Bristol, United Kingdom Climate & Monthly Averages

United Kingdom 🇬🇧 · oceanic climate
Annual avg
51°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
156
Sunshine
7.4 h/day
Right now: 62° and patchy rain nearby - see live conditions

The climate of Bristol

Set in United Kingdom, Bristol works through an oceanic year: July afternoons near 69°F (21°C), January afternoons near 46°F (8°C), and about 36.9 inches (938 mm) of precipitation between them.

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 69°F (21°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 46°F (8°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 92°F (33°C) high · 20°F (-6°C) low
  • Wettest month: December (15 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.0 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: oceanic
  • Annual swing: 12°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
  • Snow: about 2 days a year
  • Average humidity: 82%

Temperatures through the year

January is the coolest month, with highs of 46°F (8°C) and lows near 36°F (2°C). At its warmest, in July, Bristol runs to 69°F (21°C) in the afternoon and back to 56°F (13°C) by dawn. Precipitation concentrates in December - 3.9 inches (100 mm) on 15 days - and thins out by April.

Rain, sun and snow

Relative humidity averages 82% across the year, more humid than 92% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than about 87% of the cities we track. Sunshine averages 7.4 hours a day over the year - duller than all but 5% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, peaking in June at 11.0 hours. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 92°F (33°C) and the lowest daily minimum 20°F (-6°C).

How Bristol compares

  • Bristol sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 51°F (11°C) as an annual average, 36.9 inches (938 mm) of precipitation and 7.4 hours of sun a day.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Bristol based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 46° 36° 13 2.8 in 4.0 h/day 88%
February 48° 38° 12 2.9 in 5.1 h/day 84%
March 50° 39° 15 3.3 in 6.5 h/day 82%
April 55° 40° 10 2.0 in 9.3 h/day 77%
May 61° 47° 12 2.8 in 10.6 h/day 77%
June 67° 53° 12 2.7 in 11.0 h/day 77%
July 69° 56° 13 2.8 in 10.9 h/day 76%
August 68° 56° 13 3.2 in 9.6 h/day 79%
September 65° 52° 13 3.4 in 8.1 h/day 81%
October 58° 48° 14 3.8 in 6.0 h/day 85%
November 51° 42° 14 3.3 in 4.2 h/day 87%
December 48° 40° 15 3.9 in 3.2 h/day 89%

Bristol month by month

Bristol weather in January

January brings highs around 46°F (8°C), lows near 36°F (2°C), about 13 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Bristol.

Bristol weather in February

February brings highs around 48°F (9°C), lows near 38°F (3°C), about 12 wet days.

Bristol weather in March

March brings highs around 50°F (10°C), lows near 39°F (4°C), about 15 wet days.

Bristol weather in April

April brings highs around 55°F (13°C), lows near 40°F (5°C), about 10 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Bristol.

Bristol weather in May

May brings highs around 61°F (16°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 12 wet days.

Bristol weather in June

June brings highs around 67°F (19°C), lows near 53°F (11°C), about 12 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Bristol.

Bristol weather in July

July brings highs around 69°F (21°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 13 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Bristol.

Bristol weather in August

August brings highs around 68°F (20°C), lows near 56°F (13°C), about 13 wet days.

Bristol weather in September

September brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 13 wet days.

Bristol weather in October

October brings highs around 58°F (15°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 14 wet days.

Bristol weather in November

November brings highs around 51°F (11°C), lows near 42°F (6°C), about 14 wet days.

Bristol weather in December

December brings highs around 48°F (9°C), lows near 40°F (5°C), about 15 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Bristol.

Seasons in Bristol

Spring (March through May)

Spring in Bristol is mild, with daytime highs averaging 56°F (13°C) and nights around 42°F (6°C); rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days.

Summer (June through August)

Through summer, Bristol settles into easy warmth: 68°F (20°C) by day, 55°F (13°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall is crisp but comfortable here - highs near 58°F (14°C), nights near 47°F (9°C), and rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days.

Winter (December through February)

Winter in Bristol is chilly, with daytime highs averaging 47°F (8°C) and nights around 38°F (3°C); rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days.

Climate questions, answered

What should I wear in Bristol?
It depends on the month: July runs to 69°F (21°C) while January holds at 46°F (8°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
Is Bristol humid?
Relative humidity averages 82% across the year, which reads as very humid. The most comfortable stretch falls in the drier half of the year.
How much sun does Bristol get?
7.4 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in June at 11.0 hours.
How hot does Bristol get in summer?
July averages 69°F (21°C). Summers here stay temperate rather than hot.

Best time to visit Bristol

The best time to visit Bristol is generally April to September, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 64°F (18°C), with rain on about 12 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.

Pack for Bristol with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. Even in July, lows of 56°F (13°C) make an extra layer worth the space.

Bristol temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
92°
in July
Lowest recorded
20°
in December
Annual precipitation
36.9"
Snowy days / yr
2

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.