York features an oceanic climate with cool, damp winters and mild, relatively rainy summers. The city experiences moderate temperature swings, frequent clouds, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Seasonal changes bring longer daylight and more sunshine in summer, while winters are cold, sometimes frosty, and often accompanied by fog or brisk winds.
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.
York’s climate is shaped by its inland, lowland setting in north-central England, resulting in four distinct seasons. Winters (December–February) are cold and damp, with average highs around 6–7°C and lows near 1°C. Frost, fog, and occasional snow are common, though heavy snowfall is rare and typically melts quickly. Cold winds can make winter days feel even chillier, and daylight is limited to 7–8 hours. Rain and drizzle occur frequently, with 10–12 wet days per month, and sunshine averages just 1.5–2 hours per day.
Spring (March–May) brings gradually rising temperatures, from 9°C in March to 18°C by late May. Rainfall remains frequent, but sunshine increases to 4–6 hours daily by late spring. Parks and gardens bloom, and the city becomes livelier as days lengthen. Summers (June–August) are mild, with average highs of 19–21°C and lows around 11°C. Rain is steady, with 9–11 wet days per month, but warm spells can push temperatures above 30°C for short periods. Sunshine peaks at 6–7.5 hours per day in June and July, and daylight lasts up to 17 hours. Autumn (September–November) is mild to cool (8–19°C), with increasing rain, brisk winds, and colourful foliage. Rainfall is consistent, and fog becomes more common as temperatures drop. Winds are generally moderate (14–18 km/h), but can be brisk during storms, especially in winter and autumn. York receives about 635 mm of rain and 1,550 hours of sunshine annually.
| Average climate data for York, United Kingdom | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 20 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 23 | 27 | 24 | 16 | 31 | 46 | 44 | 45 | 26 | 40 | 36 | 25 | 383 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 173 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 18 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 61 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 90 | 87 | 82 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 82 | 86 | 89 | 91 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 60 | 59 | 56 | 53 | 56 | 60 | 55 | 55 | 52 | 57 | 63 | 56 | 57 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit York is from mid-May to mid-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 enjoying York’s historic charm.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when York is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, fog, and dampness are most frequent. While winter brings festive lights and atmospheric cityscapes, outdoor exploration can be less comfortable due to chilly, wet, and unpredictable weather.
York 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 York typically reach 19–21°C, but short heatwaves can push highs above 30°C. Evenings are usually cool, and rain is possible at any time.
Snow is possible in York, mainly from December to April, 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 August, October, November, and December are typically the wettest months. Showers are frequent but often brief, so carrying an umbrella is recommended year-round.
York averages about 1,550 hours of sunshine annually. Summer months have up to 7.5 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months may see only 1.5–2 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 winter and autumn. 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 (20 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.7 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 12.8 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (12 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (1.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (46.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (15.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 383.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (19.4 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (11.7 days). Over the whole year there are 172.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (18 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 61 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.7 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May and June (0 days). Over the whole year there are 11.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (91.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (79 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is February (16.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (11.7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (62.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is September (52.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 56.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 17 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7 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 May (Average sunshine: 7.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is November (Average sunshine: 3.1 h). Over the whole year there are 5.3 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, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.1.
