Lerwick, Shetland weather by month & the best time to visit
United Kingdom · seaside town · oceanic / maritime climate
Lerwick, Shetland is short on reliable sunshine. Its best month is August (Score 35/100) — for stronger sun, try one of the nearby alternatives.
When is the best time to visit Lerwick, Shetland?
Lerwick, Shetland never gets truly sunny weather: August is as good as it gets at 35/100, and January is the low point (0/100). If sunshine is the point of the trip, the nearby alternatives do better.
How sunny is Lerwick, Shetland?
Lerwick, Shetland isn't a sunny place by world standards: about 1,364 hours of sunshine a year. August (35/100) is noticeably better than January (0). It ranks #23 of 48 destinations in United Kingdom for annual sunshine, above the national median of 1,345 hours. The year's 1,113 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 6° / 43°F | 127 mm | 0 | 8° / 46°F |
| February | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 5° / 41°F | 93 mm | 0 | 7° / 45°F |
| March | 0 | 7° / 45°F | 5° / 41°F | 87 mm | 1 | 7° / 45°F |
| April | 0 | 8° / 46°F | 6° / 43°F | 59 mm | 2 | 8° / 46°F |
| May | 6 | 9° / 48°F | 8° / 46°F | 61 mm | 3 | 10° / 50°F |
| June | 19 | 11° / 52°F | 10° / 50°F | 65 mm | 4 | 11° / 52°F |
| July | 30 | 13° / 55°F | 12° / 54°F | 79 mm | 4 | 13° / 55°F |
| August | 35 | 14° / 57°F | 13° / 55°F | 94 mm | 3 | 13° / 55°F |
| September | 29 | 13° / 55°F | 12° / 54°F | 97 mm | 2 | 13° / 55°F |
| October | 16 | 11° / 52°F | 10° / 50°F | 121 mm | 1 | 12° / 54°F |
| November | 5 | 9° / 48°F | 8° / 46°F | 114 mm | 0 | 10° / 50°F |
| December | 0 | 8° / 46°F | 6° / 43°F | 116 mm | 0 | 9° / 48°F |
Sea temperature in Lerwick, Shetland by month
The sea off Lerwick, Shetland is warmest in July at around 13°C / 55°F, and coolest in February at 7°C / 45°F. It never reaches comfortable swimming temperatures (21°C+). Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Lerwick, Shetland: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Lerwick, Shetland?
Lerwick, Shetland is a seaside town in United Kingdom with a oceanic / maritime climate — the sea reaches 13°C at its warmest.
How many hours of sunshine does Lerwick, Shetland get a year?
Lerwick, Shetland gets about 1,364 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around August.
When is the best time to visit Lerwick, Shetland?
Lerwick, Shetland is short on reliable sunshine — its best month is only August at 35/100. For a sunnier trip, see the nearest strong-sun alternatives listed on the page.
What is the least sunny month in Lerwick, Shetland?
January is the least sunny month in Lerwick, Shetland, scoring 0/100 with about 127 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Lerwick, Shetland?
The sea in Lerwick, Shetland ranges from about 7°C (February) to 13°C (July). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Lerwick, Shetland?
The typical midday UV index in Lerwick, Shetland peaks around 4 (moderate) in June, easing to about 0 (low) in January. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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