The United Kingdom experiences a temperate maritime climate, classified as Cfb under the Köppen climate classification. Despite its relatively high northern latitude, the climate is kept mild by the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift, which bring warm water to the western coast. This results in relatively narrow temperature variations throughout the year, with mild winters and cool-to-warm summers.
Average temperatures in winter range from 1°C to 7°C (34°F–45°F), while summer temperatures typically average 15°C to 25°C (59°F–77°F), though heatwaves occasionally push temperatures above 30°C (86°F), and a record high of 40.3°C (104.5°F) was recorded in 2022. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, but the western parts of the country—particularly the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and the Lake District—are significantly wetter and windier than the flatter east and southeast. Snowfall is common in winter in the higher elevations of Scotland and Northern England, but rare and brief in the southern lowlands.
The best time to visit is generally from May to September, when the weather is warmest and daylight hours are long. Extreme natural disasters are rare, though the UK occasionally experiences severe winter storms, coastal flooding, and localized river flooding during periods of intense rainfall.