Climate & Energy Design Data
Climate Design Data: Edinburgh, UK
How to research climate design data for a specific site in Edinburgh — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.
Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames GB dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/GB.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2650225). Regulatory starting point: [UK and devolved building-control authorities](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Climate screening data from the [NASA POWER Climatology API documentation](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/climatology/) and [exact point response](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/api/temporal/climatology/point?parameters=T2M%2CT2M_MAX%2CT2M_MIN%2CRH2M%2CPRECTOTCORR%2CWS10M&community=SB&longitude=-3.19648&latitude=55.95206&format=JSON), retrieved 2026-08-31; source period: 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020). NASA POWER values are gridded screening statistics, not code design conditions or guaranteed local observations.
Direct answer
NASA POWER's 2001–2020 climatology at the Edinburgh reference point reports an annual mean 2 m temperature of 8.4 °C and relative humidity of 88.4%. The highest monthly maximum is 25.5 °C in August, while the lowest monthly minimum is -5.7 °C in December; these are screening statistics, not code design temperatures. The point response uses LST and the 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020); its annual corrected precipitation is 2.43 mm/day and annual 10 m wind speed is 5.59 m/s. For climate design data, use the 25.5 °C and -5.7 °C monthly extrema to screen seasonal exposure, then obtain the adopted percentile design conditions. NASA POWER is gridded climatology: verify elevation, microclimate, urban exposure, station or weather-file suitability, current code edition and the authority's required source before design use.
Prepared by Harth · Harth transformed the cited NASA POWER climatology into this screening table; project design conditions and local applicability remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.
What must be verified for Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is represented here at approximately 55.9521, -3.1965 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.
How should climate design data be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This climate-design-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Edinburgh site remain authoritative.
Which related searches does this primary location record cover?
This primary route consolidates the location evidence needed for Climate Design Data, Weather File Guide, Overheating Weather Data, Building Climate Checklist. A narrower route should be released only when it adds a materially different official source, calculation, process, threshold or worked example.
Edinburgh NASA POWER monthly climate screening table
| Month | Mean °C | Monthly max °C | Monthly min °C | RH % | Precipitation mm/day | Wind at 10 m m/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.40 | 11.44 | -4.88 | 93.60 | 2.40 | 6.87 |
| February | 3.38 | 12.58 | -4.83 | 91.91 | 2.13 | 6.41 |
| March | 4.62 | 17.29 | -5.12 | 88.93 | 1.93 | 6.14 |
| April | 6.93 | 19.00 | -4.06 | 85.88 | 1.77 | 5.28 |
| May | 9.76 | 23.00 | -0.53 | 83.16 | 1.92 | 5.05 |
| June | 12.65 | 24.95 | 3.07 | 83.56 | 2.74 | 4.62 |
| July | 14.45 | 25.39 | 6.13 | 83.96 | 2.95 | 4.46 |
| August | 14.09 | 25.48 | 5.98 | 85.35 | 3.22 | 4.73 |
| September | 12.15 | 22.23 | 2.47 | 86.94 | 2.13 | 5.39 |
| October | 9.22 | 18.40 | -0.21 | 90.34 | 3.00 | 5.79 |
| November | 6.07 | 14.45 | -2.24 | 93.12 | 2.63 | 6.10 |
| December | 3.94 | 12.76 | -5.68 | 94.11 | 2.34 | 6.35 |
Month-by-month climate interpretation
- January: mean temperature 3.40 °C is 5.01 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 16.32 °C. Relative humidity is 93.60% (5.21 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.40 mm/day is 0.03 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- February: mean temperature 3.38 °C is 5.03 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 17.41 °C. Relative humidity is 91.91% (3.52 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.13 mm/day is 0.30 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- March: mean temperature 4.62 °C is 3.79 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 22.41 °C. Relative humidity is 88.93% (0.54 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.93 mm/day is 0.50 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- April: mean temperature 6.93 °C is 1.48 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 23.06 °C. Relative humidity is 85.88% (2.51 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.77 mm/day is 0.66 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- May: mean temperature 9.76 °C is 1.35 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 23.53 °C. Relative humidity is 83.16% (5.23 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 1.92 mm/day is 0.51 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- June: mean temperature 12.65 °C is 4.24 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 21.88 °C. Relative humidity is 83.56% (4.83 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.74 mm/day is 0.31 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
- July: mean temperature 14.45 °C is 6.04 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.26 °C. Relative humidity is 83.96% (4.43 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.95 mm/day is 0.52 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
- August: mean temperature 14.09 °C is 5.68 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.50 °C. Relative humidity is 85.35% (3.04 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 3.22 mm/day is 0.79 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
- September: mean temperature 12.15 °C is 3.74 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 19.76 °C. Relative humidity is 86.94% (1.45 points below annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.13 mm/day is 0.30 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
- October: mean temperature 9.22 °C is 0.81 °C above the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 18.61 °C. Relative humidity is 90.34% (1.95 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 3.00 mm/day is 0.57 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
- November: mean temperature 6.07 °C is 2.34 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 16.69 °C. Relative humidity is 93.12% (4.73 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.63 mm/day is 0.20 mm/day wetter than the annual daily rate.
- December: mean temperature 3.94 °C is 4.47 °C below the annual mean; the monthly max–min span is 18.44 °C. Relative humidity is 94.11% (5.72 points above annual), while corrected precipitation at 2.34 mm/day is 0.09 mm/day drier than the annual daily rate.
Harth retrieved this point climatology from NASA POWER API v2.9.7 for location record 2650225. It is a reproducible screening dataset, not an hourly weather file, forecast, code design condition or substitute for local professional review.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all climate data guidance
- Climate Design Data: Glasgow, UK
- Climate Design Data: Aberdeen, UK
- Climate Design Data: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Climate Design Data: Preston, UK
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames GB dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2650225). Regulatory starting point: UK and devolved building-control authorities. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Climate screening data from the NASA POWER Climatology API documentation and exact point response, retrieved 2026-08-31; source period: 20-year Meteorological and Solar Monthly & Annual Climatologies (January 2001 - December 2020). NASA POWER values are gridded screening statistics, not code design conditions or guaranteed local observations.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does NASA POWER climatology show for Edinburgh?
For the Edinburgh reference point, the 2001–2020 NASA POWER climatology reports 8.4 °C annual mean temperature, 88.4% relative humidity and 2.43 mm/day corrected precipitation. The monthly maximum peaks at 25.5 °C in August.
Can the Edinburgh climatology replace project design temperatures or an hourly weather file?
No. The Edinburgh response is gridded monthly climatology; its lowest monthly minimum of -5.7 °C in December is not a code percentile or observed site extreme. Verify elevation, local exposure, the required weather file or design-condition source and the current adopted code.
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