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United Kingdom

Chichester

Sun, sea & sand

Chichester at a glance

Best time
Jun – Aug
Warmest month
Aug · 20°
Warmest sea
Aug · 17.9°
Sunshine a year
1,750 h
Rain a year
711 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
20 m

Climate in Chichester

Chichester has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 20 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,750 hours of sunshine a year, Chichester is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.4 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

11

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: June – August

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 12°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 15°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 13°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 12°

07:2418:13

Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:04–08:09 · evening 17:28–18:34
Blue hour
Morning 06:51–07:04 · evening 18:34–18:46

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Chichester in October?

In October, Chichester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 49 min07:24 – 18:13
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
70 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/London

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %13 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %42 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Chichester

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October15.9°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 15.2 – 16.6 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 15.9°8 in 10 years 15.2° – 16.6°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Chichester ranges from 8.1 °C in March to 17.9 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.3 and 18.8 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan9.1°8.2°9.8°cold
FebruaryFeb8.2°7.3°9.1°cold
MarchMar8.1°6.9°9.1°cold
AprilApr9.4°8.4°10.4°cold
MayMay11.6°10.7°12.7°cold
JuneJun14.2°13.5°15.3°cold
JulyJul16.5°15.5°17.7°cold
AugustAug17.9°17.3°18.8°fresh
SeptemberSep17.5°16.8°18.1°fresh
OctoberOct15.9°15.2°16.6°cold
NovemberNov13.4°12.6°14.2°cold
DecemberDec10.9°10.2°11.6°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Chichester

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,750 hours
Sunniest month
Jun · 7.4 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.9 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.8 hDaylight 10.8 hShare of daylight 35 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.8 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Chichester, 35 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Chichester

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 8).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 65 min
Fair skin
about 80 min
Light brown skin
about 115 min
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Chichester: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
711 mm on 126 days
Wettest month
Oct · 78 mm
Driest month
Mar · 47 mm
OctoberRainy days 12Rainfall 78 mm

In October, Chichester has about 12 rainy days with 78 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Chichester

How breezy and how cloudy Chichester is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
22 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Jan · 25 km/h
Calmest month
Aug · 20 km/h
OctoberWind 23 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Chichester typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
67 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Jul · 62 %
Cloudiest month
Jan · 72 %
OctoberCloud cover 70 %Sunshine 3.8 h

In October, cloud covers on average 70 % of the sky over Chichester: mostly cloudy, with about 3.8 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Chichester

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°
  • Pleasant 15–20°

CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (4°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 15°Night 11°Sea 16°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan108°4°9.1°2.1 h1164
FebruaryFeb118°4°8.2°2.9 h1053
MarchMar1510°5°8.1°4.2 h1047
AprilApr2212°7°9.4°6.2 h1049
MayMay2415°10°11.6°7.0 h1155
JuneJun2718°13°14.2°7.4 h1056
JulyJul2920°15°16.5°7.3 h1055
AugustAug3120°15°17.9°6.6 h1060
SeptemberSep2318°13°17.5°5.5 h950
OctoberOct1115°11°15.9°3.8 h1278
NovemberNov911°8°13.4°2.5 h1276
DecemberDec99°6°10.9°1.9 h1269

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

50.84° N, 0.78° W · 20 m · Europe/London

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Chichester

The best time to visit Chichester is from June to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 17.9 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent from October to November; the wettest month is October with 78 mm.

Chichester through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Chichester in spring

Mar – May

20

Poor

  • 10–15 °C by day
  • Sea 10 °C
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 31 rainy days in all

Chichester in summer

Jun – Aug

29

Poor

  • 18–20 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 30 rainy days in all

Chichester in autumn

Sep – Nov

14

Poor

  • 11–18 °C by day
  • Sea 16 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 33 rainy days in all

Chichester in winter

Dec – Feb

10

Poor

  • 8–9 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 33 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Chichester for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: June – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Chichester

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

August has the better holiday weather in Chichester: score 31 against 11. In August, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C warmer in August. August has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.

