![Dunluce Castle (Daragh Burns) [flickr.com] CC BY
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/dunluce-castle10395.jpg "Dunluce Castle (Daragh Burns) [flickr.com] CC BY
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'")
Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Northern Ireland for your holiday.
Climate Overview
2 °C to 18 °C
7 °C to 13 °C
2.05 – 3.43 in (10 – 16 Days of Rain)Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
The island of Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean is divided into Northern Ireland (around 16%) and the larger Republic of Ireland in the southern area (around 84% of the island area).
Northern Ireland is more densely populated than its independent”neighbour” and part of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. More than 1.7 million inhabitants live on an area of around 8600 square miles.
The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast, which is also connected to the Irish capital Dublin via the island’s main motorway. Due to the Common Travel Area Agreement there are no border controls between the two countries.
Slieve Donard is the highest peak in the country at 849 metres. The largest lake in the British Isles is located in central Northern Ireland, Lough Neagh. The coastline has a length of about 310 miles, the widest extent from east to west is 110 miles.
Climate in Northern Ireland
![Belfast City Hall (Iker Merodio) [flickr.com] CC BY-ND
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/belfast-city-hall69033.jpg)
Like all British Isles, Northern Ireland has an oceanic climate, which can be described as moderate maritime due to the effects of the Gulf Stream. Despite its northern location, the climate is therefore quite mild (and humid) in winter, while the summers are somewhat cooler than in other regions on this longitude. There are rains all year round in Northern Ireland, especially in autumn and winter.
In the highlands there is about 62.99 in of precipitation per year. In the northwest around Londonderry, almost 0.08 in of rain fall each year. Dryer areas are located in the south and east of the coastal areas near Lough Neagh with only about 31.5 in of rain per year. In the areas above 850 metres there is snowfall on an average of 35 days a year.
The warmest temperatures are in the summer months of June, July and August. On average a daytime temperature of 18 °C to 19 °C is reached in these months, while night temperatures of around 10 °C are usual in summer. The number of hours of sunshine is quite low all year round, only Scotland has even less sunshine in the region. In winter it is not very cold, even in January the average is 3.9 °C.
Best Time to Visit Northern Ireland: Overview
JanuaryJan MaximumMax. 6 °C Water max. 8 °C | FebruaryFeb MaximumMax. 7 °C Water max. 7 °C | MarchMar MaximumMax. 9 °C Water max. 7 °C | AprilApr MaximumMax. 12 °C Water max. 8 °C | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Belfast | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Belfast |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Belfast | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Belfast | SeptemberSep Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Belfast | OctoberOct MaximumMax. 13 °C Water max. 13 °C | NovemberNov MaximumMax. 9 °C Water max. 12 °C | DecemberDec MaximumMax. 7 °C Water max. 11 °C |
When to go to Northern Ireland?
The best time to visit Northern Ireland is from May to September. The days are longest in this time and the temperatures are comparatively pleasant. Statistically, May has the most hours of sunshine in the year and is therefore an ideal month for round trips. The east of Northern Ireland is weather-technically the whole year round more constant and usually also sunnier than the west coast.
The warmest months are July and August, while from November to March it can be noticeably fresher in Northern Ireland. Especially the steady wind often makes the temperatures seem colder than they actually are. Basically, the British Isles are good and safe to travel all year round. When considering the best travel season in Northern Ireland, however, we deliberately recommend the months with the best weather conditions.
Climate Chart Northern Ireland
Belfast
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Table Northern Ireland
In the following, you will find the climate table for Northern Ireland, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Belfast (Northern Ireland)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 6° | 7° | 9° | 12° | 15° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 16° | 13° | 9° | 7° |
| Night Temperature | 2° | 2° | 3° | 4° | 6° | 9° | 11° | 11° | 9° | 7° | 4° | 3° |
| Water Temperature | 8° | 7° | 7° | 8° | 9° | 11° | 12° | 13° | 13° | 13° | 12° | 10° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 3.35 | 2.28 | 2.6 | 2.05 | 2.32 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 3.15 | 3.31 | 3.43 | 3.03 | 3.03 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Belfast is 9 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: July (14.7 °C)
Coldest month: January (3.9 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Belfast is 13 °C. Bathing would be very uncomfortable.
