The best times to visit Loch Ness for ideal weather are

June 25th to August 12th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Loch Ness Travel Info

Weather in Loch Ness

Temperature

Average temperatures in Loch Ness vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is far less temperate than some — in the 3rd percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Loch Ness, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early July where highs are regularly around 66.7°F (19.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 46°F (7.8°C) at night.

Loch Ness Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Loch Ness Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Loch Ness Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Loch Ness Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Loch Ness Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 40.6 36 29.8
Feb 42.7 36.8 29.2
Mar 46.5 39.3 30.7
Apr 53.6 44.3 33.3
May 57.1 47.9 37
Jun 61.1 52.8 41.9
Jul 65.1 56.3 44.8
Aug 63.2 54.9 43.9
Sep 59.8 51.8 41.1
Oct 53.3 46.3 36.5
Nov 46 40.4 33.3
Dec 40.3 35.1 28.4

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 4.8 2.2 -1.2
Feb 5.9 2.7 -1.6
Mar 8.1 4.1 -0.7
Apr 12 6.8 0.7
May 13.9 8.8 2.8
Jun 16.2 11.6 5.5
Jul 18.4 13.5 7.1
Aug 17.3 12.7 6.6
Sep 15.4 11 5.1
Oct 11.8 7.9 2.5
Nov 7.8 4.7 0.7
Dec 4.6 1.7 -2

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Loch Ness are September, April, and then June. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid October. For example, on the week of October 8th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late October with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of October 22nd.

When can you find snow in Loch Ness? Weather stations report very large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around October, especially close to mid October. The best time to ski (if at all) in Loch Ness is often around around April 23rd when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Loch Ness.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Loch Ness (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 36% 5.6 4.8
Feb 30% 5.3 2.6
Mar 29% 4.8 2.8
Apr 26% 6.9 2.3
May 27% 0.8 2.8
Jun 26% 0 2.3
Jul 31% 0 3
Aug 33% 0 3.5
Sep 23% 0 2.4
Oct 35% 7.1 3.9
Nov 32% 5 3.9
Dec 38% 3.5 4.9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 36 14.2 12.2
Feb 30 13.5 6.6
Mar 29 12.2 7.1
Apr 26 17.5 5.8
May 27 2 7.1
Jun 26 0 5.8
Jul 31 0 7.6
Aug 33 0 8.9
Sep 23 0 6.1
Oct 35 18 9.9
Nov 32 12.7 9.9
Dec 38 8.9 12.4

 

Humidity and Wind

Loch Ness has some extremely humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is May (66.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (81.8%).

Wind in Loch Ness is usually calm. The windiest month is January, followed by March and February. January’s average wind speed of around 5.8 knots (6.7 MPH or 10.8 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early March where average top sustained speeds reach 12.5 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Loch Ness.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 5.8 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze
Feb 5.5 Light breeze 10 Gentle breeze
Mar 5.8 Light breeze 10.6 Gentle breeze
Apr 5 Light breeze 9.7 Gentle breeze
May 4.7 Light breeze 8.8 Gentle breeze
Jun 3.8 Barely noticeable 7.2 Gentle breeze
Jul 3.8 Barely noticeable 7.3 Gentle breeze
Aug 3.8 Barely noticeable 7.3 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.4 Light breeze 8.3 Gentle breeze
Oct 4.7 Light breeze 9 Gentle breeze
Nov 4.9 Light breeze 9.3 Gentle breeze
Dec 5.3 Light breeze 9.9 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 79.2%
Feb 77%
Mar 71.6%
Apr 66.4%
May 66.2%
Jun 70.4%
Jul 71.2%
Aug 74.2%
Sep 75.3%
Oct 78.5%
Nov 81.4%
Dec 81.8%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Loch Ness?

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for the United Kingdom; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 27, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Loch Ness, the United Kingdom is July, followed by January and September. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Loch Ness in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 66.4 in December means 66.4% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Loch Ness Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 59.8°F (15.4°C) and 45.1°F (7.3°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 8 to 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the slowest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are brisk. These months see moderate precipitation with 8 to 10 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Loch Ness, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 61.9°F (16.6°C) and 41.3°F (5.2°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 7 to 11 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Loch Ness to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 45.1°F (7.3°C) and 39.5°F (4.2°C). On average, it rains or snows a great amount: 8 to 12 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United Kingdom › Loch Ness, the United Kingdom