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Weather Overview for Weymouth

Weymouth sits on the mouth of River Wey as it enters the English Channel on England’s south coast. Similar to Cornwall, the town and the rest of coastal Dorset enjoy a milder temperate climate in comparison to most of England. Sheltered by land from the Atlantic storms and winds affecting the southwest, Dorset actually receives warmer summers than other southerly coastal regions. Just south  of Weymouth is the Isle of Portland, a climbing haven, which is joined by a Chesil Beach to the mainland.

Summer in Weymouth, from June till August, sees average high temperatures rising from 18°C to a pleasant 20°C. Rainfall is quite low and the sun can be relied upon most of the time; the south coast of England receives more sunshine than anywhere else in the UK. 20°C might be considered a little tepid for a beach holiday and as such thousands of Brits flee their island for their holidays. Summer temperatures are kept down by the sea and coastal winds which make the area renowned as the best sailing and windsurfing location in the UK. But the temperature does fluctuate, often getting up to the mid 20s, only dipping down on particularly windy or overcast days. The almost reliable sunshine makes it feel warmer. However, at night it can get quite chilly and visitors should come prepared.

Autumn, from September till November, sees a steady increase in rainfall, and a drop in temperatures. September clings on to a pleasant 18°C average high, but it soon loses its grip, sliding down to 15°C in October. However, by November, the benefits of the warming English Channel are felt as with an average high of 12°C it is around 3°C warmer than the rest of England, and it can be unpredictably warmer on occasion. Do not belittle this small mercy.

Winter is mild. From December to February, frosts are rare as the average low temperature never gets below 3°C, and the average high never falls under 8°C. Again, the average high in Weymouth and the rest of coastal Dorset is around 3°C warmer than elsewhere inland or north. This may not seem like a great difference but when faced with a choice between bitter and bearable, most would choose the south coast. Rainfall reaches its highest levels in December before it begins to reduce.

Spring sees temperatures rising from 10°C in March to 15°C in May. While this isn’t even t-shirt weather, increased sunshine, less frequent rain and the new blooms of the season make Weymouth a beautiful place to visit.

Weymouth owes its preferable climate to its low lying position on the English Channel; moderating currents and winds are particularly effective on land of low altitude. Its southerly position also shelters it from Atlantic weather fronts. While it does get cold in the winter and beach lovers tend to stick to the summer season, Weymouth is still a destination of choice year round due to the many possibilities it offers for outdoor sport. Sailing and windsurfing benefit from strong winds, and Portsmouth, which sits so close off of Weymouth’s shore, attracts climbers who do not need the heat to enjoy their sport. Portland has many limestone cliffs and most areas have been bolted for some excellent sport climbing. Fog can be a problem but does not occur frequently.