Inverness features a cool, temperate maritime climate with mild summers and long, chilly winters. Summer highs reach 17–19°C, while winter lows often dip to 1–3°C. Rain falls year-round, peaking in autumn and winter, and sunshine is most abundant from May to July. The city’s northern latitude brings dramatic changes in daylight, with long summer days and short winter afternoons.
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.
Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, experiences a distinctly maritime climate, shaped by its northern latitude and proximity to the North Sea. Summers (June–August) are cool and relatively sunny, with average highs of 17–19°C and lows around 10–12°C. July is typically the warmest month, but heatwaves are rare, and evenings can be brisk. The city enjoys long daylight hours in summer – up to 18 hours in June – with sunsets after 10 pm and as many as 5–6 hours of sunshine per day. Rain is moderate, with July and August each seeing around 60–65 mm of rainfall, often as brief showers or drizzle. Winds are gentle to moderate, but can be brisk during storms or along the coast.
Winters (December–February) are long, cold, and damp, with average highs of 6–8°C and lows of 1–3°C. Snow is possible, especially in January and February, but heavy accumulation is rare in the city itself – though nearby hills may be snow-capped. Rain is frequent, with December and January being the wettest months (up to 75 mm and 14–22 rainy days), and sunshine is scarce, with just 1–2 hours per day. Days are short, with daylight from about 8 am to 4 pm in midwinter. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring mild to cool temperatures (9–15°C), moderate rainfall, and rapidly changing weather. April and May are the sunniest months, with up to 6 hours of sunshine daily. Inverness receives about 720–900 mm of rain annually and around 1,200–1,300 hours of sunshine, making it one of Scotland’s driest cities. The weather is famously changeable, so locals recommend always packing for rain, wind, and sun – even on the same day.
| Average climate data for Inverness, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 17 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 23 | 23 | 21 | 14 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 270 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 155 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 13 | 42 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 112 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 85 | 84 | 81 | 77 | 77 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 19 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 53 | 55 | 56 | 52 | 54 | 61 | 57 | 54 | 55 | 51 | 52 | 51 | 54 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Inverness is from May to early September, when temperatures are mild (13–19°C), days are long, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events. These months offer the most sunshine, ideal for hiking, sightseeing, and exploring the Highlands, with wildflowers and extended daylight for late-evening adventures.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when days are shortest, temperatures are coldest (highs of 6–8°C, lows of 1–3°C), and rain or drizzle is frequent. Outdoor activities are limited, but the city’s museums, pubs, and cosy cafés offer refuge from the damp, chilly weather.
Inverness has cool, mild summers (highs 17–19°C) and long, chilly winters (highs 6–8°C, lows 1–3°C). Rain falls year-round, with wetter months in autumn and winter, and sunshine peaks from May to July.
Snow is possible from December to February, but heavy accumulation is rare in the city. Nearby hills and the Highlands often see more snow, making winter walks and scenic drives especially beautiful.
April, May, and June are the sunniest months, with up to 6 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours. In summer, the sun can set after 10 pm, offering extended time for outdoor activities.
Inverness receives about 720–900 mm of rain annually, with the wettest months being October to January. Rain falls on roughly 140–150 days per year, often as light showers or drizzle.
Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy shoes for rain and wind. Even in summer, evenings can be cool. Sun protection is useful for long, bright days, and a warm coat is essential for winter visits.
Yes, Inverness can be breezy year-round, with brisk winds more common in autumn and winter. The coast and open areas are especially exposed, so windproof clothing is recommended for outdoor adventures.
Yes, beautiful beaches like Nairn and Findhorn are within an hour’s drive. These offer sandy shores, wildlife spotting, and scenic walks, though the sea is cold for swimming year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (16.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (4.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 10.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (9.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (0.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 4.9 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (14 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (7 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 10.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (31.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (14.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 269.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (16 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (10.5 days). Over the whole year there are 155.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (42.2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 112.2 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (4.4 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 18.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (86.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (77 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (19.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (11.8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is June (61 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is October (50.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.3 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 17.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 7.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 4.1 h). Over the whole year there are 5.7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June and July (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 2.8.
