Bourton-on-the-Water receives all four seasons, no extremes of temperature, and moderate rainfall year round. Like all of Britain it has a temperate maritime climate which is heavily influenced by the Atlantic and its prevailing winds: the mild southwesterly winds and the colder north westerly winds which originate in the North Pole. The Atlantic moderates temperatures year round, keeping winters warmer and summers cooler than might be expected at this latitude. The warming effect is increased by the Gulf Stream, a warm current which originates near the southern tip of Florida in the USA.
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Summer, from June till September, is usually warm and sunny but is, this being Britain, highly unpredictable. The average high temperature rises to 18°C in June, peaks in July and August at 23°C, and lowers to 19°C in September. The odd day with temperatures in the mid 20s might occur, but baking heat is rare and cool grey days more common. It cools down considerably at night time to an average low around 13°C. Summer is, on average, the driest month, but it still rains frequently, usually in the form of light showers. Sunshine levels arenât bad at an average of seven hours per day for most of the season. Unpredictability really is the key to English weather, and summertime is when this really shows as we all have our fingers so tightly crossed for a decent break. Heatwaves with clear skies or weeks of sunless, grey and drizzly weather seem just as likely as one another.
Autumn, in October and November, cools quickly and sees the yearâs highest rainfall. The average high temperature drops to 15°C in October and 11°C in November. While at the start of the season sunny skies can produce the odd warm day, it is generally pretty cool. Night time lows drop to 8°C and 6°C respectively so youâll need a coat. October tends to be the wettest month in the year and again rain tends to fall in endless drizzle rather than short, heavy showers. Sunshine levels reduce to four hours per day in October and four in November.
Winter, from December till February, is cold and grey. The temperature is high in comparison to places at similar latitudes, but it can still feel pretty dismal. The average high temperature drops to around 8°C and the average low to around 3°C. In Warsaw, in Poland, which shares a similar latitude to Bourton, the average high sits around 0°C and has an average low around -5°C. Frosts are common throughout the winter as it does dip below freezing. Windy weather can also push the perceived temperature down towards freezing. The sun becomes particularly shy, only coming out for an average of one hour per day, but remember that the UK has much shorter days in the winter due to its northerly latitude. It usually snows a few days each year but it rarely settles for long.
Spring, from March till May, sees temperatures rising and the return of the sun. The average high creeps to 11°C in March, 14°C in April and 18°C in May. It can feel like a pretty slow start, but it does eventually get warm again. Night time temperatures remain low, on average not getting above 10°C till summer begins. It continues to rain frequently and April can be particularly wet. Sunshine levels do improve dramatically, climbing to an average of six hours per day by the end of the season.