Climate of Liverpool

The climate of Liverpool features a temperate maritime variety (Köppen: Cfb), with relatively mild summers, cool winters and rainfall spread fairly evenly throughout the year. Since 1867, rainfall and temperature records for the city have been kept at Bidston Observatory, as well as atmospheric pressure records since 1846. However, the site closed down in 2002, and a weather station in Crosby has been used by the Met Office since.^[1] Irregular meteorological observations have been taken in the city since at least 1768, with unbroken records extending for long periods of time. This includes observations taken at the Liverpool Dock from 1768 to 1798,^[2] an unspecified location from 1772 to 1799^[3] and West Derby from 1830 to 1859^[4] and at other unspecified locations in the city from at least 1860 onward.^[5] Continuous observations in different areas of the city have been taken since 1830. In modern times, there have also been other stations to operate in the Liverpool area, including stations at West Kirby (1912–1979), Aigburth (1967–1994), and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (1946–present).^[6][7][8]

Liverpool, United Kingdom
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     75     7 2     54     7 2     64     9 4     54     12 5     55     16 8     66     18 11     59     20 13     69     19 13     72     17 11     97     14 8     83     10 5     89     8 3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.9     45 36     2.1     45 36     2.5     49 39     2.1     54 41     2.2     60 46     2.6     64 52     2.3     67 56     2.7     67 56     2.8     63 52     3.8     57 47     3.3     50 41     3.5     46 37 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Snow falling in Liverpool city centre during the winter of 2010

Since records began, the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Liverpool and Merseyside area is −17.6 °C (0.3 °F) on 21 December 2010, and the highest temperature recorded is 36.0 °C (96.8 °F) was on 18 July 2022, and 19 July 2022.^[9] The highest daily minimum temperature is 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) reported on 19 July 2022, and the lowest daily maximum temperature is −6.9 °C (19.6 °F) on 20 December 2010.^[10][11] On average, the amount of air frost days per year is below the national average, and in winter, snow is not very common, with heavy snow occurring rarely.^[12] Rain is also a common occurrence in the city, but droughts have been known to cause some canal infrastructure problems in the summer, without affecting consumer consumption to any noticeable extent, the most recent drought occurring in the 2018 heat wave.^[13]

Classifications

Liverpool Climate according to major climate systems

Climatic scheme	Initials	Description
Köppen system[14]	Cfb	Oceanic climate[a]
Trewartha system[15]	Do	Temperate oceanic climate
Alisov system[16]	—	Temperate climate[b]
Strahler system[17]	—	Marine west-coast
Thornthwaite system[18]	C2 B'1	Moist subhumid
Neef system[19]	—	West side/maritime climate

Temperature

The average yearly high temperature in Liverpool is 13.2 °C (55.8 °F) and the average yearly low temperature is 7.2 °C (45.0 °F). The average daily mean is 10.1 °C (50.2 °F).

Averages

Climate data for Crosby,[c] elevation: 30 m (98 ft), 1981–2010 averages
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	7.2 (45.0)	7.3 (45.1)	9.4 (48.9)	12.2 (54.0)	15.6 (60.1)	17.9 (64.2)	19.7 (67.5)	19.4 (66.9)	17.3 (63.1)	13.9 (57.0)	10.2 (50.4)	7.5 (45.5)	13.2 (55.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.8 (40.6)	4.7 (40.5)	6.6 (43.9)	8.7 (47.7)	11.8 (53.2)	14.5 (58.1)	16.5 (61.7)	16.3 (61.3)	14.2 (57.6)	11.1 (52.0)	7.7 (45.9)	5.0 (41.0)	10.1 (50.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	2.4 (36.3)	2.1 (35.8)	3.8 (38.8)	5.1 (41.2)	7.9 (46.2)	11.1 (52.0)	13.3 (55.9)	13.2 (55.8)	11.0 (51.8)	8.2 (46.8)	5.2 (41.4)	2.5 (36.5)	7.2 (45.0)
Source 1: Met Office[20]
Source 2: National Oceanography Centre[21]

Extremes

Due to Liverpool having an oceanic climate, extremes of temperatures are rare.^[22] Furthermore, being located close to the sea, wind chill is enhanced as a result of stronger winds as well as heat indexes being higher as a result of the higher humidity found close to bodies of water.

