July scores 70/100 for outdoor ceremonies: moderate rain risk (8 wet days, 42mm), 21°C afternoons cooling to about 16°C for the reception, and 15.8 hours of daylight for the photography schedule. January is the month to avoid at 21/100.
July outdoor ceremony score: 70/100
Climate normals for Portsmouth rescored on wedding-specific weighting. Once your date falls inside the 14-day window the live forecast on this page takes over.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Best wedding month | July — 70/100 |
| Second choice | June — 66/100 |
| Month to avoid | January — 21/100 |
| Rain risk in the best month | Moderate — rain on about 8 days |
| Guest comfort | 97/100 at 21°C |
| Reception temperature | ≈ 16°C after sunset in July |
| Photo light | 11h of sun across a 15.8h day |
| Months scoring 65+ | 3 of 12 |
July keeps seated guests at 21°C in the afternoon and around 16°C after sunset — the closest Portsmouth gets to a ceremony that needs neither shade structures nor patio heaters.
Rain falls on roughly 8 days in July (moderate risk, 42mm). Book a covered backup you would genuinely be happy to use.
July gives 15.8 hours of daylight and about 11 hours of direct sun per day, so a late-afternoon ceremony puts portraits inside golden hour rather than after it.
January scores 21/100 for weddings in Portsmouth: 8°C highs, 72mm of rain and 5°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
Scored on rain risk, guest comfort, evening temperature and photographic light — deliberately different weighting from the travel score.
| Month | Wedding score | Rain risk | Afternoon | Evening | Guest comfort | Photo light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 8°C | 5°C | 52/100 | 8/100 |
| February | 34/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 8°C | 5°C | 52/100 | 24/100 |
| March | 38/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 10°C | 6°C | 59/100 | 28/100 |
| April | 45/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 13°C | 9°C | 69/100 | 39/100 |
| May | 54/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 16°C | 11°C | 80/100 | 46/100 |
| June | 66/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 19°C | 14°C | 90/100 | 83/100 |
| July | 70/100 | Moderate (8 days) | 21°C | 16°C | 97/100 | 82/100 |
| August | 66/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 21°C | 16°C | 97/100 | 76/100 |
| September | 57/100 | Moderate (9 days) | 19°C | 14°C | 90/100 | 44/100 |
| October | 37/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 16°C | 11°C | 80/100 | 20/100 |
| November | 29/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 13°C | 9°C | 69/100 | 2/100 |
| December | 23/100 | Moderate (13 days) | 10°C | 6°C | 59/100 | 0/100 |
Wedding weather is scored differently from travel weather: seated guests in formalwear tolerate a narrower band than sightseers, and the ceremony hour matters more than the daily average. Each month in Portsmouth is scored 0–100 on the weighting below.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Dry conditions | 38% | Share of days with measurable rain — the single factor most likely to force a backup plan. |
| Guest comfort | 27% | Distance from a 22°C daytime ideal, with an extra penalty for humid heat above 24°C. |
| Evening temperature | 20% | Modelled reception-hour temperature against an 18°C ideal for an outdoor evening. |
| Photo light | 15% | Sunshine hours and daylight length, which set the length and quality of the golden hour window. |
Based on long-run climate averages rather than a forecast. Plan the ceremony around the golden hour — see golden hour times for Portsmouth linked below.
July, at 70/100. It combines moderate rain risk with 21°C afternoons and roughly 16°C evenings, which is the most forgiving combination Portsmouth offers for seated guests.
January scores 21/100: 8°C highs, 72mm of rain over about 13 days and 5°C evenings make a fully outdoor plan fragile.
In July rain falls on roughly 8 of 30 days, so the single-day probability is about 27%. In January that rises to about 43%.
Yes. Even in the best month, rain risk in Portsmouth is moderate, so book covered space you would genuinely be happy to use rather than treating it as a late add-on.
July gives 15.8 hours of daylight and about 11 hours of direct sun. Put portraits in the final 60–90 minutes of daylight so they land inside golden hour rather than after it.