AI-generatedColchester at a glance
- Best time
- Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,690 h
- Rain a year
- 682 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 29 m
Climate in Colchester
Colchester has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,690 hours of sunshine a year, Colchester is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
07:1918:05
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 06:58–08:05 · evening 17:19–18:26
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:45–06:58 · evening 18:26–18:39
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 Colchester in October?
In October, Colchester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °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 69 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 46 min07:19 – 18:05
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 26 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 69 %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 %12 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %41 %
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
Sea temperature in Colchester
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 14.2 – 15.8 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Colchester 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.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 7.4° | 6.1° | 8.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 6.4° | 5.2° | 7.9° | cold |
| MarchMar | 6.9° | 5.1° | 8.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | 8.8° | 7.8° | 9.9° | cold |
| MayMay | 11.7° | 10.6° | 12.7° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.8° | 13.9° | 15.6° | cold |
| JulyJul | 17.4° | 16.2° | 18.5° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.6° | 17.7° | 19.9° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.5° | 16.5° | 18.5° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 15.0° | 14.2° | 15.8° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 12.0° | 11.1° | 13.1° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 9.0° | 7.8° | 10.3° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Colchester
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.7 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Colchester, 34 % 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.
UV index in Colchester
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 in Colchester: 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.
In October, Colchester has about 12 rainy days with 69 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Colchester
How breezy and how cloudy Colchester 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.
In October, the wind in Colchester typically peaks at 26 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.
In October, cloud covers on average 69 % of the sky over Colchester: mostly cloudy, with about 3.7 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.
Nights and sleep in Colchester
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 10°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in 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.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9 | 7° | 3° | 7.4° | 2.0 h | 12 | 57 |
| FebruaryFeb | 11 | 8° | 3° | 6.4° | 2.9 h | 10 | 51 |
| MarchMar | 14 | 10° | 4° | 6.9° | 4.0 h | 10 | 43 |
| AprilApr | 21 | 12° | 6° | 8.8° | 6.0 h | 10 | 43 |
| MayMay | 23 | 15° | 9° | 11.7° | 6.9 h | 11 | 56 |
| JuneJun | 24 | 19° | 12° | 14.8° | 7.0 h | 11 | 58 |
| JulyJul | 33 | 21° | 14° | 17.4° | 6.9 h | 12 | 61 |
| AugustAug | 39 | 21° | 15° | 18.6° | 6.5 h | 11 | 66 |
| SeptemberSep | 21 | 18° | 13° | 17.5° | 5.2 h | 10 | 50 |
| OctoberOct | 11 | 15° | 10° | 15.0° | 3.7 h | 12 | 69 |
| NovemberNov | 10 | 10° | 6° | 12.0° | 2.4 h | 11 | 65 |
| DecemberDec | 9 | 8° | 4° | 9.0° | 1.8 h | 12 | 64 |
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
51.89° N, 0.90° E · 29 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Colchester
The best time to visit Colchester is in 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 May to June and from August to September. Rain is most frequent in July and in October and from December to January; the wettest month is October with 69 mm.
Colchester through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Colchester in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 10–15 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Colchester in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 19–21 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Colchester in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 10–18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Colchester in winter
Dec – Feb
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 Colchester for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Colchester
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Colchester: score 39 against 11. In August, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in August. August has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 11 | 39better |
| Day high | 15° | 21° |
| Night low | 10° | 15° |
| Sea | 15.0° | 18.6° |
| Sunshine | 3.7 h | 6.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 69 mm | 66 mm |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
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
May – Jun, Aug – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul, Oct, Dec – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Colchester month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
9January7° · Sea 7° · 2 h
In January, Colchester is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °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 57 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in January11February8° · Sea 6° · 3 h
In February, Colchester is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °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 51 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in February14March10° · Sea 7° · 4 h
In March, Colchester is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °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 43 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in March21April12° · Sea 9° · 6 h
In April, Colchester is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 8.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 43 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in April23May15° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In May, Colchester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °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 11 rainy days and 56 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in May24June19° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In June, Colchester is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °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 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in June33July21° · Sea 17° · 7 h
In July, Colchester is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °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 12 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in July39August21° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Colchester is mild: daytime highs average 21 °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 11 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in August21September18° · Sea 18° · 5 h
In September, Colchester 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 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in September11October15° · Sea 15° · 4 h
In October, Colchester is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °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 69 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in October10November10° · Sea 12° · 2 h
In November, Colchester is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °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 65 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in November9December8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In December, Colchester is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °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 64 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Colchester.
Colchester in DecemberColchester compared
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Colchester vs. Clacton-on-Sea
In October the holiday weather in Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea is about equally good (score 11 vs. 12). During the day it is about as warm in Clacton-on-Sea as in Colchester. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Colchester | Clacton-on-Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 11 | 12 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | 15° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Best time | Aug | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Colchester ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Cambridge15°51
- 2London15°51
- 3Canterbury15°50
- 4Watford15°49
- 5Peterborough15°49
- 6Slough15°49
- 7Brighton15°16°49
- 8Winchester15°49
- 25ColchesterThis page15°15°11
Planning a trip to Colchester
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Colchester 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.
Colchester has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 9).
- 19
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 23
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 6.9 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 37
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
PoorBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 11
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 9
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 1.9 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
- 100 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 Colchester
When is the best time to visit Colchester?
The best time to visit Colchester is in August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Colchester?
The sea temperature in Colchester 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 Colchester 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 Colchester?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Colchester?
Rain is most frequent in July and in October and from December to January; the wettest month is October with 69 mm. The driest month is April with 43 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Colchester get?
Colchester gets around 1,690 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.0 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Colchester in?
Colchester uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Colchester?
Colchester has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 9). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 19, May half-term 23, Summer holidays 37, October half-term 11, Christmas holidays 9.
Near Colchester
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Colchester
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Colchester's – good alternatives.