Today's weather for Cardiff, United Kingdom22nd Nov 2009 17:20

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Weather Overview for Cardiff

Cardiff, Wales’ capital city, lies in the southwest of the country on the Bristol Channel. Cardiff has a temperate maritime climate with all four seasons and no extremes of temperature. The weather can be very unpredictable at times but has proven to be one of the mildest cities in the United Kingdom. There is rarely snow in the winter and rainfall is considerably lower than in the upland areas of Wales. The mild weather conditions are partly due to its sheltered position on the north side of the Bristol Channel, but mostly to exposure to Atlantic currents and winds. Cardiff plays host to an ‘urban heat’ phenomenon which means that temperatures are sometimes 4°C - 5°C warmer than the surrounding rural areas.

Summer is a great time to visit Cardiff as it is at its sunniest and hottest. June to August sees an average temperature of 15ºC. The average high temperature in the peak summer months of July and August sits at 20ºC, while the average minimum is 12ºC. Sunshine levels peak in June at seven hours per day. Humidity is relatively low. Rainfall sits at moderate levels at the start of the season but increases in July. It rains on around half of the days in each month.

Autumn is mild and wet. The average high temperature gets down to 14°C in October and 10°C in November. Night times are rather chilly and by the end of November frost can sometimes develop. Rainfall peaks in November when it can rain on 17 days in the month. The sun hides away behind a regularly grey sky.

Winter sees daily highs of 7°C to 8ºC, and average minimums of 3°C to 4ºC. Rainfall is high in December and January before waning slightly in February. Cardiff, with an average annual rainfall of 1,065 mm, in fact has a relatively dry climate when compared with the rest of Wales.

Springtime is beautiful in the Welsh capital as the trees blossom, the flowers bloom and the city’s extensive parkland turn a lush green. It gradually warms up and the sun comes out for longer and longer. Rainfall levels drop to their lowest, though showers are still very frequent.

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