Yorkshire Weather Overview

There is sometimes a perception by overseas visitors that it is always raining in the UK, however this is simply not true. Although the UK does experience its fair share of rain, the weather here is very changeable and it is not unheard of to experience rain, sleet, snow, clear blue skies and full sunshine all in the same day. So the good news is, if it is raining, it probably won’t be in hour or so!

Unlike some more tropical climates the UK does not have a distinct wet & dry season, with rainfall evenly spread throughout the year. This means that although there is less chance of rain during the summer months it is always wise to pack a rain coat in your bag. It is quite common between April and September for the whole country to experience several prolonged periods of hot still sunny weather. These are triggered by the formation of a high pressure area centred over the country blocking any changeable low pressure weather fronts from drifting across the UK. These prolong periods of hot weather can last anything from 4 or 5 days and up to 2 and 3 weeks during July & August.

During the winter months of November, December and January it is not uncommon for the UK to experience a heavy downfall of snow which can be as deep as 20cm on untouched ground, however it usually melts away quickly as the ever changing weather turns back to more milder temperatures. If you are lucky enough to be in Yorkshire during a period of snowfall, the beautiful effect it has upon many of the counties scenery is purely breathtaking and well worth seeing.

The prevailing winds arrive from a Westerly direction across the Atlantic Ocean, picking up moisture as they travel. As Yorkshire is situated adjacent to the Eastern coastline of the UK, and more significantly to the East of the Pennines (a mountain range running from Derbyshire in the South past the Eastern edge of Greater Manchester through the Yorkshire Dales and up to the Scottish borders), Yorkshire is sheltered from the prevailing winds and resultant rainfall. This means Yorkshire has a higher than average number of sunny days throughout the year, and in fact the North East corner of Yorkshire has one of the lowest annual rainfalls in the whole of Northern Europe.

It is this vast and varied temperate climate that help make Yorkshire one of England’s most interesting places to visit, and it also means Yorkshire is open for tourism all year round, spring, summer, autumn & winter. Whatever the weather brings while you visit Yorkshire, you wont be disappointed as there is always something to do indoors or out!

Yorkshire weather figures to be used as a guide(only):

• 150 wet days per annum
• 205 dry days per annum
• 20 snow fall days per annum
• Rainfall 1,400 to 1,600 mm 
• Summer temp. typically 20 to 32 deg. C 
• Winter temp. typically -1 to 10 deg. C

12 Month Overview: The coldest months of the Year are January to March with overnight frosts, snowfall & ice most common at this time. This is especially prevalent on high ground such as the North York Moors and Pennines. Spring really starts to get going in April & May, with April 2011 being the hottest April since records began! However make sure you don’t get caught out because April is renowned for rainfall that arrives without warning, hence the nick name “April Showers”. June, July & August are the summer months with the least amount of rain and often extended periods of hot weather. September and October are pleasant months with mild temperatures and the occasional blustery wind. November and December and winter has begun once again, it is a wetter time of the year and there is a possibility of snow.

Daylight Hours: During winter the sun rises between 7am and 8am with sunset occurring between 4pm and 5pm, which results in approximately 8 hours of sunlight. In the summer months the days are much longer with sunrises from 4.30 am and sunsets as late as 10.00 pm. The longest day of the year is June 21 with approximately seventeen daylight hours, and the shortest day is the 21st December.

British Summer Time: In the UK clocks change by + 1 hour on the last Sunday in March, this is know as British Summer Time (BST) and all clocks are put forward to this time. Make sure you re synchronise your watch to avoid being late for any meetings or travel arrangements. On the last Sunday in October clocks revert back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which results in an extra hour added back in so make the most of your Sunday morning lie in.