Climate zones in United Kingdom, 1991 to 2020
Share of United Kingdom's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 479,049 map cells used cover 99% of the country's outline (about 240,794 km²).
By major group: C (temperate) 100%, D (cold (continental)) 0.3%, E (polar) 0.1%.
Almost all of United Kingdom is one climate: Cfb, temperate oceanic, which covers 97% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020. In plain terms, temperate oceanic means mild and damp, with no extremes. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 3.3% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Cfb (temperate oceanic).
How United Kingdom's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 8.4% | 1% | Cfb +7.3 percentage points | Cfc -6.6 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 2.6% | 0.3% | Cfb +2.3 percentage points | Cfc -2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 3.3% | 0.3% | Cfb +3 percentage points | Cfc -2.7 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 5.5% | 0.4% | Csb +1.5 percentage points | Cfc -3.1 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cfb Temperate oceanic | 89% | 97% | 99% | 100% | 98% |
| Cfc Subpolar oceanic | 9.7% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.4% | - |
| Dfc Subarctic (boreal) | 0.4% | 0.3% | - | 0.1% | - |
| ET Tundra | 0.7% | 0.1% | - | - | - |
| Cfa Humid subtropical | - | - | - | - | 0.6% |
| Csb Warm-summer Mediterranean | - | - | - | - | 1.5% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in United Kingdom and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| London | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
| Birmingham | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
| Glasgow | Cfb Temperate oceanic | Cfb Temperate oceanic |
Zones found in United Kingdom
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Cfb. See data sources and licences.