Climate Insights for Folkestone

The climate in Folkestone is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 962mm 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.

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 962mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 80mm per month. The wettest month is November, averaging 126mm of rainfall. December and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 44mm. That's 82mm 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.

Folkestone is very windy, with an average annual wind speed of 33km/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 38km/h, which can feel quite blustery and may affect outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in June, with average winds dropping to 28km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 10km/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 37km/h in winter, 31km/h in spring, 28km/h in summer, 34km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Folkestone, which began on March 20, 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. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 88 days from now.

The best time to visit Folkestone is during 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 68mm 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. 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.