Climate data for Crosby, elevation: 30 m (98 ft), 1867–present extremes[d]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.1 (59.2)	18.9 (66.0)	21.2 (70.2)	24.6 (76.3)	28.2 (82.8)	30.7 (87.3)	36.0 (96.8)	34.5 (94.1)	30.4 (86.7)	25.9 (78.6)	18.7 (65.7)	15.8 (60.4)	36.0 (96.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−13.1 (8.4)	−11.3 (11.7)	−7.2 (19.0)	−5.6 (21.9)	−1.7 (28.9)	3.4 (38.1)	6.6 (43.9)	3.1 (37.6)	1.7 (35.1)	−2.9 (26.8)	−7.5 (18.5)	−17.6 (0.3)	−17.6 (0.3)
Source 1: Met Office[20]
Source 2: National Oceanography Centre[21]

Highest averages Period Record mean Year Year 11.0 °C (51.8 °F) 1990, 1995[23] Spring (March–May) 10.60 °C (51.08 °F) 1893 Summer (June–August) 17.43 °C (63.37 °F) 1995 Autumn (September–November) 11.90 °C (53.42 °F) 1959 Winter (December–February) 7.53 °C (45.55 °F) 1988 / 1989 January 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) 1916 February 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) 1998 March 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) 1938, 1957 April 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) 2011[24] May 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) 1919 June 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) 1970 July 19.0 °C (66.2 °F) 2006[25] August 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) 1995 September 16.1 °C (61.0 °F) 1895 October 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) 1921 November 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) 1994 December 10.0 °C (50.0 °F) 2015[26]

Lowest averages Period Record mean Year Year 8.0 °C (46.4 °F) 1879[23] Spring (March–May) 6.76 °C (44.17 °F) 2013[27] Summer (June–August) 13.60 °C (56.48 °F) 1922 Autumn (September–November) 8.63 °C (47.53 °F) 1905, 1952 Winter (December–February) 0.77 °C (33.39 °F) 1962 / 1963 January −0.9 °C (30.4 °F) 1881 February −1.1 °C (30.0 °F) 1895 March 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) 1883, 2013[27] April 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) 1917 May 8.9 °C (48.0 °F) 1923 June 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) 1972 July 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) 1954 August 13.0 °C (55.4 °F) 1912 September 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) 1952 October 7.2 °C (45.0 °F) 1896 November 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) 1915 December −0.9 °C (30.4 °F) 2010[28]

Highest daily temperatures Period Record temperature Date January 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) 9 January 1971[29] February 18.9 °C (66.0 °F) 26 February 2019[30] March 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) 29 March 1965 April 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) 17 April 2003[31] May 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) 26 May 2017[32] June 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) 6 June 1950 July 36.0 °C (96.8 °F) 18 July 2022[33] August 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) 3 August 1990 September 30.4 °C (86.7 °F) 1 September 1906 October 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) 1 October 2011[34] November 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) 2 November 2005[35] December 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) 8 December 1998

Lowest daily temperatures Period Record temperature Date January −13.1 °C (8.4 °F) 24 January 1881[36][37] February −11.3 °C (11.7 °F) 6 February 1895[37] March −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) 2 March 1965[37] April −5.6 °C (21.9 °F) 10 April 2003 [38] May −1.7 °C (28.9 °F) 6 May 2012[39] June 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) 5 June 1872[37] July 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) 3 July 1877[37] August 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) 30 August 2003[40] September 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) 18 September 1919 22 September 2012[37][41] October −2.9 °C (26.8 °F) 27 October 1895[37] November −7.5 °C (18.5 °F) 29 November 2010[42] December −17.6 °C (0.3 °F) 21 December 2010[11]

Precipitation

Rainfall is fairly regular throughout the year in Liverpool, with no wet or dry season as a result of its oceanic climate.^[22] All records refer to the Bidston Observatory from 1867 to 2002 and Crosby from then on.

