Reading, United Kingdom Climate & Monthly Averages

Reading has an oceanic climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 72° by day; January is the coldest at 46°.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧 · oceanic climate
Annual avg
52°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
133
Sunshine
7.4 h/day
Right now: 47° and partly cloudy - see live conditions

How weather changes through the year in Reading

Weather in Reading follows a oceanic pattern. The warmest and coolest months, July and January, average 72°F (22°C) and 46°F (8°C) by day; nights in those months run 56°F (14°C) and 36°F (2°C).

Reading climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 72°F (22°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 46°F (8°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · 22°F (-6°C) low
  • Wettest month: October (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.0 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: oceanic
  • Annual swing: 13°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 7°C
  • Snow: about 1 days a year
  • Average humidity: 80%

Temperatures, rain and sunshine

Days and nights are about 7°C apart on average - narrower than about 76% of the cities we track. At its warmest, in July, Reading runs to 72°F (22°C) in the afternoon and back to 56°F (14°C) by dawn. January bottoms out at 46°F (8°C) in daylight, 36°F (2°C) after dark. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 97°F (36°C) and bottoms at 22°F (-6°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.

The wettest month is October (3.2 inches (82 mm) across 12 days) and the driest April.

Relative humidity averages 80% across the year, more humid than roughly 84% 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. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of.

Where Reading sits among other climates

  • Reading sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 52°F (11°C) as an annual average, 29.2 inches (743 mm) of precipitation and 7.4 hours of sun a day.

These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Reading based on 2015–2024 weather data. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th; wet-day chance is the share of days with measurable rain.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineDaylightWet-day chanceHumidity
January 46° 36° 11 2.4 in 4.2 h/day 8.3 h 36% 87%
February 48° 37° 10 2.0 in 5.0 h/day 9.9 h 36% 83%
March 51° 39° 13 2.5 in 6.4 h/day 11.7 h 41% 80%
April 56° 41° 9 1.7 in 9.3 h/day 13.8 h 30% 75%
May 63° 47° 11 2.3 in 10.4 h/day 15.6 h 35% 74%
June 69° 53° 11 2.1 in 11.0 h/day 16.6 h 35% 73%
July 72° 56° 11 2.4 in 11.0 h/day 16.2 h 35% 72%
August 71° 56° 10 2.4 in 9.6 h/day 14.6 h 33% 75%
September 67° 52° 10 2.7 in 8.1 h/day 12.5 h 35% 78%
October 59° 48° 12 3.2 in 6.0 h/day 10.6 h 40% 84%
November 51° 42° 12 2.8 in 4.4 h/day 8.8 h 40% 87%
December 48° 40° 12 2.7 in 3.2 h/day 7.9 h 39% 88%

Reading month by month

Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Reading's coldest night and warmest afternoon.

January

Coldest
46°36°
Rain
11 days
Sunshine
4.2 h
Daylight
8.3 h

February

48°37°
Rain
10 days
Sunshine
5.0 h
Daylight
9.9 h

March

51°39°
Rain
13 days
Sunshine
6.4 h
Daylight
11.7 h

April

Driest
56°41°
Rain
9 days
Sunshine
9.3 h
Daylight
13.8 h

May

63°47°
Rain
11 days
Sunshine
10.4 h
Daylight
15.6 h

June

Sunniest
69°53°
Rain
11 days
Sunshine
11.0 h
Daylight
16.6 h

July

Hottest
72°56°
Rain
11 days
Sunshine
11.0 h
Daylight
16.2 h

August

71°56°
Rain
10 days
Sunshine
9.6 h
Daylight
14.6 h

September

67°52°
Rain
10 days
Sunshine
8.1 h
Daylight
12.5 h

October

Wettest
59°48°
Rain
12 days
Sunshine
6.0 h
Daylight
10.6 h

November

51°42°
Rain
12 days
Sunshine
4.4 h
Daylight
8.8 h

December

48°40°
Rain
12 days
Sunshine
3.2 h
Daylight
7.9 h

Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Reading's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.

A season-by-season guide to Reading

Spring (March through May)

Spring stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 57°F (14°C), nights near 42°F (6°C), and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days.

Summer (June through August)

Summer in Reading settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 71°F (21°C) and nights around 55°F (13°C); rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall is mild here - highs near 59°F (15°C), nights near 47°F (8°C), and rain falls on around 35 of the 90 days.

Winter (December through February)

Winter is brisk and cold here - highs near 47°F (9°C), nights near 38°F (3°C), and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.

Questions people ask about Reading's climate

How much sun does Reading get?
7.4 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in June at 11.0 hours.
How humid does Reading get?
Relative humidity averages 80% across the year, which reads as very humid. The most comfortable stretch falls in the drier half of the year.
Is Reading hot in summer?
July averages 72°F (22°C). Summers here stay temperate rather than hot.
What should I wear in Reading?
It depends on the month: July runs to 72°F (22°C) while January holds at 46°F (8°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.

The most useful weather window for Reading

Best time to visit Reading

May to September is the sweet spot for Reading - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 68°F (20°C) in the afternoon and around 11 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.

What to pack

Pack for Reading with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 72°F (22°C) with 56°F (14°C).

Reading temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset

Highest daily value
97°
in July
Lowest daily value
22°
in February
Annual precipitation
29.3"
Snowy days / yr
1

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.