Climate Insights for Skibbereen

The climate in Skibbereen is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 1116mm of precipitation falls per year. Skibbereen receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Skibbereen 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, March, February, when temperatures can drop to 5°C.

Skibbereen sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 19°C. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 19°C with a mean of 16°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 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Skibbereen is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1116mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 93mm per month. The wettest month is October, averaging 132mm of rainfall. December and February also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is June, with just 61mm. That's 71mm less than October, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Skibbereen is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 20km/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 25km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 16km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 9km/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 23km/h in winter, 18km/h in spring, 17km/h in summer, 20km/h in autumn.

It is currently autumn in Skibbereen, which began on September 23, 2026. Skibbereen 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 19°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 5°C. Winter is next, beginning on December 21, 2026 (87 days from now).

The best time to visit Skibbereen is during July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 16°C with modest rainfall averaging 72mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 5°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 Skibbereen 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.