Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has a mild maritime climate with cool summers and gentle winters. Rain falls throughout the year, but extremes of heat or cold are rare. The city’s weather is highly changeable, often featuring a mix of sunshine, clouds, and showers – making Cardiff lush, green, and comfortable for year-round exploration.
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.
Cardiff experiences a temperate maritime climate, influenced by its coastal location. Winters (December–February) are mild and damp, with average daytime temperatures of 7–8°C and nighttime lows around 2–3°C. Frost and snow are rare, while rain and wind are common, especially in the wettest months of October to January. January is typically the coldest and windiest month, with average wind speeds around 5 m/s. Sunshine is limited in winter, averaging just 2–3 hours per day.
Summers (June–August) are cool and pleasant, with average highs of 19–20°C and lows around 12°C. Extreme heat is rare, and the city enjoys long daylight hours – up to 17 hours in June – with 6–7 hours of sunshine daily. Rainfall is present year-round but is lowest from April to June, making these months particularly enjoyable for outdoor activities. Spring and autumn are transitional, with mild temperatures (10–16°C), blooming gardens in spring, and increased rainfall and wind in autumn. Humidity is generally high, and the weather can change quickly, so visitors should always be prepared for showers. Coastal winds are a feature year-round, helping to break up cloud cover and occasionally bringing brisk, fresh air to the city.
| Average climate data for Cardiff, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 16 | 22 | 17 | 12 | 15 | 22 | 16 | 31 | 17 | 26 | 31 | 27 | 251 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 133 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 85 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 87 | 87 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 22 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 59 | 58 | 51 | 45 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 54 | 61 | 58 | 53 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Cardiff is from May to August, when temperatures are mild (15–20°C), days are long, and rainfall is lower. These months are ideal for festivals, sightseeing, and enjoying the city’s parks and nearby beaches, with the most comfortable and reliable weather for outdoor activities.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Cardiff is at its coldest and wettest. Rain, wind, and short daylight hours can limit outdoor activities, though the city’s cultural attractions and cosy venues remain welcoming during these months.
Cardiff has a mild maritime climate with cool summers (19–20°C), gentle winters (7–8°C), and rainfall throughout the year. Weather is changeable, with frequent clouds, wind, and occasional sunshine.
The best time to visit Cardiff is from May to August, when temperatures are mild, days are long, and rainfall is lower. These months are perfect for outdoor events and exploring the city’s green spaces.
Snow is rare in Cardiff. Winters are mild and damp, with most precipitation falling as rain. When snow does occur, it is usually light and melts quickly.
Cardiff receives around 1,150–1,200 mm of rain annually, with the wettest months from October to January. Rain can fall in any month, but April to June are typically driest.
Cardiff is breezy year-round due to its coastal location. January is usually the windiest month, but winds help break up clouds and can bring fresh, brisk air to the city.
Yes, several popular beaches are within 30–40 minutes of Cardiff, including Barry Island and Rest Bay. These are great for day trips, especially during the warmer summer months.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (19.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (7.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (13.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (3.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (16.7 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (8.7 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 12.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is November (31.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (12 mm). Over the whole year there are 251 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is November (13.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (9 days). Over the whole year there are 132.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (5 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (1.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are April, July, August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 3.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (87 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (81.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (22.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (15 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 18.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (61.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is April (44.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 52.9 %.
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: 8.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 3.1 h). Over the whole year there are 5.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are May, June, July, August and September (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 3.
