The UK climate is notorious for being dull, cold and rainy but it is actually very warm compared to what it could be. The Gulf Stream helps keep the British Isles warmer than other countries located at a similar latitude in the winter with daily winter temperatures in England rarely dipping below 0° C (32° F) and more commonly sitting between 1° and 6°C (34°-43° F). Of course, our summers are also fairly mild with average summer temperatures between 11° and 20° C (53°-69° F)
While the temperatures are generally comfortable, we do sometimes have cold fronts or heat waves that take us by surprise and the polar front jet stream can make British weather especially difficult to predict.
You may have heard some rumors about weather in the UK. The UK has a reputation for being a cold, rainy and gloomy country but is it really true? Whenever you come to a new country it can be difficult to know what to expect from the weather and what you should bring in order to keep yourself comfortable.
Weather conditions
Is it really always rainy? Well... kind of, but maybe not how you expect. While it is often rainy, the rain is normally not very heavy. We don't regularly have big thunderstorms that shake the earth and cause floods (though they do happen) and more often than not, the days will be cloudy with light rain.
That doesn't mean it's never sunny! It just means that it's not always sunny and we really appreciate the sunshine when it's here.
You might also be surprised to know that contrary to what you see in some films, it doesn't snow very often in most parts of England. Every year we can expect some snow which may affect transport and allow you to have a snowball fight or build a snowman, but as the temperatures are normally above 0°C (32°F) the snow doesn't normally last very long.
One thing that we do have more of than some other countries is hail. This is when little balls of ice fall from the sky, sometimes accompanied by a thunderstorm. Hail storms come and go very quickly and are normally a surprise to everyone.
Seasons
In the UK we have four seasons which come with changes in temperature and weather. Again, the weather in the UK can be both mild and unpredictable so just because we say weather for a given season is typical, you can still have snow in May or sun in December.
Spring
Spring is from March to May. Spring is normally cool and gets gradually warmer and sunnier as the weeks past. In March and April you can expect a lot of rain with the weather getting sunnier as the days get longer. Any gardeners will appreciate the beautiful spring flowers as they start to bloom.
If you are going out walking in Spring, make sure to be prepared for rain with layers you can remove in case it gets warm.
Summer
Summer lasts from June to August and is normally the warmest and sunniest season. That being said, while there are normally several days above 27°C (81°F) every summer, we never know how many we will get or whether they will come in June or August. For this reason, Brits celebrate a warm day whenever possible by going to the beach or sitting at the pub. You will notice, however, that most Brits are not comfortable in weather above 21°C and might complain about the heat. Because it doesn't get very hot very often, most buildings do not have air-conditioning or "aircon" so it can get very warm and humid if you need to be inside on a hot day.
Another thing to note about British summer is that the days are very long. In the height of summer, it will still be light at 9 or even 10pm so it's perfect for sitting outside and having a chat with friends.
Autumn
Autumn is the UK lasts from September to November and it is the time days start to get shorter and cooler. Autumn can be very unpredictable with some October days feeling like the middle of summer and others feeling like the winter has already come. Whilst going out in autumn can be a gamble(Will it rain? Will it snow? Will I get too warm?) it is well worth visiting any place with deciduous trees such as alder, beech and oak as these will change colours before shedding their leaves for winter.
Winter
Winter in the UK lasts from December through February. As previously mentioned, it does not get as cold as many other countries but it does get very wet and windy which makes it seems colder than it is. Winter is the rainiest season so you must always be prepared to stay dry when you leave the house and bundle up in hats, gloves and scarves to protect yourself from the bitter winds.
While it doesn't snow too often, it does snow at least a few times every year and you should be prepared with sturdy shoes for walking on ice. Though it snows every year, the UK is not always well prepared for a storm so you should expect delays with public transport and local traffic on snowy days and leave plenty of time to safely get where you need to go.
Just as our summer days are very long, our winter days are very short. For this reason, it is especially important to keep and eye on the mental health of you and those around you. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is very common and nothing to be ashamed of. If you feel like the poor weather(or anything else) is causing you to have a low mood, talk to your GP or the Wellbeing Team.