AI-generatedDover at a glance
- Best time
- Jul – Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 17.8°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,840 h
- Rain a year
- 673 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 12 m
Climate in Dover
Dover 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 1,840 hours of sunshine a year, Dover is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: July – August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 12°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
07:1618:05
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 06:56–08:02 · evening 17:19–18:25
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:43–06:56 · 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 Dover in October?
In October, Dover is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.8 °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 73 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 48 min07:16 – 18:05
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 27 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 %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 Dover
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 15.0 – 16.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Dover ranges from 7.8 °C in February to 17.8 °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 17.1 and 18.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.0° | 7.8° | 10.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 7.8° | 6.6° | 9.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 7.9° | 6.0° | 9.0° | cold |
| AprilApr | 9.2° | 8.0° | 10.3° | cold |
| MayMay | 11.4° | 10.3° | 12.3° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.0° | 13.3° | 14.9° | cold |
| JulyJul | 16.3° | 15.5° | 17.5° | cold |
| AugustAug | 17.8° | 17.1° | 18.7° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.5° | 16.7° | 18.3° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 15.8° | 15.0° | 16.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 13.4° | 12.6° | 14.3° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 10.7° | 9.7° | 11.6° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Dover
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 3.9 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Dover, 36 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 25 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Dover
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 65 min
- Fair skin
- about 85 min
- Light brown skin
- about 120 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 in Dover: 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, Dover has about 12 rainy days with 73 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Dover
How breezy and how cloudy Dover 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 Dover typically peaks at 27 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 68 % of the sky over Dover: 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.
Nights and sleep in Dover
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 (16°). 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.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 8 | 7° | 4° | 9.0° | 2.1 h | 12 | 59 |
| FebruaryFeb | 10 | 8° | 4° | 7.8° | 3.0 h | 11 | 51 |
| MarchMar | 16 | 9° | 5° | 7.9° | 4.3 h | 10 | 43 |
| AprilApr | 24 | 12° | 7° | 9.2° | 6.5 h | 10 | 41 |
| MayMay | 26 | 15° | 10° | 11.4° | 7.4 h | 10 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 28 | 18° | 13° | 14.0° | 7.8 h | 10 | 50 |
| JulyJul | 34 | 20° | 15° | 16.3° | 7.8 h | 11 | 55 |
| AugustAug | 38 | 21° | 16° | 17.8° | 7.3 h | 10 | 61 |
| SeptemberSep | 23 | 18° | 14° | 17.5° | 5.7 h | 9 | 51 |
| OctoberOct | 11 | 15° | 11° | 15.8° | 3.9 h | 12 | 73 |
| NovemberNov | 7 | 11° | 8° | 13.4° | 2.6 h | 13 | 72 |
| DecemberDec | 8 | 8° | 5° | 10.7° | 1.9 h | 12 | 67 |
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
51.13° N, 1.31° E · 12 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Dover
The best time to visit Dover is from July to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 17.8 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is October with 73 mm.
Dover through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Dover in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 9–15 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Dover in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 18–21 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Dover in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 11–18 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Dover in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7–8 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Dover for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Dover
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 Dover: score 38 against 11. In August, days are 6 °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.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 11 | 38better |
| Day high | 15° | 21° |
| Night low | 11° | 16° |
| Sea | 15.8° | 17.8° |
| Sunshine | 3.9 h | 7.3 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10better |
| Rainfall | 73 mm | 61 mmbetter |
| 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 – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Dover month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
8January7° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In January, Dover is cold: daytime highs average 7 °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 59 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in January10February8° · Sea 8° · 3 h
In February, Dover is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 7.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 51 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in February16March9° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In March, Dover is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 7.9 °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 Dover.
Dover in March24April12° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In April, Dover is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 9.2 °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 41 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in April26May15° · Sea 11° · 7 h
In May, Dover is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.4 °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 51 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in May28June18° · Sea 14° · 8 h
In June, Dover is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in June34July20° · Sea 16° · 8 h
In July, Dover is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 16.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in July38August21° · Sea 18° · 7 h
In August, Dover is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °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 61 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in August23September18° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In September, Dover 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 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 51 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in September11October15° · Sea 16° · 4 h
In October, Dover is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.8 °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 73 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in October7November11° · Sea 13° · 3 h
In November, Dover 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 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in November8December8° · Sea 11° · 2 h
In December, Dover is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.7 °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 67 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Dover.
Dover in DecemberDover compared
Put Dover side by side with another destination.
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Dover vs. Canterbury
In October the holiday weather in Dover and Canterbury is about equally good (score 11 vs. 12). During the day it is about as warm in Canterbury as in Dover.
| in October | Dover | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 11 | 12 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | 16° | – |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Best time | Jul – Aug | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Dover ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- London15°51
- 2Cambridge15°51
- 3Canterbury15°50
- 4Brighton15°16°49
- 5Watford15°49
- 6Slough15°49
- 7Portsmouth15°16°49
- 8Winchester15°49
- 25DoverThis page15°16°11
Planning a trip to Dover
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Dover 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.
Dover has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8).
- 22
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 26
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 37
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
PoorBest holidays
- 20 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 11
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 8
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- Sea 10 °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
- 130 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 Dover
When is the best time to visit Dover?
The best time to visit Dover 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 Dover?
The sea temperature in Dover ranges from 7.8 °C in February to 17.8 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Dover in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.8 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Dover?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 16 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Dover?
Rain is most frequent from October to January; the wettest month is October with 73 mm. The driest month is April with 41 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Dover get?
Dover gets around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.8 hours a day; in December there are 1.9 hours a day.
What time zone is Dover in?
Dover uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Dover?
Dover has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 22, May half-term 26, Summer holidays 37, October half-term 11, Christmas holidays 8.
Near Dover
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Dover
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Dover's – good alternatives.