.2 °C (26.2 °F) | Malone | 31 October 1988 |
| November | −8.0 °C (17.6 °F) | Malone | 27 November 1989 |
| December | −13.5 °C (7.7 °F) | Newforge | 20 December 1971 |
Daily record warm minima
| Period | Record temperature | Station | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) | Upper Falls | 10 January 1998 |
| February | 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) | Ravenhill Road Upper Falls | 12 February 1998 13 February 1998 |
| March | 12.8 °C (55.0 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 18 March 2005 |
| April | 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) | Newforge Ravenhill Road | 28 April 1994 6 April 2011 |
| May | 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 31 May 2018 |
| June | 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 29 June 2019 |
| July | 19.0 °C (66.2 °F) | Stormont Castle | 20 July 1995 |
| August | 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 14 August 2001 |
| September | 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 5 September 1999 |
| October | 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 8 October 2021 |
| November | 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) | Stormont Castle | 11 November 2022 |
| December | 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 11 December 1994 |
Daily record cold maxima
| Period | Record temperature | Station | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −2.8 °C (27.0 °F) | Divis Mountain Ravenhill Road | 1 January 1979 8 January 2010 |
| February | −2.7 °C (27.1 °F) | Black Mountain | 7 February 1969 |
| March | −1.2 °C (29.8 °F) | Black Mountain | 1 March 1965 |
| April | 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) | Divis Mountain | 15 April 1966 16 April 1966 |
| May | 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) | Black Mountain | 4 May 1968 |
| June | 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) | Divis Mountain | 11 June 1977 23 June 1978 |
| July | 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) | Divis Mountain | 4 July 1978 |
| August | 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) | Black Mountain | 15 August 1972 |
| September | 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) | Divis Mountain | 27 September 1975 |
| October | 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) | Malone | 17 October 1973 |
| November | −0.6 °C (30.9 °F) | Black Mountain | 25 November 1965 |
| December | −8.3 °C (17.1 °F) | Ravenhill Road | 21 December 2010 |
Highest Averages
| Period | Record mean | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) | 2025 |
| Spring (March–May) | 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) | 2025 |
| Summer (June–August) | 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) | 1995 |
| Autumn (September–November) | 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) | 2022 |
| Winter (December–February) | 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) | 1988–89 |
| January | 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) | 2005 |
| February | 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) | 1998 |
| March | 9.0 °C (48.2 °F) | 2012 |
| April | 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) | 2011 |
| May | 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) | 2024 |
| June | 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) | 2023 |
| July | 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) | 2013 |
| August | 17.8 °C (64.0 °F) | 1995 |
| September | 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) | 2021 |
| October | 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) | 1969 |
| November | 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) | 1994 |
| December | 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) | 1988 |
Lowest Averages
| Period | Record mean | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) | 1979 |
| Spring (March–May) | 6.0 °C (42.8 °F) | 1979 |
| Summer (June–August) | 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) | 1972 |
| Autumn (September–November) | 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) | 1974 |
| Winter (December–February) | 2.2 °C (36.0 °F) | 1962–63 |
| January | 0.7 °C (33.3 °F) | 1979 |
| February | 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) | 1963 |
| March | 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) | 2013 |
| April | 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) | 1986 |
| May | 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) | 1979 |
| June | 11.1 °C (52.0 °F) | 1972 |
| July | 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) | 1965 |
| August | 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) | 1986 |
| September | 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) | 1974 |
| October | 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) | 1981 |
| November | 4.0 °C (39.2 °F) | 1969 |
| December | 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) | 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.
Extremes
Lowest
| Period | Record rainfall | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 711.6 millimetres (28.02 in) | 1975 |
| Spring (March–May) | 82.0 millimetres (3.23 in) | 2020 |
| Summer (June–August) | 70.3 millimetres (2.77 in) | 1983 |
| Autumn (September–November) | 121.2 millimetres (4.77 in) | 2004 |
| Winter (December–February) | 80.2 millimetres (3.16 in) | 1963–64 |
| January | 21.3 millimetres (0.84 in) | 2006 |
| February | 3.9 millimetres (0.15 in) | 1986 |
| March | 16.7 millimetres (0.66 in) | 1961 |
| April | 6.0 millimetres (0.24 in) | 1980 |
| May | 6.2 millimetres (0.24 in) | 1991 |
| June | 22.1 millimetres (0.87 in) | 1992 |
| July | 10.5 millimetres (0.41 in) | 1982 |
| August | 6.0 millimetres (0.24 in) | 1995 |
| September | 2.4 millimetres (0.094 in) | 2014 |
| October | 24.9 millimetres (0.98 in) | 1978 |
| November | 7.2 millimetres (0.28 in) | 2004 |
| December | 13.9 millimetres (0.55 in) | 1971 |
Highest
| Period | Record rainfall | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 1,286.1 millimetres (50.63 in) | 2002 |
| Spring (March–May) | 345.8 millimetres (13.61 in) | 1993 |
| Summer (June–August) | 464.2 millimetres (18.28 in) | 2012 |
| Autumn (September–November) | 463.7 millimetres (18.26 in) | 2002 |
| Winter (December–February) | 464.2 millimetres (18.28 in) | 2015–16 |
| January | 187.6 millimetres (7.39 in) | 2008 |
| February | 177.5 millimetres (6.99 in) | 1966 |
| March | 146.8 millimetres (5.78 in) | 2024 |
| April | 138.7 millimetres (5.46 in) | 1991 |
| May | 197.4 millimetres (7.77 in) | 1993 |
| June | 222.4 millimetres (8.76 in) | 2012 |
| July | 130.4 millimetres (5.13 in) | 2023 |
| August | 191.6 millimetres (7.54 in) | 2008 |
| September | 175.3 millimetres (6.90 in) | 1999 |
| October | 212.0 millimetres (8.35 in) | 2023 |
| November | 246.8 millimetres (9.72 in) | 2002 |
| December | 273.1 millimetres (10.75 in) | 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 9.8 mph (8.5 kn). Records were recorded at Belfast International Airport.
| Period | Mean wind speed at 10m[4] |
|---|---|
| Annual | 9.8 mph (8.5 kn) |
| January | 11.3 mph (9.8 kn) |
| February | 11.3 mph (9.8 kn) |
| March | 10.8 mph (9.4 kn) |
| April | 10.0 mph (8.7 kn) |
| May | 9.4 mph (8.2 kn) |
| June | 8.7 mph (7.6 kn) |
| July | 8.3 mph (7.2 kn) |
| August | 8.3 mph (7.2 kn) |
| September | 8.9 mph (7.7 kn) |
| October | 9.9 mph (8.6 kn) |
| November | 10.2 mph (8.9 kn) |
| December | 10.5 mph (9.1 kn) |
Station Data
| Sea temperature data for Belfast | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average 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 [5] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "All-time Extreme Maximum Temperatures". Starlings Roost Weather. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ "Synop Report Summary 18/07/2022 Belfast / Aldergrove Airport". Ogimet. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ "Synop Report Summary 22/12/2010 Belfast / Aldergrove Airport". Ogimet. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ "Belfast Newforge Location-specific long-term averages". Met Office. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "Belfast sea temperatures". seatemperature.org. Retrieved 23 January 2025.