Climate

Compared to many parts of the world, the British climate is generally mild and quite temperate. The main characteristic of British weather is its changeability and it is common to go through many kinds of weather in a single day. An umbrella and a pair of sunglasses are necessary accessories in Britain, often used at the same time.

The climate is affected by low pressure systems that develop over the Atlantic. As a result, the west side of the country often has wetter and milder weather than the east side of the country. The rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year with the driest months being the months from March to June. The wettest months are September to January. The amount of rain increases with the altitude. Lowlands, including the south and east of the country receive approximately 80 cm (30 inches) per year, where in higher altitudes, the rainfall can be double that.

While winters can be hard in Scotland and Northern England where snow is common, the temperature may dip below freezing overnight, but is seldom below freezing during the day. December and February seem to be the hardest months with windy, cold, and wet weather. However, by the end of February, the bulbs are beginning to grow in the Southeast.

In summer, temperatures in the south average around 15-18 degrees C (60-65 degrees F), although inland temperatures especially in the southeast can rise above 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). However, such warm weather rarely lasts for an extended time.

Daylight

The UK spends half of the year on Greenwich meantime.