Today's weather for Newquay, United Kingdom9th Nov 2009 02:50

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Weather Overview for Newquay

Newquay has a maritime subtropical climate but don’t let this trick you; subtropical does not mean ‘almost tropical’. Newquay receives all four seasons and no extremes of temperature, but the winters are much milder than elsewhere in the UK.

While it is a famed surfing and party town, the weather here isn’t exactly what you would expect from a surf resort as, after all, it is located on the coast of England; expect changeable weather. Rain falls throughout the year.

Summer sees average highs of about 19°C with July and August being the hottest months. It regularly gets into the mid 20s though grey days can get down to the mid teens. Maximum temperatures of 27°C or 28°C will occur on a few days across summer - though a steady breeze keeps things comfortable and it’s easy to cool off in the sea which doesn’t get above 17°C. Rainfall is relatively low but still falls on around half of the days in each month, though summer showers are often short and light with long periods of sunshine shortly after. This is the sunniest area of Britain with around seven hours of sun per day in the peak months.

If you’re visiting in the summer months, particularly during the school holidays, be sure to book ahead as you can expect hoards of tourists in the region and many hotels and hostels will be booked out.

Winter is wet but warmer than areas further north. February is the coldest month with an average high of 8°C and an average low of 4°C. It can get below freezing and away from the shore frost is not rare. Rainfall picks up to twice as much as the summer months and the region becomes quite a bit windier, sometimes resulting in ferocious storms. The south coast is actually considerably wetter than regions further north. It is usually overcast with only two hours of sunshine per day. Few brave the cool, choppy sea which drops down to 8°C or 9°C.

Despite the gloomy outlook many Brits still visit Newquay in winter to escape the cold of more northerly climes.

Autumn and Spring

The shoulder seasons see daily high temperatures in the mid to low teens and cold nights. There are regular showers that are generally heavier than to the north. The waves aren’t as appealing for beginners and are only surfed by the more advanced in their thick wetsuits. Sunshine levels are good in spring but poor in autumn.

Other Information

Newquay is a vibrant, sea side town with a bustling nightlife. It is a popular destination for young revellers and is known widely as the ‘surfing capital of Britain’ on account of the favourable waves at its ten long sandy beaches. In the summer partygoers also flock to the coast to enjoy an array of international DJ’s and various events.

The surfing culture in Newquay is a large driving force for its local economy. Many surf schools and surf shops line the streets and summer brings an influx of professional and amateur surfers alike.

Newquay hosts a variety of international surfing competitions, notably the Rip Curl Boardmasters. The main surfing beach is Fistral Beach, home to one of the best beach breaks in all of Cornwall. Because of its north facing position the south westerly wind that blows in the area has little effect. The waves of Fistral Beach can be very powerful, producing an excellent swell and hollow waves perfect for surfing. The waves are occasionally so powerful that they attract the attention of big wave surfers.

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