October vs. August, Chichester
MonthOctoberAugust
Weather score1131better
Day high15°20°
Night low11°15°
Sea15.9°17.9°
Sunshine3.8 h6.6 hbetter
Rainy days1210better
Rainfall78 mm60 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

Jun – Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Oct – Nov

12 or more rainy days

Chichester month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

10January8° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In January, Chichester is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in January
11February8° · Sea 8° · 3 h

In February, Chichester is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in February
15March10° · Sea 8° · 4 h

In March, Chichester is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 47 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in March
22April12° · Sea 9° · 6 h

In April, Chichester is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 49 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in April
24May15° · Sea 12° · 7 h

In May, Chichester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in May
27June18° · Sea 14° · 7 h

In June, Chichester is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in June
29July20° · Sea 17° · 7 h

In July, Chichester is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 16.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in July
31August20° · Sea 18° · 7 h

In August, Chichester is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in August
23September18° · Sea 18° · 6 h

In September, Chichester is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 17.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in September
11October15° · Sea 16° · 4 h

In October, Chichester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in October
9November11° · Sea 13° · 3 h

In November, Chichester is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in November
9December9° · Sea 11° · 2 h

In December, Chichester is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Chichester.

Chichester in December
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Chichester compared

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Chichester vs. Portsmouth

In October the holiday weather in Chichester and Portsmouth is about equally good (score 11 vs. 10). During the day it is about as warm in Portsmouth as in Chichester. The sea is about equally warm.

Chichester vs. Portsmouth, in October
in OctoberChichesterPortsmouth
Holiday score1110
Daytime high15°15°
Sea16°16°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1213
Best timeJun – AugMay – Sep

Through the year

OctoberChichester 15°Portsmouth 15°
ChichesterPortsmouth
Go to Portsmouth
Ranking

United Kingdom in October: the best places

In October, Chichester ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. London15°51
  2. 2Cambridge15°51
  3. 3Canterbury15°50
  4. 4Portsmouth15°16°49
  5. 5Brighton15°16°49
  6. 6Winchester15°49
  7. 7Slough15°49
  8. 8Watford15°49
  9. 25ChichesterThis page15°16°11
All destinations: United Kingdom

Planning a trip to Chichester

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Chichester in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Chichester has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 30) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 10).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    20

    Poor

    • 11 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 5.6 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month
  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    25

    Poor

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 12 °C
    • 7.1 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month
  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    30

    PoorBest holidays

    • 20 °C by day
    • Sea 17 °C
    • 6.8 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • October half-term

    Oct

    11

    Poor

    • 15 °C by day
    • Sea 16 °C
    • 3.8 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    10

    Poor

    • 8 °C by day
    • Sea 10 °C
    • 2.0 h of sun a day
    • 11 rainy days a month

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
70 km
Time zone
UTC+1
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Chichester

When is the best time to visit Chichester?

The best time to visit Chichester is from June to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Chichester?

The sea temperature in Chichester ranges from 8.1 °C in March to 17.9 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Chichester in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.9 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Chichester?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.

When does it rain most in Chichester?

Rain is most frequent from October to November; the wettest month is October with 78 mm. The driest month is March with 47 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Chichester get?

Chichester gets around 1,750 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.4 hours a day; in December there are 1.9 hours a day.

What time zone is Chichester in?

Chichester uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Chichester?

Chichester has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 30) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 10). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 20, May half-term 25, Summer holidays 30, October half-term 11, Christmas holidays 10.

Near Chichester

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Chichester

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Chichester's – good alternatives.

  1. 90% similar10Lyme RegisUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jul – Aug
  2. 90% similar8TorquayUnited Kingdom15°16°Best time: Jun – Aug
  3. 89% similar10Saint-MaloFrance16°16°Best time: Jul – Aug
  4. 88% similar8Boulogne-sur-MerFrance15°16°Best time: Jul – Aug