Climate Insights for Folkestone

The climate in Folkestone is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 975mm of precipitation falls per year. Folkestone receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Folkestone is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are January, February, March, when temperatures can drop to 5°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Folkestone sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 19°C. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 19°C with a mean of 18°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 5°C and an average of 7°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 2°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 4°C shift in average temperatures.

Folkestone is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 975mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 81mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 131mm of rainfall. December and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 46mm. That's 85mm less than November, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 6cm annually. February is the snowiest month with approximately 2cm.

Folkestone is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 24km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 28km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 20km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 8km/h gap 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 28km/h in winter, 22km/h in spring, 20km/h in summer, 25km/h in autumn.

It is currently summer in Folkestone, which began on June 21, 2026. Folkestone 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 August at around 19°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 5°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (8 days from now).

The best time to visit Folkestone is during June, July, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 62mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 5°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Folkestone 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.