AI-generatedPortsmouth at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.0°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,840 h
- Rain a year
- 713 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 6 m
Climate in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year, Portsmouth is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
07:2518:15
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 07:05–08:10 · evening 17:29–18:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:52–07:05 · evening 18:35–18:48
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 Portsmouth in October?
In October, Portsmouth is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °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 13 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 49 min07:25 – 18:15
- 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
- 69 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+1Europe/London
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %70 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %15 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %38 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Portsmouth
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 15.2 – 16.5 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Portsmouth ranges from 8.1 °C in February to 18.0 °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 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 17.4 and 19.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.0° | 8.0° | 9.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 8.1° | 7.1° | 9.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 8.1° | 6.8° | 9.1° | cold |
| AprilApr | 9.4° | 8.4° | 10.4° | cold |
| MayMay | 11.6° | 10.7° | 12.8° | cold |
| JuneJun | 14.3° | 13.6° | 15.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 16.7° | 15.7° | 17.9° | cold |
| AugustAug | 18.0° | 17.4° | 19.0° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.6° | 16.8° | 18.2° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 15.8° | 15.2° | 16.5° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 13.3° | 12.5° | 14.1° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 10.7° | 10.0° | 11.4° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth, 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.
UV index in Portsmouth
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 in Portsmouth: 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, Portsmouth has about 13 rainy days with 84 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Portsmouth
How breezy and how cloudy Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 69 % of the sky over Portsmouth: 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 Portsmouth
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°
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 (14°). 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 | 14 | 8° | 3° | 9.0° | 2.2 h | 12 | 67 |
| FebruaryFeb | 19 | 8° | 4° | 8.1° | 3.1 h | 10 | 53 |
| MarchMar | 33 | 10° | 4° | 8.1° | 4.4 h | 10 | 48 |
| AprilApr | 54 | 13° | 6° | 9.4° | 6.5 h | 10 | 46 |
| MayMay | 71 | 16° | 9° | 11.6° | 7.3 h | 11 | 50 |
| JuneJun | 84 | 19° | 12° | 14.3° | 7.9 h | 10 | 51 |
| JulyJul | 83 | 21° | 14° | 16.7° | 7.8 h | 10 | 50 |
| AugustAug | 80 | 21° | 14° | 18.0° | 6.9 h | 10 | 57 |
| SeptemberSep | 78 | 19° | 12° | 17.6° | 5.7 h | 9 | 53 |
| OctoberOct | 49 | 15° | 10° | 15.8° | 3.9 h | 13 | 84 |
| NovemberNov | 27 | 11° | 6° | 13.3° | 2.6 h | 13 | 81 |
| DecemberDec | 16 | 9° | 4° | 10.7° | 2.0 h | 12 | 74 |
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
50.80° N, 1.09° W · 6 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit Portsmouth
The best time to visit Portsmouth is from May to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.0 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to September. Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is October with 84 mm.
Portsmouth through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Portsmouth in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 10–16 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Portsmouth in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 19–21 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Portsmouth in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 11–19 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Portsmouth in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 8–9 °C by day
- Sea 9 °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 Portsmouth for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Portsmouth
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Portsmouth: score 84 against 49. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in June. June has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 49 | 84better |
| Day high | 15° | 19° |
| Night low | 10° | 12° |
| Sea | 15.8° | 14.3° |
| Sunshine | 3.9 h | 7.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 10better |
| Rainfall | 84 mm | 51 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
May – Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Portsmouth month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
14January8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In January, Portsmouth is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °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 67 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 Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in January19February8° · Sea 8° · 3 h
In February, Portsmouth is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 8.1 °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. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in February33March10° · Sea 8° · 4 h
In March, Portsmouth is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °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 48 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in March54April13° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In April, Portsmouth is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 9.4 °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 46 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in April71May16° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In May, Portsmouth is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °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 50 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in May84June19° · Sea 14° · 8 h
In June, Portsmouth is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.3 °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 51 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in June83July21° · Sea 17° · 8 h
In July, Portsmouth is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 16.7 °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, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in July80August21° · Sea 18° · 7 h
In August, Portsmouth is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 18.0 °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 57 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in August78September19° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In September, Portsmouth is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 17.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 53 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in September49October15° · Sea 16° · 4 h
In October, Portsmouth is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °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 13 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in October27November11° · Sea 13° · 3 h
In November, Portsmouth is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °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 81 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in November16December9° · Sea 11° · 2 h
In December, Portsmouth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °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 74 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 Portsmouth.
Portsmouth in DecemberPortsmouth compared
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Portsmouth vs. Chichester
In October the holiday weather in Portsmouth and Chichester is about equally good (score 49 vs. 51). During the day it is about as warm in Chichester as in Portsmouth. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Portsmouth | Chichester |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 49 | 51 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | 16° | 16° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 12 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, Portsmouth ranks 3 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- London15°51
- 2Canterbury15°50
- 3PortsmouthThis page15°16°49
- 4Winchester15°49
- 5Brighton15°16°49
- 6Slough15°49
- 7Watford15°49
- 8Reading15°48
Planning a trip to Portsmouth
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Portsmouth 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.
Portsmouth has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15).
- 48
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 74
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 81
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 49
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 15
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 2.1 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
- 90 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 Portsmouth
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth?
The best time to visit Portsmouth is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Portsmouth?
The sea temperature in Portsmouth ranges from 8.1 °C in February to 18.0 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.
When does it rain most in Portsmouth?
Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is October with 84 mm. The driest month is April with 46 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Portsmouth get?
Portsmouth gets around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.9 hours a day; in December there are 2.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Portsmouth in?
Portsmouth uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Portsmouth?
Portsmouth has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 81) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 48, May half-term 74, Summer holidays 81, October half-term 49, Christmas holidays 15.
Near Portsmouth
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Portsmouth
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Portsmouth's – good alternatives.