Sheffield features an oceanic climate with cool, damp winters and mild, relatively rainy summers. The city experiences frequent clouds, moderate rainfall, and mild temperature swings throughout the year. Seasonal changes bring longer daylight and more sunshine in summer, while winters are often cloudy, chilly, and occasionally frosty, making Sheffield a classic example of northern English weather.
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.
Sheffield’s climate is shaped by its inland location near the Pennines, resulting in four distinct seasons and notable variability. Winters (December–February) are cool and damp, with average highs around 6–8°C and lows near 1–2°C. Frost and fog are common, while snowfall is rare and usually short-lived. Rainfall is frequent, with December and January being the wettest months, averaging 75–85 mm of rain and 13–14 wet days per month. Sunshine is scarce in winter, with only 1.5–2.5 hours per day, and daylight is limited to about 8 hours in December and January.
Spring (March–May) brings gradual warming, with average highs rising from 10°C in March to 16°C in May and lows from 3°C to 7°C. Sunshine increases to 4–6.5 hours per day by late spring, and rainfall becomes less frequent, with May being the driest month. Summers (June–August) are mild, with average highs of 19–21°C and lows around 11–13°C. Rain is steady but lighter than in winter, with July and August averaging 53–65 mm of rain and 8–10 wet days per month. Sunshine peaks at 6 hours per day in June, July, and August, and daylight lasts up to 17 hours in midsummer. Autumn (September–November) starts mild (18°C in September) but cools rapidly, with increased rain and shorter days. Winds are generally moderate, averaging 14–18 km/h, and can be brisk during storms. Sheffield receives about 830 mm of rain and 1,485 hours of sunshine annually. The city’s hilly terrain and proximity to the Pennines result in local microclimates, with cooler, wetter conditions in upland areas and warmer, drier conditions in the city centre.
| Average climate data for Sheffield, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 20 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 30 | 35 | 31 | 23 | 32 | 56 | 48 | 50 | 29 | 49 | 46 | 33 | 463 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 187 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 29 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 78 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 88 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 84 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 61 | 61 | 56 | 53 | 55 | 57 | 55 | 56 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 58 | 57 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Sheffield is from late May to September, when temperatures are mild (15–21°C), daylight is long, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn also offer pleasant weather, blooming parks, and fewer crowds, making them ideal for sightseeing and exploring Sheffield’s green spaces.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Sheffield is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, fog, and dampness are most frequent. While winter brings festive lights and cosy pubs, outdoor exploration can be less comfortable due to chilly, wet, and unpredictable weather.
Sheffield has an oceanic climate with cool, damp winters and mild, relatively rainy summers. Rain and clouds are frequent, and temperature swings are moderate. Seasonal changes bring longer days and more sunshine in summer.
Summer temperatures in Sheffield typically reach 19–21°C, but short heatwaves can push highs above 28°C. Evenings are usually cool, and rain is possible at any time.
Snow is possible in Sheffield, mainly from December to March, but it is usually light and melts quickly. Most winter precipitation falls as rain or drizzle, and heavy snow is rare.
Rain falls throughout the year, but December, January, and November are typically the wettest months. Showers are frequent but often brief, so carrying an umbrella is recommended year-round.
Sheffield averages about 1,485 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months have up to 6 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months may see only 1.5–2.5 hours daily.
Bring layers, a waterproof jacket, and water-resistant shoes. Even in summer, pack a jumper or light jacket for cool evenings. An umbrella is essential for sudden showers in any season.
Winds are generally moderate but can be brisk during storms, especially in autumn and winter. Humidity is moderate to high year-round, and dampness can make cold days feel even chillier.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (19.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.4 °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 February (1.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (56.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (23.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 463.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (20.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (12.4 days). Over the whole year there are 187.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (28.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 78.1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.6 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June and July (0 days). Over the whole year there are 10.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (89.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (79.5 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 84.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (18.9 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (12.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.7 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (63.7 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is April (52.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 57.3 %.
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 July (Average sunshine: 7.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 5.2 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, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.
