Manchester, in northwest England, has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers, cool, damp winters, and rainfall distributed throughout the year. The city is known for its frequent clouds, high humidity, and moderate seasonal temperature changes, making it a dynamic destination for both cultural and outdoor activities in any season.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Manchester’s climate is shaped by Atlantic influences and proximity to the Pennines, resulting in mild summers and cool, damp winters. Summers (June–August) are comfortable, with average highs of 19–20°C and lows around 12°C. July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, with up to 5–6 hours of sunshine per day, but rain showers remain common. Evenings can be cool, so light layers are recommended. Summer heatwaves above 30°C are rare but possible.
Winters (December–February) are long, cool, and often cloudy, with average highs of 7–8°C and lows near 2°C. Snow is rare but possible, and rain, drizzle, or sleet are frequent. Days are short, with 1–2 hours of sunshine and about 8 hours of daylight. Humidity is high year-round, and wind speeds average 13–15 km/h, adding a chill to winter days. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild temperatures (9–16°C), variable weather, and moderate rainfall. Annual precipitation is about 800–830 mm, with October being the wettest month. Manchester receives around 1,400–1,500 hours of sunshine per year, and fog is common in winter and autumn, especially in the mornings.
| Average climate data for Manchester, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 19 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 34 | 37 | 43 | 23 | 31 | 53 | 67 | 64 | 38 | 41 | 49 | 43 | 525 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 205 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 24 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 71 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 89 | 86 | 83 | 79 | 78 | 81 | 80 | 82 | 83 | 86 | 87 | 90 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 17 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 68 | 64 | 60 | 53 | 56 | 60 | 59 | 64 | 60 | 61 | 67 | 67 | 62 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Manchester is from late May to early September, when temperatures are mild (16–20°C), days are long and relatively sunny, and the city’s parks and cultural events are at their most vibrant. This period is ideal for sightseeing, festivals, and outdoor activities, though rain showers remain likely.
The least favourable time to visit Manchester is from November to February, when days are short, temperatures are cool (7–8°C), and rain, wind, and clouds are frequent. While snow is rare, dampness and limited sunshine can make the city feel colder and less inviting for outdoor pursuits.
Manchester’s annual average temperature is about 10°C. January is the coldest month (highs 7°C, lows 2°C), while July and August are the warmest (highs 19–20°C, lows 12°C).
Manchester receives about 800–830 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with October being the wettest month. Snow is rare and usually melts quickly, but drizzle and fog are common.
Manchester enjoys 1,400–1,500 hours of sunshine per year. July and August are the sunniest months (up to 6 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (1–2 hours/day).
Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is best for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures, longer days, and more sunshine. Summer is busiest and most comfortable for festivals, walking, and sightseeing.
Manchester is not a winter sports destination. The city rarely sees heavy snow, and temperatures are too mild for reliable ice or snow-based activities. For winter sports, head to the Pennines or Scotland.
Swimming outdoors is only comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 19–20°C. Even then, the water in lakes and rivers is cool, so beach-style activities are limited.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and rain gear for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (19.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 12.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (11.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (67.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (23 mm). Over the whole year there are 525.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (20.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (14.4 days). Over the whole year there are 205.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (23.7 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 70.7 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (2.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 8.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (89.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (78 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (17.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (12.4 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (67.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is April (52.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 61.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is April (Average sunshine: 6.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 4.6 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July and August (UV index: 4). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, March, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.9.
