London records about 602mm of rain across roughly 156 wet days a year, which is a 43% chance on an average day. October is the wettest month at 69mm (11% of the annual total) and February the driest at 41mm. Local rain type: drizzle. Always carry a compact umbrella. London rain is more persistent drizzle than downpour — a waterproof jacket often works better than an umbrella.
Chance of rain on an average day: 43%
Rainfall climatology for London. 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 | 602mm |
| Rain days per year | 156 |
| Odds on an average day | 43% |
| Wettest month | October — 69mm over 18 days |
| Driest month | February — 41mm over 11 days |
| Rain type | drizzle |
| Best dry window | Late June through mid-August offers the longest dry spells, though showers remain possible any day. |
| Worst rain window | October through December brings the most rain days and gloomy overcast conditions. |
October delivers 68% more rain than February (69mm vs 41mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 11% of the annual total, so rain in London is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
London rain is mostly persistent drizzle, where a waterproof shell beats an umbrella.
Rain falls on about 18 days in October against 11 in February — 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 | 55mm | 14 | 47% | 8°C |
| February | 41mm | 11 | 37% | 8°C |
| March | 42mm | 11 | 37% | 10°C |
| April | 44mm | 11 | 37% | 14°C |
| May | 49mm | 13 | 43% | 17°C |
| June | 45mm | 12 | 40% | 21°C |
| July | 45mm | 12 | 40% | 23°C |
| August | 50mm | 13 | 43% | 23°C |
| September | 49mm | 13 | 43% | 21°C |
| October | 69mm | 18 | 60% | 17°C |
| November | 59mm | 15 | 50% | 14°C |
| December | 55mm | 14 | 47% | 10°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For London 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.
London records rain on roughly 156 days a year — about a 43% chance on any given day — totalling around 602mm.
October, with about 69mm over 18 rain days. That is 11% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
February is the driest month at 41mm across roughly 11 days. Late June through mid-August offers the longest dry spells, though showers remain possible any day.
Always carry a compact umbrella. London rain is more persistent drizzle than downpour — a waterproof jacket often works better than an umbrella.
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.