Climate Insights for Bristol

The climate in Bristol is temperate. The average annual temperature is 11°C and approximately 852mm of precipitation falls per year. Bristol receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Bristol 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 February, January, March, when temperatures can drop to 3°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Bristol sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 3°C to 22°C. July is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 22°C with a mean of 18°C. February is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 3°C and an average of 6°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 7°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Bristol is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 852mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 71mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 87mm of rainfall. October and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is May, with just 54mm. That's 33mm 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 12cm annually. March is the snowiest month with approximately 6cm.

Bristol is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 4km/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 5km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 1km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Bristol, which began on March 20, 2026. Bristol 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 22°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in February near 3°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 4 days from now.

The best time to visit Bristol is during June, July and August, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 70mm per month. By contrast, February 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 Bristol 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.