Climate Insights for Galway

The climate in Galway is temperate. The average annual temperature is 10°C and approximately 1161mm of precipitation falls per year. Galway receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Galway 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, March, January, when temperatures can drop to 3°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Galway 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. 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 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Galway is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 1161mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 97mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 132mm of rainfall. February and December also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is May, with just 56mm. That's 76mm less than August, 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. December is the snowiest month with approximately 4cm.

Galway 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 summer in Galway, which began on June 21, 2026. Galway 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 February near 3°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 93 days from now.

The best time to visit Galway is during July, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 88mm 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 Galway 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.