Data & Converters
World Climate Averages by City
Monthly mean temperature and precipitation for any city — the long-term pattern that tells you when to go, not just what to pack today.
Monthly averages for the last full calendar year, from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo.
London — monthly climate
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Climate versus weather — the key distinction
Weather is what the atmosphere does today; climate is what it does on average. A climate averages tool shows you the typical monthly temperature and rainfall for a location across a full year, smoothing out the day-to-day noise that dominates a weather forecast. For choosing when to visit a place — or whether to live there — climate is what matters.
This tool reports monthly mean temperature and total precipitation for the last complete calendar year, from the ERA5 reanalysis. A single recent year is closer to today's shifting climate than a 30-year historical average would be, while still smoothing individual storms and heatwaves.
How reanalysis data is built
ERA5 is a reanalysis: a consistent reconstruction of the global atmosphere produced by combining historical observations with a weather model. It fills gaps where instruments are sparse and produces gridded data at roughly 25 km resolution worldwide. Because the method is consistent over time, it is the standard record used in climate research.
Reanalysis is not the same as raw observations — it smooths and estimates — but for comparing one city's climate to another's, or one month to another, it is the best freely available global dataset. Open-Meteo serves it through a simple API that this tool queries for each selected city.
Reading the temperature bars
The temperature chart shows mean monthly temperature in Celsius for each of the twelve months. The vertical scale is set by the city's own range, so the shape of the year — the seasonal swing — is what to read, not the absolute height. A tropical city shows a flat line; a continental city shows a sharp summer peak and cold winter trough.
Mean temperature blends day and night. A city with a comfortable 18°C mean might have 25°C afternoons and 11°C nights, so always cross-check with daily high and low forecasts for packing decisions. The mean is best for comparing overall warmth across the year.
Reading the precipitation bars
Precipitation is the total rainfall (and melted snow) for each month in millimetres. Wet seasons show as clear peaks; dry seasons as troughs. Tropical destinations often have a pronounced wet and dry season, while temperate cities may be more evenly wet year-round. A month with over 150 mm is typically wet; under 20 mm is effectively dry.
Rainfall totals hide intensity patterns: some climates deliver rain in short heavy bursts, others in prolonged drizzle. For planning outdoor activities, the number of rain days matters too, but total precipitation is the best single summary of how wet a month is.
Using climate to plan travel
Climate averages answer the strategic question — when to go. A beach holiday wants warmth and low rainfall; a city break may tolerate rain but not extreme heat; a hiking trip wants shoulder-season mildness. By comparing months for a destination, you can pick the window that best matches what you want to do.
Shoulder seasons — the months just outside peak — often offer the best value: milder weather, fewer crowds and lower prices. Climate averages reveal these windows clearly. Once you have chosen a season, switch to a live weather forecast in the final week to fine-tune daily plans and packing.
A changing climate
Climate is not stationary. Averages based on the last year reflect a warmer baseline than 30-year normals compiled in earlier decades, particularly for summer temperatures. Travellers returning to a familiar destination after many years may find summers hotter and heatwaves more frequent than they remember.
This is why this tool prefers recent data over a long historical mean: it gives a picture closer to what you will actually experience. For the most extreme planning — a once-in-a-lifetime trip — it is also worth checking whether the selected month overlaps with a known wet, dry or hurricane season specific to that region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the climate averages come from?
From the ERA5 global reanalysis served via Open-Meteo's climate API. ERA5 reconstructs the atmosphere from observations and models, producing a consistent historical record used widely in climate science.
What year is shown?
The last complete calendar year, so the averages reflect recent climate rather than a single anomalous month. A full year of monthly means smooths out individual weather events.
Is this the same as a weather forecast?
No. This shows climate (the long-term average pattern), not weather (what happens on a given day). Use climate to choose a season to visit; check a weather forecast in the final days before travel.
Why does the temperature look different from the live weather?
Live weather is a single moment; climate averages are a month's mean. A city might have an average July of 22°C but reach 32°C on a hot afternoon. The average tells you what to expect overall, not the extreme.
Are precipitation figures accurate everywhere?
ERA5 is reliable for broad patterns but can underestimate local rainfall in mountainous or data-sparse regions. Treat the figures as a good comparative guide between cities rather than an exact local forecast.
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