The climate of Scotland is temperate (Koppen climate classification Cfb), and tends to be very changeable, but rarely extreme. It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, and given its northerly latitude it is much warmer than areas on similar latitudes, for example Labrador in Canada—where icebergs are a common feature in winter.

However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C recorded at Braemar in the Grampian Mountains, on January 10, 1982 and also at Altnaharra, Highland, on December 30, 1995.^[1] Winter maximums average 5.0 to 5.7 Â°C, with summer maximums averaging 14.9 to 16.9 Â°C.^[2] In general, the western coastal areas of Scotland are warmer than the east and inland areas, due to the influence of the Atlantic currents, and the colder surface temperatures of the North Sea.^[3] The highest temperature recorded was 32.9°C at Greycrook, Scottish Borders on August 9 2003.<ref name="scotlandclimate" />

Rainfall totals vary widely across Scotland—the western highlands of Scotland are one of the wettest places in the UK with annual rainfall up to 4577 mm.^[4] Due to the mountainous topography of the western Highlands, this type of precipitation is orographic in nature, with the warm, wet air forced to rise on contact with the mountainous coast, where it consequently, cools and condenses, forming clouds. In comparison, much of eastern Scotland receives less than 870 mm annually; lying in the rain shadow of the western uplands.<ref name="rainfall" /> Snowfall is less common in the lowlands, but becomes more common with altitude. Parts of the Highlands have an average of 36 to 105 snow days per year,^[5] while some western coastal areas have between 0 and 6 days with snow a year.<ref name="snow" />

329 hours of sunshine were recorded on Tiree in May 1946 and again in May 1975. Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland. On the longest day of the year there is no complete darkness over the northern isles of Scotland. Lerwick, Shetland, has about four hours more daylight at midsummer than London, although this is reversed in midwinter. Annual average sunshine totals vary from as little as 711–1140 hours in the highlands and the north-west,^[6] up to 1471–1540 hours on the extreme eastern and south-western coasts.<ref name="sunshine" />

In common with the rest of the United Kingdom, wind prevails from the south-west, bringing warm, wet air from the Atlantic.<ref name="scotlandclimate" /> The windiest areas of Scotland are in the north and west; parts of the Western Isles, the Orkneys and Shetland have over 30 days with gales per year.<ref name="scotlandclimate" /> Vigorous Atlantic depressions—also known as European windstorms—are a common feature in the autumn and winter in Scotland.

See also

• Climate of the United Kingdom

References

•  • [ e] Topics on Scotland
History	Timeline Prehistoric Scotland Kingdom of Scotland Scotland in the High Middle Ages Davidian Revolution Wars of Scottish Independence Scotland in the Late Middle Ages Scottish Reformation Scottish colonisation of the Americas Acts of Union 1707 Scottish Enlightenment Jacobitism Highland Clearances Lowland Clearances
Geography	Geology Climate Demographics Mountains and hills Islands Lochs Fauna Highlands
Economy	Companies Bank of Scotland Royal Bank of Scotland North Sea oil Whisky Tourism Harris Tweed Renewable energy Transport
Law	Courts Lord President Crown Office Lord Advocate Solicitor General Procurator Fiscal
People	List of Scots Inventors Musicians Scientists Writers
Politics	Political parties Elections Scottish Parliament Scottish Executive First Minister of Scotland Secretary of State for Scotland Scotland Office Local government Monarchs of Scotland Military Scottish independence
Religion	Church of Scotland General Assembly Roman Catholicism Judaism Scottish Episcopal Church Islam Hinduism
Language	Scottish Gaelic language Scots language Scottish English Highland English
Culture	Clans Cuisine Education Flags Coat of arms Anthem Hogmanay Innovations Literature Music Sport World Heritage sites Nationalism
See also