Winter
Dec → Feb9 to 10°
nights 6 to 8°
- 20 rainy days · 153 mm
- 4.2 h of sun
- sea 10°
When is the best time to visit West Cork?
- Jan9°not recommended
- Feb9°not recommended
- Mar9°not recommended
- Apr10°fair
- May12°recommended
- Jun14°recommended
- Jul16°recommended
- Aug16°recommended
- Sep15°recommended
- Oct13°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec10°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in West Cork, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9° | 6° | 4 h | 144 mm | 19 d | 10° | |
| February | 9° | 6° | 5.2 h | 124 mm | 19 d | 10° | |
| March | 9° | 6° | 7.3 h | 135 mm | 18 d | 10° | |
| April | 10° | 7° | 9.4 h | 78 mm | 12 d | 10° | |
| May | 12° | 10° | 10.6 h | 84 mm | 14 d | 13° | ✓ |
| June | 14° | 12° | 11 h | 80 mm | 14 d | 15° | ✓ |
| July | 16° | 13° | 10.5 h | 91 mm | 15 d | 15° | ✓ |
| August | 16° | 13° | 9.6 h | 109 mm | 17 d | 15° | ✓ |
| September | 15° | 13° | 8 h | 125 mm | 14 d | 16° | ✓ |
| October | 13° | 11° | 6 h | 172 mm | 18 d | 14° | |
| November | 11° | 8° | 4.3 h | 150 mm | 19 d | 13° | |
| December | 10° | 8° | 3.3 h | 191 mm | 21 d | 11° |
The four seasons in West Cork, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Mizen Head) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May9 to 12°
nights 6 to 10°
- 15 rainy days · 99 mm
- 9.1 h of sun
- sea 11°
Summer
Jun → Aug14 to 16°
nights 12 to 13°
- 15 rainy days · 93 mm
- 10.4 h of sun
- sea 15°
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 15°
nights 8 to 13°
- 17 rainy days · 149 mm
- 6.1 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 West Cork, 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 16h36 of daylight, in December 7h52, a difference of 8h44.
8h19Jan
9h54Feb
11h42Mar
13h47Apr
15h35May
16h36Jun
16h10Jul
14h35Aug
12h33Sep
10h33Oct
8h46Nov
7h52Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Mizen Head" (51.45°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in West Cork, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 2 |
EventsBaltimore Fiddle FairMayWest Cork Chamber Music FestivalJune to JulyWest Cork Literary FestivalJulyDetails ↓
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 West Cork, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- MayBaltimore Fiddle Fair
The village of Baltimore fills its pubs and its hall with fiddle sessions, Irish and from further afield, in early May.
- June to JulyWest Cork Chamber Music Festival
Bantry House hosts a week of chamber music in late June, with quartets in the drawing room and recitals in the church.
- JulyWest Cork Literary Festival
Bantry runs a week of readings, talks and writing workshops in July, beside the bay.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended9°6° at night
- 144 mm · 19 d
- 4 h
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended9°6° at night
- 124 mm · 19 d
- 5.2 h
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended9°6° at night
- 135 mm · 18 d
- 7.3 h
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair10°7° at night
- 78 mm · 12 d
- 9.4 h
- sea 10°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended12°10° at night
- 84 mm · 14 d
- 10.6 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended14°12° at night
- 80 mm · 14 d
- 11 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended16°13° at night
- 91 mm · 15 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
August
Recommended16°13° at night
- 109 mm · 17 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
September
Recommended15°13° at night
- 125 mm · 14 d
- 8 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair13°11° at night
- 172 mm · 18 d
- 6 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°8° at night
- 150 mm · 19 d
- 4.3 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended10°8° at night
- 191 mm · 21 d
- 3.3 h
- sea 11°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 9 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 144 mm of rain over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (4 h a day). Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 9 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 124 mm of rain over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.2 h a day). Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 9 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 135 mm of rain over 18 days. Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 10 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (78 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.4 h a day on average. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 12 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Frequent rain: 84 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.6 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 14 °C at best, 12 °C at night. Frequent rain: 80 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Cool: 16 °C at best, 13 °C at night. Frequent rain: 91 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 16 °C at best, 13 °C at night. Frequent rain: 109 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 15 °C at best, 13 °C at night. Frequent rain: 125 mm over 14 days. Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 11 °C at night. Frequent rain: 172 mm over 18 days. Expect 6 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 8 °C at night. A very wet month, 150 mm of rain over 19 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (4.3 h a day). Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 10 °C at best, 8 °C at night. A very wet month, 191 mm of rain over 21 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.3 h a day). 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 West Cork?
May to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 12 to 16 °C, with 15 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Mizen Head).
Which month should you avoid in West Cork?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 191 mm over 21 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Mizen Head).
What is the hottest month in West Cork?
July, with 16 °C on average in the afternoon and 13 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Mizen Head).
What is the coldest month in West Cork?
January, with 9 °C at best during the day and 6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Mizen Head).
What is the driest month in West Cork?
April: 78 mm over 12 days of rain, against 191 mm in December, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in West Cork?
June, with 11 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in West Cork?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 16 °C in September, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Mizen Head): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable West Cork 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: Jujubier / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)