Editing Cambridge (section)

=== Climate ===
The city has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=26530&cityname=Cambridge,+England,+United+Kingdom&units=|title=Cambridge, England Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528155925/https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=26530&cityname=Cambridge%2C+England%2C+United+Kingdom&units=|url-status=live}}</ref> Cambridge has an official weather observing station, at the [[Cambridge University Botanic Garden]], about {{convert|1|mile|spell=in}} south of the city centre. In addition, the Digital Technology Group of the university's [[Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge|Department of Computer Science and Technology]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Cambridge University Computer Laboratory Digital Technology Group|url=http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/www/|access-date=26 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017141425/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/www/|archive-date=17 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> maintains a weather station on the [[West Cambridge]] site, displaying current weather conditions online via web browsers or an [[mobile app|app]], and also an archive dating back to 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title = Weather Station, Cambridge University Computer Laboratory Digital Technology Group|url = http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/weather/|access-date = 26 September 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140922085922/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/weather/|archive-date = 22 September 2014|url-status = live}}</ref>

The city, like most of the UK, has a [[oceanic climate|maritime climate]] highly influenced by the [[Gulf Stream]]. Located in the driest region of Britain,<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7V7pNKAE8AsC&pg=PA1525 |title=Mapping the Distribution of Flowering Plants |first=Franklyn |last=Perring |journal=New Scientist |date=16 June 1960 |page=1525 |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203053122/https://books.google.com/books?id=7V7pNKAE8AsC&pg=PA1525 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |title=Climate & Soils |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |year=2012 |quote=Cambridge is in the driest region of Britain and has a more continental climate than most of Britain. |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401045512/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |archive-date=1 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cambridge's rainfall averages around {{convert|570|mm|2|abbr=on}} per year, around half the national average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/customers/water-efficiency-strategy |title=Our strategy |publisher=Cambridge Water |year=2012 |quote=We live in one of the driest areas of the UK. The East of England's rainfall of conditions is only half the national average and Cambridge is one of the driest parts of this region. |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327201856/http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/customers/water-efficiency-strategy |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The driest recent year was in 2011 with {{convert|380.4|mm|2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |title=Climate and Soils |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111553/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0|archive-date= 26 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> of rain at the Botanic Garden and {{convert|347.2|mm|2|abbr=on}} at the NIAB site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |title=NIAB weather data |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215430/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |archive-date=29 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This is just below the [[semi-arid]] precipitation threshold for the area, which is 350&nbsp;mm of annual precipitation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mindat.org/climate-BSh.html|title=Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate|website=www.mindat.org|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401015300/https://www.mindat.org/climate-BSh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, 2012 was the wettest year on record, with {{convert|812.7|mm|2|abbr=on}} reported.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=116&pid=2722&prcid=4&ppid=2722|title= Wettest year since records began |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130703145923/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=116&pid=2722&prcid=4&ppid=2722 |archive-date=3 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Snowfall accumulations are usually small, in part because of Cambridge's low elevation, and low precipitation tendency during transitional snow events.

Owing to its low-lying, inland, and easterly position within the British Isles, summer temperatures tend to be somewhat higher than areas further west, and often rival or even exceed those recorded in the London area. Cambridge also often records the annual highest national temperature in any given year&nbsp;– {{convert|30.2|C|F}} in July 2008 at NIAB<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2008/july.html|title=UK Climate: July 2008|publisher=Met Office|access-date=21 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215447/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2008/july.html|archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref> and {{convert|30.1|C|F}} in August 2007 at the Botanic Garden<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2007&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|title=Anomaly details for Station Cambridge (B. GDNS): Maximum value of daily maximum temperature, August 2007|work=[[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160218/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2007&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> are two recent examples. Other years include 1876, 1887, 1888, 1892, 1897, 1899 and 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trevorharley.com/hottest-day-of-each-year-from-1875.html|title=Hottest day of each year from 1875|publisher=Trevor Harley|access-date=22 April 2020|archive-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321181641/https://www.trevorharley.com/hottest-day-of-each-year-from-1875.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The absolute maximum stands at {{convert|39.9|C|F}} recorded on 19 July 2022 at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2019/new-official-highest-temperature-in-uk-confirmed |title=New official highest temperature in UK confirmed |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729160459/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2019/new-official-highest-temperature-in-uk-confirmed |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Before this date, Cambridge held the record for the [[United Kingdom weather records|all-time maximum temperature in the UK]], after recording {{Convert|38.7|C|F|abbr=on}} on 25 July 2019. Typically the temperature will reach {{convert|25.1|C|F}} or higher on over 25 days of the year over the 1981–2010 period,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=SU&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Summer days (TX > 25&nbsp;°C)|work=[[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030040/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=SU&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> with the annual warmest day averaging {{convert|31.5|C|F}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Maximum value of daily maximum temperature|work=[[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030254/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> over the same period.

The absolute minimum temperature recorded at the Botanic Garden site was {{convert|-17.2|C|F}}, recorded in February 1947,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|title=Botanic Garden Extremes 1931–60|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111540/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> although a minimum of {{convert|-17.8|C|F}} was recorded at the now defunct observatory site in December 1879.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torro.org.uk/site/lowtempsyear.php|title=8 December 1879|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119082325/http://www.torro.org.uk/site/lowtempsyear.php|archive-date=19 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> More recently the temperature fell to {{convert|-15.3|C|F}} on 11 February 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/coldest-temperatures-of-winter-so-far/|title=Coldest temperatures of winter so far|work=Met Office News Blog|date=11 February 2012|access-date=27 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422043637/http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/coldest-temperatures-of-winter-so-far/|archive-date=22 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{convert|-12.2|C|F}} on 22 January 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/overnight-minimum-temperatures/|title=22nd Jan 2013 Temperatures|work=Met Office News Blog|date=22 January 2013|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126094159/http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/overnight-minimum-temperatures/|archive-date=26 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and {{convert|-10.9|C|F}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|title=December 2010|publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111540/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> on 20 December 2010. The average frequency of air frosts ranges from 42.8 days at the NIAB site,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u1214b469|title=Cambridge 1981–2010 averages|publisher=Met Office|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905105640/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u1214b469|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> to 48.3 days at the Botanic Garden<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=FD&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Frost days (TN < 0&nbsp;°C)|work=[[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030435/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=FD&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> per year over the 1981–2010 period. Typically the coldest night of the year at the Botanic Garden will fall to {{convert|-8.0|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Minimum value of daily minimum temperature|work=[[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030359/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Such minimum temperatures and frost averages are typical for inland areas across much of southern and central England.

Sunshine averages around 1,500 hours a year or around 35% of possible, a level typical of most locations in inland central England.

{{Cambridge weatherbox}}