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Clacton-on-Sea

Sun, sea & sand

Clacton-on-Sea at a glance

Best time
Jul – Aug
Warmest month
Aug · 20°
Warmest sea
Aug · 18.6°
Sunshine a year
1,770 h
Rain a year
629 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
17 m

Climate in Clacton-on-Sea

Clacton-on-Sea 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 7 °C. With around 1,770 hours of sunshine a year, Clacton-on-Sea 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

12

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: July – August

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 11°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 14°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 13°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 12°

07:1818:04

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 06:57–08:04 · evening 17:18–18:25
Blue hour
Morning 06:44–06:57 · evening 18:25–18:38

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 Clacton-on-Sea in October?

In October, Clacton-on-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °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 68 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 46 min07:18 – 18:04
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
29 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
68 %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 %15 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %43 %

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
  • Windproof jacket
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Clacton-on-Sea

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

Sea in October15.0°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 14.2 – 15.8 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 15.0°8 in 10 years 14.2° – 15.8°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Clacton-on-Sea ranges from 6.4 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

From October to January 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 17.7 and 19.9 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan7.4°6.1°8.7°cold
FebruaryFeb6.4°5.2°7.9°cold
MarchMar6.9°5.1°8.3°cold
AprilApr8.8°7.8°9.9°cold
MayMay11.7°10.6°12.7°cold
JuneJun14.8°13.9°15.6°cold
JulyJul17.4°16.2°18.5°fresh
AugustAug18.6°17.7°19.9°fresh
SeptemberSep17.5°16.5°18.5°fresh
OctoberOct15.0°14.2°15.8°cold
NovemberNov12.0°11.1°13.1°cold
DecemberDec9.0°7.8°10.3°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Clacton-on-Sea

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

Per year
1,770 hours
Sunniest month
Jun · 7.4 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.9 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.9 hDaylight 10.8 hShare of daylight 36 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.9 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Clacton-on-Sea, 36 % 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 Clacton-on-Sea

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 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 70 min
Fair skin
about 90 min
Light brown skin
over 2 h
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 Clacton-on-Sea: 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
629 mm on 126 days
Wettest month
Oct · 68 mm
Driest month
Apr · 37 mm
OctoberRainy days 12Rainfall 68 mm

In October, Clacton-on-Sea has about 12 rainy days with 68 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Clacton-on-Sea

How breezy and how cloudy Clacton-on-Sea 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
27 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Dec · 31 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 24 km/h
OctoberWind 29 km/hBeaufort 5
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Clacton-on-Sea typically peaks at 29 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh 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
66 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Jul · 61 %
Cloudiest month
Dec · 72 %
OctoberCloud cover 68 %Sunshine 3.9 h

In October, cloud covers on average 68 % of the sky over Clacton-on-Sea: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 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 Clacton-on-Sea

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 November 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 15°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan97°4°7.4°2.1 h1255
FebruaryFeb117°4°6.4°2.9 h1047
MarchMar169°5°6.9°4.2 h1040
AprilApr2411°7°8.8°6.3 h937
MayMay2614°10°11.7°7.2 h1048
JuneJun2718°13°14.8°7.4 h1049
JulyJul3120°15°17.4°7.4 h1153
AugustAug3620°15°18.6°6.8 h1059
SeptemberSep2318°14°17.5°5.4 h947
OctoberOct1215°11°15.0°3.9 h1268
NovemberNov911°7°12.0°2.5 h1264
DecemberDec88°5°9.0°1.9 h1262

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

51.79° N, 1.16° E · 17 m · Europe/London

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Clacton-on-Sea

The best time to visit Clacton-on-Sea is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.6 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to September. Rain is most frequent in October and in December; the wettest month is October with 68 mm.

Clacton-on-Sea through the seasons

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

Clacton-on-Sea in spring

Mar – May

22

Poor

  • 9–14 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 28 rainy days in all

Clacton-on-Sea in summer

Jun – Aug

31

Poor

  • 18–20 °C by day
  • Sea 17 °C
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 31 rainy days in all

Clacton-on-Sea in autumn

Sep – Nov

15

Poor

  • 11–18 °C by day
  • Sea 15 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 33 rainy days in all

Clacton-on-Sea in winter

Dec – Feb

9

Poor

  • 7–8 °C by day
  • Sea 8 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 34 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Clacton-on-Sea for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: May, July – August

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

Compare two months in Clacton-on-Sea

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 Clacton-on-Sea: score 36 against 12. In August, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in August. August has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.