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 33.5 inch on 153 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: January, February, March, April, November, and December
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, May is the sunniest month with an average of 6.4 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 3.6 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Highlights and Attractions
Many travellers still tend to avoid Northern Ireland as a “conflict zone”, although the dark times of violence are long gone. Today Northern Ireland is a safe destination full of adventure and highlights. Visit Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast with its Grand Opera House and many other great sights. Explore the historic walls of Derry, Down Cathedral in Downpatrick or the Glens of Antrim.
The basalt columns on the Giant’s Causeway and the paradisiacal landscape on Lough Erne are not to be missed either. In the Navan Fort you can learn more about the partly bloody feuds of the ancient Celts, while after climbing the Slieve Donard on clear days you can see as far as the capital. Nature lovers, anglers and hikers also get their money’s worth in Northern Ireland. A great destination for individualists and culture lovers!
Popular Activities
From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Fully Guided Day Trip
Tours
from 36 $ »
Experience a day filled with Northern Ireland’s most stunning destinations, including the Giant’s Causeway, Cushendun Caves, Carnlough Harbour, The Dark Hedges, and Carrickfergus and Dunluce castles.
From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Day Tour
Tours
from 33 $ »
Discover the Giant’s Causeway on a day tour from Belfast. The fully-guided tour takes you to see the famous sights and the stunning scenery along the Antrim coast before reaching the Giant’s Causeway.
Belfast: Political Conflict 3-Hour Walking Tour
Tours
from 28 $ »
Learn about Belfast’s troubled history on a walking tour with both Republican and Loyalist ex-political prisoners. Explore their neighborhoods and hear their personal stories.
More attractions
Belfast: Political Taxi Tour | Belfast: Giants Causeway & Game of Thrones Locations Tour | Belfast: Crumlin Road Gaol Experience | City Sightseeing Belfast 1 or 2-Day Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour | Belfast Taxi Mural Tour | From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Coastal Adventure w/ Tickets | From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway Full-Day Guided Tour |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Belfast
overcast clouds, 6 °CClouds: 100 % Wind: 9 mph S
Air Pressure: 1035 hPa Humidity: 93 %
Air Pressure: 1035 hPa Humidity: 93 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 10:18 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 °C to 9 °C |  3 °C to 8 °C | 1 °C to 7 °C | 3 °C to 8 °C | 4 °C to 9 °C | 2 °C to 9 °C |
| 3 °C to 9 °C | 3 °C to 8 °C | 1 °C to 7 °C | 3 °C to 8 °C | 4 °C to 9 °C | 2 °C to 9 °C |
| Clouds: 95 % | Clouds: 94 % | Clouds: 72 % | Clouds: 98 % | Clouds: 97 % | Clouds: 69 % |
| No Precipitation | 0.17 in of rain | 0.02 in of rain | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Great Britain: Regions
Northern Ireland is part of the holiday destination Great Britain. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:Hottest Month
July: 18 °C
Day Temperature in Belfast
July: 18 °CDay Temperature in Belfast
Coldest Month
January: 2 °C
Night Temperature in Belfast
January: 2 °CNight Temperature in Belfast
Rainiest Month
October: 3.43 in
Rain in Belfast
October: 3.43 inRain in Belfast
Driest Month
April: 2.05 in
Rain in Belfast
April: 2.05 inRain in Belfast
Maximum Water Temperature
August: 13 °C
Water Temperature in Belfast
August: 13 °CWater Temperature in Belfast
Sunniest Month
May: 6.4 hours/day
Sunshine in Belfast
May: 6.4 hours/daySunshine in Belfast
Activities and Attractions
Belfast: Murals Taxi Tour
Tours
from 39 $ »
Game of Thrones & Giant’s Causeway: Guided Tour from Belfast
Tours
from 56 $ »
Belfast: Giant’s Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Dunluce Castle
Tours
from 42 $ »
Distances to Northern Ireland
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 320 mi | 3180 mi | 5130 mi |
Where’s Northern Ireland?
Show Belfast on MapContinent: Europe
All Holiday Destinations in EuropeShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Northern Ireland holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
![Carrick-a-rede, Northern Ireland (Giuseppe Milo) [flickr.com] CC BY
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/carrick-a-rede-northern-ireland24809.jpg)
![The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland (Giuseppe Milo) [flickr.com] CC BY
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/the-giants-causeway-co-antrim-northern-ireland84745.jpg)
![The Navan fort, Armagh, Northern Ireland (Giuseppe Milo) [flickr.com] CC BY
License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'](/wp-content/uploads/reiseziele/the-navan-fort-armagh-northern-ireland90100.jpg)