Averages

Climate data for Crosby, elevation: 30 m (98 ft), 1981–2010 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average precipitation mm (inches)	74.9 (2.95)	54.4 (2.14)	63.6 (2.50)	54.3 (2.14)	54.9 (2.16)	66.2 (2.61)	59.0 (2.32)	68.9 (2.71)	71.7 (2.82)	97.3 (3.83)	82.6 (3.25)	88.8 (3.50)	836.6 (32.94)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	13.8	10.7	12.5	10.4	10.6	10.5	10.1	11.2	11.5	14.8	14.6	13.9	144.3
Source 1: Met Office[20]
Source 2: National Oceanography Centre[21]

Climate data for Liverpool Docks, elevation: 41 ft (12 m), 1772–1799 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average precipitation mm (inches)	54.3 (2.14)	48.3 (1.90)	36.4 (1.43)	46.7 (1.84)	61.9 (2.44)	74.3 (2.93)	79.0 (3.11)	91.8 (3.61)	89.2 (3.51)	90.7 (3.57)	82.6 (3.25)	60.6 (2.39)	815.8 (32.12)
Source: Met Office[43]

Extremes

Lowest Period Record rainfall Year Year 480.5 millimetres (18.92 in) 1991[44] Spring (March–May) 67.1 millimetres (2.64 in) 1883 Summer (June–August) 37.5 millimetres (1.48 in) 1995 Autumn (September–November) 107.6 millimetres (4.24 in) 1922 Winter (December–February) 31.5 millimetres (1.24 in) 1963/1964 January 3.8 millimetres (0.15 in) 1997 February 0.9 millimetres (0.035 in) 1932 March 6.4 millimetres (0.25 in) 1931 April 2.7 millimetres (0.11 in) 1980 May 4.0 millimetres (0.16 in) 2020[45] June 1.6 millimetres (0.063 in) 1925 July 6.0 millimetres (0.24 in) 1868 August 2.6 millimetres (0.10 in) 1976 September 7.2 millimetres (0.28 in) 1959 October 8.0 millimetres (0.31 in) 1922 November 4.8 millimetres (0.19 in) 1945 December 7.9 millimetres (0.31 in) 1936

Highest Period Record rainfall Year Year 1,159.9 millimetres (45.67 in) 1872 Spring (March–May) 278.6 millimetres (10.97 in) 1969 Summer (June–August) 380.4 millimetres (14.98 in) 1956 Autumn (September–November) 405.5 millimetres (15.96 in) 1872 Winter (December–February) 274.0 millimetres (10.79 in) 1993/1994 [44] January 145.5 millimetres (5.73 in) 1948 February 143.6 millimetres (5.65 in) 2020[46] March 133.2 millimetres (5.24 in) 1998 April 104.4 millimetres (4.11 in) 1998 May 170.2 millimetres (6.70 in) 1969 June 154.0 millimetres (6.06 in) 2007 July 190.8 millimetres (7.51 in) 1872 August 221.2 millimetres (8.71 in) 1956 September 204.3 millimetres (8.04 in) 1976 October 187.2 millimetres (7.37 in) 1903 November 160.8 millimetres (6.33 in) 1951 December 165.8 millimetres (6.53 in) 2015[47]

Sunshine

Records of sunshine were kept at Bidston from 1908 to 2002. The station at Crosby does not report sunshine data. The closest station that does so now is Hawarden, Flintshire, 25 miles (40 km) away.^[48]

Climate data for Bidston, 1971–2000
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean monthly sunshine hours	56.0	70.3	105.1	154.2	207.0	191.5	197.0	175.2	132.7	97.3	65.8	46.8	1,499.1
Source 1: Met Office[20]
Source 2: National Oceanography Centre[21]

