Edinburgh has a temperate, maritime climate which is relatively mild considering the city's northern latitude, but may still frustrate new expats with plenty of cold, rain, wind and fog year-round. Edinburgh, like the rest of the UK, has very unpredictable weather, with sunny summer days sometimes rapidly changing into damp, showery bleakness or vice versa.
Summers can be pleasant though, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine, although days might start out misty. Winters are long, damp and frosty. The winter months of December, January and February are the rainiest (although rain is likely in any season), but snow is infrequent. The average temperatures in summer, between June and August, range between 49°F (9°C) and 66°F (19°C). The average temperatures in winter, between December and February, range between 34°F (1°C) and 45°F (7°C).
Active expats will want to get in as much of their outdoor exploits during spring and summer, between April and August, as the rest of the year may be less conducive to an active lifestyle.