Winter
Dec → Feb10 to 11°
nights 6 to 8°
- 17 rainy days · 106 mm
- sea 10°
When is the best time to visit Cornwall?
- Jan10°not recommended
- Feb10°not recommended
- Mar10°not recommended
- Apr12°fair
- May15°recommended
- Jun17°recommended
- Jul19°recommended
- Aug19°fair
- Sep17°recommended
- Oct15°fair
- Nov12°not recommended
- Dec11°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Cornwall, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10° | 6° | 102 mm | 17 d | 10° | |
| February | 10° | 7° | 94 mm | 15 d | 10° | |
| March | 10° | 7° | 97 mm | 17 d | 10° | |
| April | 12° | 8° | 63 mm | 12 d | 11° | |
| May | 15° | 10° | 63 mm | 13 d | 13° | ✓ |
| June | 17° | 13° | 73 mm | 14 d | 15° | ✓ |
| July | 19° | 15° | 74 mm | 15 d | 16° | ✓ |
| August | 19° | 15° | 89 mm | 16 d | 17° | |
| September | 17° | 14° | 90 mm | 15 d | 16° | ✓ |
| October | 15° | 12° | 115 mm | 16 d | 14° | |
| November | 12° | 9° | 124 mm | 19 d | 13° | |
| December | 11° | 8° | 123 mm | 19 d | 11° |
The four seasons in Cornwall, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (St Ives) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May10 to 15°
nights 7 to 10°
- 14 rainy days · 74 mm
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug17 to 19°
nights 13 to 15°
- 15 rainy days · 79 mm
- sea 16°
Autumn
Sep → Nov12 to 17°
nights 9 to 14°
- 17 rainy days · 110 mm
- sea 14°
Book early for May to July and September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Cornwall, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h23 of daylight, in December 8h04, a difference of 8h19.
8h30Jan
9h59Feb
11h43Mar
13h43Apr
15h25May
16h23Jun
15h59Jul
14h28Aug
12h32Sep
10h37Oct
8h55Nov
8h04Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "St Ives" (50.21°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Cornwall, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Events'Obby 'OssMayFlora DayMayGolowanJuneBoardmastersAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: April
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Cornwall, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- May'Obby 'Oss big crowds
Padstow decks its streets with flags at the very start of the month and sets two hobby horses dancing to the drums, from morning until night.
- MayFlora Day big crowds
Helston dances the Furry Dance through houses, shops and gardens for an entire day in May.
- JuneGolowan
Penzance celebrates the solstice with the Mazey Day parade, its giant effigies and fireworks over the bay.
- AugustBoardmasters big crowds
A surf competition on Fistral Beach and a music festival on the clifftops of Watergate Bay, near Newquay.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended10°6° at night
- 102 mm · 17 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended10°7° at night
- 94 mm · 15 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended10°7° at night
- 97 mm · 17 d
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair12°8° at night
- 63 mm · 12 d
- sea 11°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended15°10° at night
- 63 mm · 13 d
- sea 13°
High season, book early
June
Recommended17°13° at night
- 73 mm · 14 d
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended19°15° at night
- 74 mm · 15 d
- sea 16°
High season, book early
August
Fair19°15° at night
- 89 mm · 16 d
- sea 17°
High season, book early
September
Recommended17°14° at night
- 90 mm · 15 d
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair15°12° at night
- 115 mm · 16 d
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended12°9° at night
- 124 mm · 19 d
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended11°8° at night
- 123 mm · 19 d
- sea 11°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 10 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 102 mm of rain over 17 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 10 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 94 mm of rain over 15 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 10 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 97 mm of rain over 17 days. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 12 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 15 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (63 mm). Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
June. Cool: 17 °C at best, 13 °C at night. Frequent rain: 73 mm over 14 days. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent but light showers: 74 mm over 15 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 89 mm over 16 days. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 17 °C at best, 14 °C at night. Frequent rain: 90 mm over 15 days. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 15 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 115 mm over 16 days. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 12 °C at best, 9 °C at night. A very wet month, 124 mm of rain over 19 days. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 11 °C at best, 8 °C at night. A very wet month, 123 mm of rain over 19 days. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Cornwall?
May to July and September: over these months, recorded highs range from 15 to 19 °C, with 14 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, St Ives).
Which month should you avoid in Cornwall?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 124 mm over 19 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (St Ives).
What is the hottest month in Cornwall?
July, with 19 °C on average in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (St Ives).
What is the coldest month in Cornwall?
January, with 10 °C at best during the day and 6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (St Ives).
What is the driest month in Cornwall?
April: 63 mm over 12 days of rain, against 124 mm in November, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Cornwall?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 17 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, St Ives): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Cornwall guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit United Kingdom: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Jeffrey Brandjes / Pexels · Antonio Mena / Pexels · David Pryke / Pexels · Zechen Li / Pexels · Lorna Pauli / Pexels