The UK and the Isle of Man
A temperate, rather damp corner of the planet, kept mild by the sea.
Cfb
Much of the UK is Cfb: temperate (C), with no dry season (f) and a warm summer (b). Met Office: Climate zones
Marine west coast climates are labelled Cfb and Cfc. Encyclopaedia Britannica: marine west coast climate They sit on the western sides of continents, between 35° and 60° latitude, beyond the Mediterranean zone. Encyclopaedia Britannica: marine west coast climate
Why it is so mild
The UK is at the same latitude as most of Canada but has a much milder climate, thanks to the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic. Met Office: Climate zones
Without the Gulf Stream, the UK’s climate would be much colder. Met Office blog: What is the Gulf Stream and how does it affect UK weather? Cities in Canada at the same latitude as London often have much harsher winters. Met Office blog: What is the Gulf Stream and how does it affect UK weather?
The UK sits in a belt of mostly westerly winds, where low-pressure systems and fronts sweep in from the Atlantic. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles By the time air reaches the UK, the sea has toned down its extremes, so summers are usually cooler than on the continent and winters milder. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles
The sea’s warming and cooling effect is mostly felt within 15 to 20 miles of the coast. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles
In summer the jet stream usually sits north of the UK, bringing more settled weather; in winter it shifts south. Met Office: Global circulation patterns
North, south, east and west
Overall the south of the UK is usually warmer than the north, and the west wetter than the east. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles
In the UK, January is usually the coldest month and July the warmest. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles
Sheltered low spots that get more, and harder, frosts are called frost hollows. Met Office factsheet 4: Climate of the British Isles
The summits of Ben Nevis and Cairn Gorm in Scotland are in the tundra climate zone. Met Office: Climate zones
The Isle of Man
Britannica describes the Isle of Man’s climate as maritime temperate, with cool summers and mild winters. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isle of Man
The Isle of Man’s average mean temperature is 4.9 °C in February and 14.3 °C in August. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isle of Man
Its average yearly rainfall is about 1,140 mm. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isle of Man
Try it: put roughly those numbers into the Climate Maker and see which code comes out.
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