Extremes

Highest Period Record Year Year 1883.0 hours 1995[49] Spring (March–May) 631.7 hours 1909 Summer (June–August) 777.5 hours 1995 Autumn (September–November) 380.8 hours 1975 Winter (December–February) 246.3 hours 1909–10 January 88.1 hours 1910 February 109.3 hours 1949[e] March 179.9 hours 1929 April 227.8 hours 1909 May 305.6 hours 1989 June 298.8 hours 1960 July 298.8 hours 1955 August 273.3 hours 1995 September 176.2 hours 1986 October 136.6 hours 1995 November 91.7 hours 1975 December 72.0 hours 1960[f]

Lowest Period Record Year Year 1250.9 hours 1912 Spring (March–May) 342.3 hours 1983 Summer (June–August) 390.0 hours 1912 and 1978 Autumn (September–November) 219.9 hours 1936 Winter (December–February) 94.6 hours 1943–44 January 18.1 hours 1950 February 24.8 hours 1940 March 53.7 hours 1942 April 77.3 hours 1920 May 121.5 hours 1932 June 111.3 hours 1987 July 105.1 hours 1944 August 100.7 hours 1912 September 81.1 hours 1976 October 56.0 hours 1915 November 26.9 hours 1951 December 16.5 hours 1927

Wind

The mean yearly wind speed at 10m in Liverpool is 13.6 miles per hour (11.8 kn).^[52]

Averages Period Mean wind speed at 10m Annual 13.6 mph (11.8 kn) January 15.5 mph (13.5 kn) February 15.3 mph (13.3 kn) March 14.6 mph (12.7 kn) April 12.8 mph (11.1 kn) May 12.2 mph (10.6 kn) June 12.8 mph (11.1 kn) July 13.5 mph (11.7 kn) August 9.9 mph (8.6 kn) September 13.2 mph (11.5 kn) October 13.8 mph (12.0 kn) November 14.5 mph (12.6 kn) December 14.3 mph (12.4 kn)

Daily Extremes Highest wind gusts reported in each month of the year. Period Maximum Gusts Date January 101 mph (88 kn)[53] 29 January 1938 February 96 mph (83 kn) 26 February 1990 March 98 mph (85 kn) 27 March 1966 April 84 mph (73 kn) 23 April 1947 May 86 mph (75 kn) 22 May 1966 June 71 mph (62 kn) 5 June 1946 July 69 mph (60 kn) 30 July 1946 August 77 mph (67 kn) 20 August 1934 25 August 1957 September 83 mph (72 kn) 20 September 1981 October 96 mph (83 kn) 4 October 1938 November 98 mph (85 kn) 6 November 1952 December 94 mph (82 kn) 6 December 1940

Monthly Extremes Average monthly windspeed Period Highest mean windspeed Year Lowest mean windspeed Year January 22.3 mph (19.4 kn)[54] 2007 3.7 mph (5.9 km/h)[55] 1992 February 23.5 mph (20.4 kn)[56] 2020 5.9 mph (5.1 kn) 2001 March 19.6 mph (17.0 kn) 1967 5.9 mph (5.1 kn) 2001 April 17.3 mph (15.0 kn) 1942 5.9 mph (5.1 kn) 1952/1981 May 16.1 mph (14.0 kn)[57] 2015 5.1 mph (4.4 kn) 1952/2001 June 13.7 mph (11.9 kn) 1938/1956 5.1 mph (4.4 kn) 1988 July 14.8 mph (12.9 kn) 1953 4.7 mph (4.1 kn) 2001 August 16.3 mph (14.2 kn)[58] 2014 4.4 mph (3.8 kn) 1945/2001 September 15.8 mph (13.7 kn)[59] 2012 4.1 mph (3.6 kn) 1959 October 17.5 mph (15.2 kn) 2017[60] 5.8 mph (5.0 kn) 1945 November 20.0 mph (17.4 kn) 2015[61] 3.7 mph (3.2 kn) 1945 December 22.9 mph (19.9 kn)[62] 2011 6.8 mph (5.9 kn) 1989 Year 14.0 mph (12.2 kn)[63] 2011 6.2 mph (5.4 kn) 2001

