Editing Islands of the Clyde (section)

== Climate ==
[[File:Castleisland.jpg|thumb|[[Castle Island, Scotland|Castle Island]] from [[Little Cumbrae]]]]

The Firth of Clyde lies between 55 and 56 degrees north latitude. This is the same latitude as [[Labrador]] in Canada and north of the [[Aleutian Islands]]. However, the influence of the [[North Atlantic Current|North Atlantic Drift]]—the northern extension of the [[Gulf Stream]]—moderates the winter weather. As a result, the area enjoys a mild, damp oceanic climate. Temperatures are generally cool, averaging about {{convert|6|°C|°F|abbr=on|lk=on}} in January and {{convert|14|°C|°F|abbr=on}} in July at sea level.<ref name=met>[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html "Regional mapped climate averages"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120804165705/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html |date=4 August 2012 }} Met Office. Retrieved 4 September 2009.</ref> Snow seldom lies at sea level, and frosts are generally less frequent than they are on the mainland. In common with most islands off the west coast of Scotland, the average annual rainfall is generally high: between {{convert|1300|mm|in|abbr=on}} on Bute, in the Cumbraes, and in the south of Arran, and {{convert|1900|mm|in|abbr=on}} in the north of Arran. The Arran mountains are even wetter: Their summits receive over {{convert|2550|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain annually. May, June and July are the sunniest months:  on average, there is a total of 200 hours of bright sunshine during that 3-month period each year. Southern Bute benefits from a particularly large number of sunny days.<ref name=met/>