AI-generatedSt Andrews at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Jul
- Warmest month
- Jul · 17°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 14.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,580 h
- Rain a year
- 762 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 22 m
Climate in St Andrews
St Andrews 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 6 °C. With around 1,580 hours of sunshine a year, St Andrews is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: April – July
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 8°
- Midday, 13:00: about 12°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 12°
- Evening, 20:00: about 10°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
07:4118:13
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 07:17–08:33 · evening 17:21–18:36
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:03–07:17 · evening 18:36–18:51
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 St Andrews in October?
In October, St Andrews is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °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 89 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 32 min07:41 – 18:13
- UV index
- 1 · 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
- 70 %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 %7 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %30 %
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 St Andrews
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.6 – 12.6 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in St Andrews ranges from 6.3 °C in February to 14.1 °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 November 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 13.4 and 14.8 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 7.1° | 6.7° | 7.6° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 6.3° | 5.7° | 6.8° | cold |
| MarchMar | 6.3° | 5.6° | 6.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 7.4° | 6.5° | 8.0° | cold |
| MayMay | 9.4° | 8.7° | 10.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 11.7° | 10.7° | 12.4° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.6° | 12.8° | 14.4° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.1° | 13.4° | 14.8° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 13.4° | 12.7° | 14.2° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 12.1° | 11.6° | 12.6° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 10.4° | 9.8° | 10.9° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 8.6° | 8.0° | 9.0° | cold |
Sunshine hours in St Andrews
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 3.4 of 10.5 hours of daylight in St Andrews, 32 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 6 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 St Andrews
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 105 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 St Andrews: 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, St Andrews has about 14 rainy days with 89 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in St Andrews
How breezy and how cloudy St Andrews 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 St Andrews 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 70 % of the sky over St Andrews: mostly cloudy, with about 3.4 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 St Andrews
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 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in August (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November 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 | 7 | 6° | 3° | 7.1° | 2.0 h | 13 | 64 |
| FebruaryFeb | 11 | 7° | 3° | 6.3° | 3.2 h | 11 | 53 |
| MarchMar | 14 | 8° | 3° | 6.3° | 4.2 h | 11 | 53 |
| AprilApr | 20 | 10° | 5° | 7.4° | 5.6 h | 10 | 45 |
| MayMay | 22 | 13° | 7° | 9.4° | 6.8 h | 11 | 54 |
| JuneJun | 19 | 15° | 10° | 11.7° | 6.1 h | 12 | 60 |
| JulyJul | 17 | 17° | 12° | 13.6° | 6.0 h | 13 | 70 |
| AugustAug | 16 | 17° | 12° | 14.1° | 5.5 h | 13 | 68 |
| SeptemberSep | 16 | 15° | 11° | 13.4° | 4.6 h | 10 | 55 |
| OctoberOct | 7 | 12° | 8° | 12.1° | 3.4 h | 14 | 89 |
| NovemberNov | 6 | 9° | 5° | 10.4° | 2.6 h | 14 | 77 |
| DecemberDec | 6 | 7° | 3° | 8.6° | 1.7 h | 14 | 76 |
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
56.34° N, 2.80° W · 22 m · Europe/London
Best time to visit St Andrews
The best time to visit St Andrews is from April to July. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 14.1 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June and in September. Rain is most frequent from July to August and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 89 mm.
St Andrews through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
St Andrews in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 8–13 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
St Andrews in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 15–17 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
St Andrews in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 9–15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
St Andrews in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 6–7 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in St Andrews for you.
Your best months: April – June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in St Andrews
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 St Andrews: score 22 against 7. In May, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in May. May has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 22better |
| Day high | 12° | 13° |
| Night low | 8° | 7° |
| Sea | 12.1° | 9.4° |
| Sunshine | 3.4 h | 6.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 89 mm | 54 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
Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Oct – Jan
12 or more rainy days
St Andrews month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
7January6° · Sea 7° · 2 h
In January, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 64 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in January11February7° · Sea 6° · 3 h
In February, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °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 11 rainy days and 53 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in February14March8° · Sea 6° · 4 h
In March, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 6.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in March20April10° · Sea 7° · 6 h
In April, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 7.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 45 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in April22May13° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In May, St Andrews is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °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 11 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in May19June15° · Sea 12° · 6 h
In June, St Andrews is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 11.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in June17July17° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In July, St Andrews is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in July16August17° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In August, St Andrews is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 68 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in August16September15° · Sea 13° · 5 h
In September, St Andrews is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 55 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in September7October12° · Sea 12° · 3 h
In October, St Andrews is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °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 89 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in St Andrews.
St Andrews in October6November9° · Sea 10° · 3 h
In November, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 10.4 °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 77 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 St Andrews.
St Andrews in November6December7° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In December, St Andrews is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.6 °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 76 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 St Andrews.
St Andrews in DecemberSt Andrews compared
Put St Andrews side by side with another destination.
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St Andrews vs. Dundee
In October the holiday weather in St Andrews and Dundee is about equally good (score 7 vs. 7). During the day it is about as warm in Dundee as in St Andrews. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | St Andrews | Dundee |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 7 | 7 |
| Daytime high | 12° | 12° |
| Sea | 12° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 14 |
| Best time | Apr – Jul | Apr – Sep |
Through the year
United Kingdom in October: the best places
In October, St Andrews ranks 18 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- York14°42
- 2Leeds13°39
- 3Sunderland13°12°38
- 4Durham13°37
- 5Bradford13°36
- 6Newcastle upon Tyne13°35
- 7Belfast13°14°31
- 8Edinburgh12°12°29
- 18St AndrewsThis page12°12°7
Planning a trip to St Andrews
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
St Andrews 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.
St Andrews has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 21) and its weakest during October half-term (score 7).
- 18
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 9 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 5.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 21
May half-term
May – Jun
PoorBest holidays
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 16
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Poor
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 7
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 3.4 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 7
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 6 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 1.9 h of sun a day
- 13 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 10 min
- Distance
- 560 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 St Andrews
When is the best time to visit St Andrews?
The best time to visit St Andrews is from April to July. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in St Andrews?
The sea temperature in St Andrews ranges from 6.3 °C in February to 14.1 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in St Andrews in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 12.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in St Andrews?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 6 °C.
When does it rain most in St Andrews?
Rain is most frequent from July to August and from October to January; the wettest month is October with 89 mm. The driest month is April with 45 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does St Andrews get?
St Andrews gets around 1,580 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.8 hours a day; in December there are 1.7 hours a day.
What time zone is St Andrews in?
St Andrews uses the time zone Europe/London: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to St Andrews?
A nonstop flight from London to St Andrews takes about 1 h 10 min, for a straight-line distance of about 560 km.
Which school holidays are best for St Andrews?
St Andrews has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 21) and its weakest during October half-term (score 7). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 18, May half-term 21, Summer holidays 16, October half-term 7, Christmas holidays 7.
Near St Andrews
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like St Andrews
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to St Andrews's – good alternatives.