Editing Wiltshire (section)

==Climate==
Along with the rest of [[South West England]], Wiltshire has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than counties further east.<ref name=weather>{{cite web |title=South West England: climate |work=Met Office |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/sw |access-date=16 May 2017 |archive-date=25 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225164404/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/location/southwestengland/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The annual mean temperature is approximately {{cvt|10|°C|°F|1}}. Although there is a marked maritime influence, this is generally rather less pronounced than it is for other south-western counties, which are closer to the sea. July and August are the warmest months with mean daily maxima of approximately {{cvt|22|°C|°F|1}}. In winter mean minimum temperatures of {{cvt|1|°C|°F|1}} or {{cvt|2|°C|°F|1}} are usual and [[Freezing air temperature|air frost]] is frequent. In the summer the [[Azores]] high pressure affects south-west England; however, [[convective]] cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.<ref name=weather/>

In December 1998, there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton (Somerset). Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by [[Low-pressure area|Atlantic depressions]] or by [[convection]], though a proportion is caused orographically (uplift over hills). Autumn and winter are rainiest, caused by Atlantic depressions, which are then most active. Even so, any month can be the wettest or driest in a given year but the wettest is much more likely to be Oct-Mar, and the driest Apr-Sept. In summer, a greater proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. It is often the northern half of the county that sees most of the showers with south-westerly winds in summer, whereas in the south of the county, the proximity of a relatively cold [[English Channel]] often inhibits showers. In autumn and winter, however, the sea is often relatively warm, compared with the air passing over it and can often lead to a higher rainfall in the south of the county (e.g. Salisbury recorded over 200mm of rain in Nov 2009 and January 2014). Average rainfall for the county is around {{cvt|800|mm}}, drier parts averaging 700mm (28ins)and the wettest 900mm (around 35ins). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.<ref name=weather/>