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Weather Overview for Manchester

Manchester, much like the rest of the UK, has an unpredictable yet temperate type of weather. Temperate climates are characterised by the absence of extremes in the weather, and a small temperature range. Manchester has a twelve degree range in average temperatures with the yearly lowest average being 4 ºC (in January and Feb) and the yearly highest average being 16 ºC (in July and August.) On the whole Manchester weather is gentle, moist and misty.

Manchester’s weather is very similar to that of the British Isles; with temperate maritime conditions. This is characterised by cool summers and mild winters. Though the city has a reputation for being wet all year round, it in fact receives on average of 319 mm less rain than the annual average for the United Kingdom. In saying this, rain in Manchester does occur quite frequently but these spells are often light rainfall. The region averages 140 days of rain each year, which is less than the United Kingdom's average of 155 days.

Like London, Manchester is affected by 'urban warming' which means that temperatures in the city tend to be one to six degrees warmer than once you leave the city and head into the suburban and rural areas. Manchester has quite high humidity levels, which has the affect of making it seem much warmer than it is as it alters your body’s cooling mechanisms. The high humidity in Manchester has contributed to the city being a successful cotton producer, as the moisture in the air means that textiles are less likely to break during production.

Summer

Summers in Manchester are pleasant and are devoid of the high temperature extremes that other parts of Europe experience. The average temperature for July is 15 ºC, and June and August see average temperatures of 13 ºC and 16 ºC respectively. The high pressure systems in the region can see Manchester experiencing spells of very hot, dry weather where temperatures rise above 30 ºC.

Winter

Winter is rainy and cold, but relatively mild comparative to some parts of the UK. As it has been said Manchester receives less rain, on average, than many other parts of the country. It rarely snows in the city, though it is not entirely uncommon for roads to be closed upon leaving greater Manchester due to snowfall.