Edinburgh records about 708mm of rain across roughly 153 wet days a year, which is a 42% chance on an average day. October is the wettest month at 65mm (9% of the annual total) and April the driest at 41mm. Local rain type: drizzle. Edinburgh rain arrives horizontally — wind-proof clothing beats umbrellas. Pack layers and a waterproof shell for any visit.
Chance of rain on an average day: 42%
Rainfall climatology for Edinburgh. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 708mm |
| Rain days per year | 153 |
| Odds on an average day | 42% |
| Wettest month | October — 65mm over 15 days |
| Driest month | April — 41mm over 10 days |
| Rain type | drizzle |
| Best dry window | May and June offer the best odds of dry, clear days with long northern daylight hours. |
| Worst rain window | October through December brings the shortest days and most persistent wet weather. |
October delivers 59% more rain than April (65mm vs 41mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 9% of the annual total, so rain in Edinburgh is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Edinburgh rain is mostly persistent drizzle, where a waterproof shell beats an umbrella.
Rain falls on about 15 days in October against 10 in April — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57mm | 13 | 43% | 7°C |
| February | 42mm | 10 | 33% | 7°C |
| March | 51mm | 12 | 40% | 9°C |
| April | 41mm | 10 | 33% | 11°C |
| May | 51mm | 12 | 40% | 15°C |
| June | 51mm | 12 | 40% | 17°C |
| July | 57mm | 13 | 43% | 19°C |
| August | 65mm | 15 | 50% | 19°C |
| September | 57mm | 13 | 43% | 17°C |
| October | 65mm | 15 | 50% | 15°C |
| November | 62mm | 14 | 47% | 11°C |
| December | 57mm | 13 | 43% | 9°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Edinburgh we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Edinburgh records rain on roughly 153 days a year — about a 42% chance on any given day — totalling around 708mm.
October, with about 65mm over 15 rain days. That is 9% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
April is the driest month at 41mm across roughly 10 days. May and June offer the best odds of dry, clear days with long northern daylight hours.
Edinburgh rain arrives horizontally — wind-proof clothing beats umbrellas. Pack layers and a waterproof shell for any visit.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.