Winter
Dec → Feb8 to 9°
nights 4 to 5°
- 18 rainy days · 107 mm
- 4 h of sun
- sea 10°
When is the best time to visit Northern Ireland?
- Jan8°not recommended
- Feb8°not recommended
- Mar9°not recommended
- Apr11°fair
- May14°recommended
- Jun16°recommended
- Jul17°recommended
- Aug17°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct13°fair
- Nov10°not recommended
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Northern Ireland, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 4° | 3.6 h | 103 mm | 19 d | 9° | |
| February | 8° | 4° | 5.5 h | 94 mm | 16 d | 9° | |
| March | 9° | 4° | 7 h | 90 mm | 17 d | 9° | |
| April | 11° | 6° | 9.2 h | 72 mm | 15 d | 9° | |
| May | 14° | 8° | 10.5 h | 82 mm | 16 d | 11° | ✓ |
| June | 16° | 11° | 10.5 h | 90 mm | 17 d | 13° | ✓ |
| July | 17° | 12° | 9.5 h | 116 mm | 19 d | 15° | ✓ |
| August | 17° | 12° | 9.3 h | 116 mm | 21 d | 15° | ✓ |
| September | 16° | 11° | 7.6 h | 107 mm | 17 d | 15° | ✓ |
| October | 13° | 10° | 5.5 h | 108 mm | 18 d | 14° | |
| November | 10° | 7° | 3.9 h | 110 mm | 18 d | 12° | |
| December | 9° | 5° | 2.9 h | 123 mm | 19 d | 11° |
The four seasons in Northern Ireland, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Giant's Causeway) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May9 to 14°
nights 4 to 8°
- 16 rainy days · 81 mm
- 8.9 h of sun
- sea 10°
Summer
Jun → Aug16 to 17°
nights 11 to 12°
- 19 rainy days · 107 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 14°
Autumn
Sep → Nov10 to 16°
nights 7 to 11°
- 18 rainy days · 108 mm
- 5.7 h of sun
- sea 14°
Book early for May to 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.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
Daylight in Northern Ireland, 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 17h23 of daylight, in December 7h09, a difference of 10h15.
7h42Jan
9h34Feb
11h39Mar
14h03Apr
16h09May
17h23Jun
16h52Jul
14h58Aug
12h37Sep
10h19Oct
8h14Nov
7h09Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Giant's Causeway" (55.24°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Northern Ireland, month by month
EventsSt Patrick's DayMarchNorth West 200MayOuld Lammas FairAugustFéile an PhobailAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Long days: April, May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Northern Ireland, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- MarchSt Patrick's Day
Belfast and Derry bring out parades, concerts and packed pubs for Ireland's national holiday, in mid-March.
- MayNorth West 200 big crowds
Motorbikes race on closed roads between Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush, on the north coast, in mid-May.
- AugustOuld Lammas Fair
Ballycastle has held its fair for centuries on the last weekend of August, with a horse market, dulse and yellowman.
- AugustFéile an Phobail
West Belfast runs a string of concerts, debates and mural tours for around ten days in August.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended8°4° at night
- 103 mm · 19 d
- 3.6 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended8°4° at night
- 94 mm · 16 d
- 5.5 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended9°4° at night
- 90 mm · 17 d
- 7 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair11°6° at night
- 72 mm · 15 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 9°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended14°8° at night
- 82 mm · 16 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 11°
High season, book early
June
Recommended16°11° at night
- 90 mm · 17 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended17°12° at night
- 116 mm · 19 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
August
Recommended17°12° at night
- 116 mm · 21 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°11° at night
- 107 mm · 17 d
- 7.6 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair13°10° at night
- 108 mm · 18 d
- 5.5 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended10°7° at night
- 110 mm · 18 d
- 3.9 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°5° at night
- 123 mm · 19 d
- 2.9 h
- sea 11°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 8 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 103 mm of rain over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.6 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 8 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 94 mm of rain over 16 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.5 h a day). Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 9 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 90 mm of rain over 17 days. Expect 7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 11 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Frequent but light showers: 72 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Sea at 9 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 14 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 82 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
June. Cool: 16 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 90 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 116 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 17 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 116 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 107 mm over 17 days. Expect 7.6 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Frequent rain: 108 mm over 18 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.5 h a day). Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 10 °C at best, 7 °C at night. A very wet month, 110 mm of rain over 18 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.9 h a day). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 9 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 123 mm of rain over 19 days. Very little sun: 2.9 h a day on average. 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 Northern Ireland?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 14 to 17 °C, with 18 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Giant's Causeway).
Which month should you avoid in Northern Ireland?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 123 mm over 19 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Giant's Causeway).
What is the hottest month in Northern Ireland?
July, with 17 °C on average in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Giant's Causeway).
What is the coldest month in Northern Ireland?
January, with 8 °C at best during the day and 4 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Giant's Causeway).
What is the driest month in Northern Ireland?
April: 72 mm over 15 days of rain, against 123 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Northern Ireland?
May, with 10.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Northern Ireland?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 15 °C in July, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Giant's Causeway): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Northern Ireland guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Ireland: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Adrien Olichon / Pexels · Igor Passchier / Pexels