Inverness Weather

Inverness is best experienced during the spring or fall, when temperatures straddle the upper edges of warmth and the weather tends to be at its kindest. When youre this far north, you cant expect much in the way of bright sunny days filled with heat. Summer, while naturally the warmest time of the year, brings with it an annoying barrage of midges, flies and mosquitoes. It also tends to rain a lot, especially in July and August. Winter, on the other hand, is devoid of insects but can be bone-chillingly damp and cold. Snow is never far away and if you can deal with the raw temperatures you may find more sunny days in February than in the summer.

Scotland isnt known for its reliably warm and sunny weather. In fact, its reputation runs closer to days on end of gloomy, drizzling grey skies. But thats what makes Scotland so unique and the weather certainly helps create the amazing atmosphere which is so characteristically Scottish. So embrace the inevitable. Come fully prepared with plenty of warm clothes and raingear and dress in layers, so that you can adjust your temperature as the capricious Scottish weather changes by the hour.

When to visit

The kind of experience you want from your visit to Inverness is very dependent on the time of year you come. Summer is the busiest season, since its relatively warm and many of the festivals and events happen. But consider visiting during the spring or fall, when the crowds are less but the weather is still surprisingly pleasant. And dont overlook the advantages of a winter visit to Inverness. True, its going to be quite cold, grey and damp, but it will probably leave you with the most authentic Scottish experience possible. And you wont have any tourist crowds to contend with.

Average Temperature (°C)

60 45 30 15 0

Jan 6.0

Feb 6.0

Mar 8.0

Apr 10.0

May 14.0

Jun 16.0

Jul 18.0

Aug 18.0

Sep 15.0

Oct 12.0

Nov 8.0

Dec 6.0

Rainfall (mm)

80 60 40 20 0

Jan 50.2

Feb 40.3

Mar 38.5

Apr 39.0

May 45.7

Jun 48.8

Jul 67.1

Aug 70.4

Sep 57.8

Oct 65.9

Nov 10.6

Dec 53.8