Glasgow Weather by Month

Glasgow’s climate is temperate maritime (Köppen Cfb), moderated by the Gulf Stream and its position in Scotland’s Central Belt. Expect cool summers, mild winters, and rain spread evenly throughout the year. The city averages 1,124mm of annual precipitation over roughly 170 rainy days, making it one of the wetter UK cities. Average daily highs range from 6°C (43°F) in January to 19°C (66°F) in July. Glasgow sits at only 20 to 50 metres above sea level, so it avoids the heavy snow that affects higher ground in the Highlands, typically seeing 10 to 15 snow days per winter with most accumulation melting within 24 hours. See our Glasgow Best Time To Visit for more details.

Glasgow Weather by Month

Glasgow Weather by Month: Winter (December to February)

Winter days are short, with sunrise at 08:45 in late December and sunset before 16:00, giving you about 7 hours of daylight. Temperatures hover between 1°C and 7°C (34 to 45°F). Frost appears on 40 to 50 mornings per winter but prolonged freezes are rare due to the maritime influence. Snowfall averages 10 to 15 days per season but significant accumulation (more than 5 cm) happens only 2 or 3 times. When it does snow, it typically melts within a day. Glasgow Queen Street station runs hourly trains to Edinburgh Waverley (50 minutes, £13.50 off-peak return) and services north to Stirling and the Highlands. The First Bus network operates across the city with a £4.80 day ticket covering all zones. Humidity sits around 87% and wind from the southwest averages 18 km/h, strongest in January. December records the lowest sunshine at 33 hours for the entire month. See our Glasgow Things To Do for more details.

Glasgow Weather by Month: Spring (March to May)

Spring is Glasgow’s driest season, with April averaging only 64mm of rain across 12 days. March starts cool at 9°C (48°F) highs and climbs to 15°C (59°F) by May. Sunshine jumps dramatically from 97 hours in March to 185 in May, making May the sunniest month of the year. Daylight stretches past 16 hours by late May. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens in the West End and Pollok Country Park are at their best in April and May. Wind speeds drop compared to winter, averaging 15 km/h. Late spring frosts are uncommon after mid-April. This is the best season for outdoor sightseeing, with reasonable temperatures and the lowest rainfall of any season. The Kelvin Walkway and Forth and Clyde Canal towpath are popular walking and cycling routes that open fully by April after winter maintenance. See our Glasgow Events Festivals for more details.

Glasgow Weather by Month: Summer (June to August)

Summer brings daytime highs of 18 to 19°C (64 to 66°F) and overnight lows of 10 to 12°C (50 to 54°F). Temperatures occasionally reach 25°C (77°F) during warm spells, but heatwaves above 28°C are rare, happening once or twice per summer. Rain falls on 11 to 13 days per month, often as brief showers rather than all-day drizzle. June and July each deliver 163 to 167 hours of sunshine. The long daylight is a highlight. Glasgow sits at 55.86°N latitude, so midsummer twilight stretches past 22:30 with true darkness barely arriving before fading into dawn around 03:30. Humidity stays around 78 to 80%. The Glasgow Fair weekend (third weekend of July) traditionally kicks off the city’s summer holiday period. Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Green fill with people on sunny days. The Riverside Museum and Tall Ship, both free entry, see peak summer visitor numbers of 5,000 to 8,000 per day. See our Glasgow Neighborhoods for more details.

Glasgow Weather by Month: Autumn (September to November)

September starts pleasantly at 16°C (61°F) but drops to 9°C (48°F) by November. Rainfall increases through autumn, from 119mm in September to 126mm in November, with rainy days climbing from 14 to 16 per month. October and November are the windiest months after January, with average speeds of 17 to 18 km/h. The first frost typically arrives in the second half of October. Daylight shrinks rapidly, from about 13 hours in early September to under 8 hours by late November. Autumn foliage in Glasgow’s parks peaks in mid to late October. Pollok Country Park’s woodland trails and the Glasgow Necropolis offer good leaf color. Indoor attractions like the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Burrell Collection (free entry, Pollok Country Park), and the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA, Queen Street, free) become more appealing as rain increases. The Scottish autumn school break (one week in mid-October) brings more families into the city centre. See our Glasgow Where To Stay Also see our Glasgow Travel Tips Faq. Also see our Glasgow travel guide. for more details.