AI-generatedInverness at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Jul, Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 17°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 14.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,250 h
- Rain a year
- 761 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 15 m
Climate in Inverness
Inverness has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 17 °C, while January is the coolest at 5 °C. With around 1,250 hours of sunshine a year, Inverness is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 5.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: April – July, September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 6°
- Midday, 13:00: about 11°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 11°
- Evening, 20:00: about 9°
- Night, 23:00: about 8°
07:4818:17
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:24–08:43 · evening 17:22–18:41
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:09–07:24 · evening 18:41–18:56
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 Inverness in October?
In October, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 28 min07:48 – 18:17
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 22 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 73 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+1Europe/London
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %29 %
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 Inverness
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.4 – 12.4 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Inverness ranges from 6.3 °C in February to 14.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. 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 13.6 and 15.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 7.1° | 6.6° | 7.5° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 6.3° | 5.8° | 6.7° | cold |
| MarchMar | 6.4° | 5.9° | 7.1° | cold |
| AprilApr | 7.6° | 6.7° | 8.3° | cold |
| MayMay | 10.0° | 8.9° | 10.9° | cold |
| JuneJun | 12.3° | 10.8° | 13.3° | cold |
| JulyJul | 14.1° | 12.8° | 15.2° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.6° | 13.6° | 15.6° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 13.4° | 12.7° | 14.1° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 11.8° | 11.4° | 12.4° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 10.1° | 9.5° | 10.5° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 8.3° | 7.5° | 8.9° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Inverness
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 2.6 of 10.5 hours of daylight in Inverness, 25 % 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 Inverness
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 6).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 120 min
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- 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 Inverness: 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, Inverness has about 14 rainy days with 82 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Inverness
How breezy and how cloudy Inverness 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 Inverness typically peaks at 22 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: Sep – Jun.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 73 % of the sky over Inverness: mostly cloudy, with about 2.6 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.
Snow in Inverness
Snow is possible in Inverness, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Inverness.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Inverness
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°
ColdOctober: nights around 6°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (1°), the warmest in July (11°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, 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 | 6 | 5° | 1° | 7.1° | 1.4 h | 14 | 64 |
| FebruaryFeb | 8 | 6° | 1° | 6.3° | 2.6 h | 12 | 58 |
| MarchMar | 10 | 8° | 2° | 6.4° | 3.5 h | 13 | 54 |
| AprilApr | 14 | 10° | 3° | 7.6° | 4.7 h | 12 | 54 |
| MayMay | 17 | 13° | 6° | 10.0° | 5.9 h | 13 | 63 |
| JuneJun | 15 | 16° | 9° | 12.3° | 5.0 h | 12 | 57 |
| JulyJul | 12 | 17° | 11° | 14.1° | 4.6 h | 14 | 66 |
| AugustAug | 11 | 17° | 11° | 14.6° | 4.3 h | 14 | 71 |
| SeptemberSep | 12 | 15° | 9° | 13.4° | 3.7 h | 11 | 60 |
| OctoberOct | 6 | 11° | 6° | 11.8° | 2.6 h | 14 | 82 |
| NovemberNov | 6 | 8° | 3° | 10.1° | 1.8 h | 14 | 64 |
| DecemberDec | 6 | 5° | 1° | 8.3° | 1.0 h | 14 | 70 |
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
57.48° N, 4.22° W · 15 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Inverness
The best time to visit Inverness is from April to July and in September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 14.6 °C. Rain is most frequent from October to August; the wettest month is October with 82 mm.
Inverness through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Inverness in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 8–13 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Inverness in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 16–17 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Inverness in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 8–15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Inverness in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 5–6 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Inverness for you.
Your best months: April – June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Inverness
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Inverness: score 17 against 6. In May, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in May. May has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 17better |
| Day high | 11° | 13° |
| Night low | 6° | 6° |
| Sea | 11.8° | 10.0° |
| Sunshine | 2.6 h | 5.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 13better |
| Rainfall | 82 mm | 63 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
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Aug
12 or more rainy days
Inverness month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
6January5° · Sea 7° · 1 h
In January, Inverness is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 7.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in January8February6° · Sea 6° · 3 h
In February, Inverness is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 6.3 °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 58 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in February10March8° · Sea 6° · 4 h
In March, Inverness is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 6.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in March14April10° · Sea 8° · 5 h
In April, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in April17May13° · Sea 10° · 6 h
In May, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 10.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 63 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in May15June16° · Sea 12° · 5 h
In June, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in June12July17° · Sea 14° · 5 h
In July, Inverness is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in July11August17° · Sea 15° · 4 h
In August, Inverness is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 71 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in August12September15° · Sea 13° · 4 h
In September, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in September6October11° · Sea 12° · 3 h
In October, Inverness is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in October6November8° · Sea 10° · 2 h
In November, Inverness is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 10.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in November6December5° · Sea 8° · 1 h
In December, Inverness is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 8.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Inverness.
Inverness in DecemberInverness compared
Put Inverness side by side with another destination.
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Inverness vs. Fort William
In October Inverness has the better holiday weather (score 6 vs. 0). During the day it is about as warm in Fort William as in Inverness. The sea in Fort William is 1 °C warmer. Fort William gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Inverness | Fort William |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 6 | 0 |
| Daytime high | 11° | 11° |
| Sea | 12° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 2 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 21 |
| Best time | Apr – Jul, Sep | Apr – Jun |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Inverness ranks 19 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Sunderland13°12°38
- 2Durham13°37
- 3Newcastle upon Tyne13°35
- 4Belfast13°14°31
- 5Portadown12°30
- 6Edinburgh12°12°29
- 7Carlisle12°29
- 8Lockerbie12°28
- 19InvernessThis page11°12°6
Planning a trip to Inverness
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Inverness 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.
Inverness has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 17) and its weakest during October half-term (score 6).
- 13
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 4.3 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 17
May half-term
May – Jun
PoorBest holidays
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 11
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 6
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 2.6 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 6
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 1.2 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 20 min
- Distance
- 710 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 Inverness
When is the best time to visit Inverness?
The best time to visit Inverness is from April to July and in September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Inverness?
The sea temperature in Inverness ranges from 6.3 °C in February to 14.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Inverness in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 11.8 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Inverness?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C and nights around 11 °C. January is the coolest month at 5 °C.
When does it rain most in Inverness?
Rain is most frequent from October to August; the wettest month is October with 82 mm. The driest month is April with 54 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Inverness get?
Inverness gets around 1,250 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 5.9 hours a day; in December there are 1.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Inverness in?
Inverness uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Inverness?
A nonstop flight from London to Inverness takes about 1 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 710 km.
Which school holidays are best for Inverness?
Inverness has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 17) and its weakest during October half-term (score 6). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 13, May half-term 17, Summer holidays 11, October half-term 6, Christmas holidays 6.
Near Inverness
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Inverness
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Inverness's – good alternatives.