Are June and winter the only seasons in Scotland?

Find out more in our UofGLiving guide to Scottish weather🌦️

It was the legendary Scottish comedian Billy Connolly who famously quipped that, “there are two seasons in Scotland: June and winter” but is that a fair assessment? Whilst it can undoubtedly feel like that sometimes, we do get to experience a wonderfully varied range of weather over the course of the average year (sometimes over the course of a day!) so read on to find out more.

To help you acclimatise to your new Uni home, we've collated a few facts and figures that should give you a better idea of what temperatures and conditions you can expect to see and, importantly, what clothes and accessories it may be advisable to acquire!

Glasgow, Scotland: 55.8609° N, 4.2514° W

Located as we are, in the North West of Great Britain, Glasgow's weather and climate is largely driven by the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf Stream and prevailing westerly winds. This gives us what the experts call a 'temperate maritime' or 'oceanic' climate.

In essence, this means that we generally experience a very stable climate with mild winters, cooler summers and, yes, our fair share of rain! Whilst this can seem a little bland, we are spared from many extreme weather events like droughts, hurricanes or blizzards so that's a positive!

To give an example of an average year in Glasgow, here's a breakdown of the temperature, rainfall and sunshine averages for each month drawn from Met Office statistics.

Dumfries, Scotland: 55.0701° N, 3.6052° W

Located 80 miles south of Glasgow, Dumfries is subject to exactly the same climatic conditions that drive the Glasgow weather so residents in Brooke House, Dumfries Hall and Laurieknowe Hall can expect similar forecasts over the course of the year. The more southerly and rural location may lead to slightly warmer summer temperatures and colder winter nights though! 

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing, so get yourself a sexy raincoat and live a little.” Billy Connolly

And who could argue with that! Experiencing a little wind and rain from time to time isn't going to have any impact on all the life-changing moments and experiences that you're going to have as a University of Glasgow student so grab yourself a few essentials and you'll be set for anything; rain, hail or shine!

Here are a few key items that you should pick up to help you with the Glasgow climate.

🌂 Umbrella

A good umbrella will keep you covered all year round! With the prevailing westerly winds, it can get a little blustery in Western Scotland, particularly around the Gilmorehill campus, so look for one with vents that can survive being turned inside out by an unexpected gust!

🥾 A sturdy pair of boots

Designer trainers tend not to react well to puddles full of fallen leaves in University Avenue or Kelvin Way so getting hold of a nice pair of waterproof boots that will keep you warm and dry through autumn and winter is a good call. 

🧥 A waterproof raincoat

Whether it's for autumn downpours or sudden spring showers, a good quality water and windproof jacket will make your commute to campus a lot more comfortable. In winter you can even layer up by wearing a fleece underneath to stay both warm and waterproof!

🧤Gloves, scarf and wooly hat

Keep the extremities warm and the rest will take care of itself! 

♨ Hot water bottle

When the temperatures do take a dive in autumn and winter, firing a hot water bottle under your duvet a few minutes before bedtime is a great way to ensure a cosy night.

UofG Style!

If you're looking to rep the Uni when you're out and about, many of these items are available in UofG Shop so head to their website to view the collection.

Getting ready for Spring!

There's an old saying in Scotland, 'Ne'er cast a cloot till May is oot', which basically means that you should keep your winter wardrobe handy until we reach May. It's time tested advice and gives a good guide for when you can start looking for something more summery to wear!

Keeping an eye of the forecast

Forewarned is forearmed as they say so keep yourself up to date with the weather forecast by following one of the dedicated weather channels and services. This includes, but is not limited to, the Weather Channel, the Met Office and BBC Weather📱

A Guide to Weather in Scotland by Visit Scotland

Find out more about the Scottish weather with this short film from VisitScotland!