October vs. August, Clacton-on-Sea
MonthOctoberAugust
Weather score1236better
Day high15°20°
Night low11°15°
Sea15.0°18.6°
Sunshine3.9 h6.8 hbetter
Rainy days1210better
Rainfall68 mm59 mm
Muggy days0better1

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, Dec

12 or more rainy days

Clacton-on-Sea month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

9January7° · Sea 7° · 2 h

In January, Clacton-on-Sea is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 7.4 °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 55 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in January
11February7° · Sea 6° · 3 h

In February, Clacton-on-Sea is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °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 47 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in February
16March9° · Sea 7° · 4 h

In March, Clacton-on-Sea is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 6.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 40 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in March
24April11° · Sea 9° · 6 h

In April, Clacton-on-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 8.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 37 mm. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in April
26May14° · Sea 12° · 7 h

In May, Clacton-on-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.7 °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 48 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in May
27June18° · Sea 15° · 7 h

In June, Clacton-on-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °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 49 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in June
31July20° · Sea 17° · 7 h

In July, Clacton-on-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in July
36August20° · Sea 19° · 7 h

In August, Clacton-on-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °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 59 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in August
23September18° · Sea 18° · 5 h

In September, Clacton-on-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 47 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in September
12October15° · Sea 15° · 4 h

In October, Clacton-on-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °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 68 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in October
9November11° · Sea 12° · 3 h

In November, Clacton-on-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °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 64 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in November
8December8° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In December, Clacton-on-Sea is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °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 62 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Clacton-on-Sea.

Clacton-on-Sea in December
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Clacton-on-Sea compared

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Clacton-on-Sea vs. Colchester

In October the holiday weather in Clacton-on-Sea and Colchester is about equally good (score 12 vs. 11). During the day it is about as warm in Colchester as in Clacton-on-Sea. The sea is about equally warm.

Clacton-on-Sea vs. Colchester, in October
in OctoberClacton-on-SeaColchester
Holiday score1211
Daytime high15°15°
Sea15°15°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1212
Best timeJul – AugAug

Through the year

OctoberClacton-on-Sea 15°Colchester 15°
Clacton-on-SeaColchester
Go to Colchester
Ranking

United Kingdom in October: the best places

In October, Clacton-on-Sea ranks 24 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Cambridge15°51
  2. 2London15°51
  3. 3Canterbury15°50
  4. 4Watford15°49
  5. 5Slough15°49
  6. 6Peterborough15°49
  7. 7Brighton15°16°49
  8. 8Winchester15°49
  9. 24Clacton-on-SeaThis page15°15°12
All destinations: United Kingdom

Planning a trip to Clacton-on-Sea

Weather for your travel dates

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

Clacton-on-Sea 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.

Clacton-on-Sea has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 34) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 9).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    22

    Poor

    • 10 °C by day
    • Sea 8 °C
    • 5.7 h of sun a day
    • 9 rainy days a month
  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    26

    Poor

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

    Jul – Aug

    34

    PoorBest holidays

    • 20 °C by day
    • Sea 18 °C
    • 7.0 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month

    Good for: Sightseeing & walks

  • October half-term

    Oct

    12

    Poor

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

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    9

    Poor

    • 7 °C by day
    • Sea 8 °C
    • 2.0 h of sun a day
    • 12 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
120 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 Clacton-on-Sea

When is the best time to visit Clacton-on-Sea?

The best time to visit Clacton-on-Sea is from July to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Clacton-on-Sea?

The sea temperature in Clacton-on-Sea ranges from 6.4 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Clacton-on-Sea in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.0 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Clacton-on-Sea?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 20 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.

When does it rain most in Clacton-on-Sea?

Rain is most frequent in October and in December; the wettest month is October with 68 mm. The driest month is April with 37 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Clacton-on-Sea get?

Clacton-on-Sea gets around 1,770 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 Clacton-on-Sea in?

Clacton-on-Sea uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Clacton-on-Sea?

Clacton-on-Sea has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 34) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 9). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 22, May half-term 26, Summer holidays 34, October half-term 12, Christmas holidays 9.

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