Climate Insights for Dumfries

The climate in Dumfries is cool. The average annual temperature is 10°C and approximately 1137mm of precipitation falls per year. Dumfries receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Dumfries is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, February, March, when temperatures can drop to 3°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Dumfries sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 3°C to 18°C. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 18°C with a mean of 15°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 3°C and an average of 5°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Dumfries is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1137mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 95mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 129mm of rainfall. October and February also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 57mm. That's 71mm less than December, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 18cm annually. February is the snowiest month with approximately 6cm.

Dumfries is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 22km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 26km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 19km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 7km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 25km/h in winter, 21km/h in spring, 20km/h in summer, 22km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Dumfries, which began on March 20, 2026. Dumfries is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 18°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 3°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 88 days from now.

The best time to visit Dumfries is during July, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 94mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 3°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Dumfries based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.