Climatic data

Climate data for Crosby[g] WMO ID: 03316; coordinates 53°29′50″N 3°03′28″W; elevation: 30 m (98 ft); 1991–2020 normals,[h][i] extremes 1867–present[j]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	15.1 (59.2)	18.9 (66.0)	21.2 (70.2)	24.6 (76.3)	28.2 (82.8)	30.7 (87.3)	35.5 (95.9)	34.5 (94.1)	30.4 (86.7)	25.9 (78.6)	18.7 (65.7)	15.8 (60.4)	35.5 (95.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	7.5 (45.5)	7.9 (46.2)	9.9 (49.8)	12.8 (55.0)	15.9 (60.6)	18.4 (65.1)	20.0 (68.0)	19.7 (67.5)	17.7 (63.9)	14.2 (57.6)	10.5 (50.9)	8.0 (46.4)	13.6 (56.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)	5.2 (41.4)	5.3 (41.5)	6.9 (44.4)	9.2 (48.6)	12.1 (53.8)	14.9 (58.8)	16.7 (62.1)	16.6 (61.9)	14.5 (58.1)	11.4 (52.5)	8.1 (46.6)	5.6 (42.1)	10.5 (50.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	2.8 (37.0)	2.7 (36.9)	3.9 (39.0)	5.6 (42.1)	8.3 (46.9)	11.3 (52.3)	13.5 (56.3)	13.5 (56.3)	11.2 (52.2)	8.5 (47.3)	5.7 (42.3)	3.1 (37.6)	7.5 (45.5)
Record low °C (°F)	−13.1 (8.4)	−11.3 (11.7)	−8.6 (16.5)	−5.6 (21.9)	−1.7 (28.9)	1.0 (33.8)	5.0 (41.0)	3.1 (37.6)	1.7 (35.1)	−2.9 (26.8)	−7.5 (18.5)	−17.6 (0.3)	−17.6 (0.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	69.4 (2.73)	57.1 (2.25)	53.3 (2.10)	49.8 (1.96)	52.5 (2.07)	64.4 (2.54)	65.5 (2.58)	72.1 (2.84)	76.6 (3.02)	89.7 (3.53)	82.2 (3.24)	91.9 (3.62)	824.3 (32.45)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	13.8	11.5	11.3	10.0	9.8	10.4	11.0	12.2	11.8	14.4	15.5	15.4	146.9
Average snowy days	6	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	22
Average relative humidity (%)	85.1	83.5	80.7	77.9	76.6	78.9	79.0	80.1	81.9	84.6	85.1	85.6	80.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours	56.0	70.3	105.1	154.2	207.0	191.5	197.0	175.2	132.7	97.3	65.8	46.8	1,499.1
Mean daily daylight hours	8.2	9.9	11.9	14.1	15.9	16.9	16.4	14.7	12.7	10.5	8.6	7.6	12.3
Average ultraviolet index	0	1	2	4	5	6	6	5	4	2	1	0	3
Source 1: Met Office[20]
Source 2: National Oceanography Centre[64] WeatherAtlas[65] CEDA Archive[66]

1. Also called marine west coast.
2. Mid-latitude temperate maritime climate
3. Weather station is located 7 miles (11 km) from the Liverpool city centre.
4. From 1867–2002, extremes were recorded at the Bidston Observatory in Wirral. Since 2002, extremes were recorded at Crosby, Sefton.
5. Hawarden exceeded this value in 2019, with 114.6 hours.^[50]
6. Hawarden exceeded this value in 2014, with 84.3 hours.^[51]
7. Weather station is located 7 miles (11 km) from the Liverpool city centre.
8. Sunshine hours were recorded at the Bidston Observatory from the period of 1971–2000.
9. Humidity was recorded at the Bidston Observatory for the period of 1975–June 2002. The period Jul–Sep 1992 has no record, with Jan–May 2001 reporting unreliabe data.
10. From 1867–2002, extremes were recorded at the Bidston Observatory in Wirral. Since 1983, extremes were recorded at Crosby, Sefton.

Notes