Editing Dorset (section)

===Climate===
{{climate chart|[[Weymouth, Dorset]]
| 4.5| 9.0|84.3
| 4.1| 8.9|60.5
| 5.2|10.6|58.1
| 6.6|12.9|52.4
| 9.3|15.7|44.6
|12.0|18.1|45.9
|14.0|20.0|40.7
|14.4|20.3|55.4
|12.7|18.7|54.9
|10.4|15.5|82.7
| 7.4|12.2|98.7
| 5.1| 9.7|92.2
|float=right|clear=right
|source=[[Met Office]], 1991–2020<ref>{{cite web | year = 2021 | url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gbypzdmp7 | title = Station: Weymouth, Wyke Regis | publisher = [[Met Office|Meteorological (Met) Office]] | access-date =1 August 2022}}</ref>
}}
Dorset's climate of warm summers and mild winters is partly due to its position on Britain's south coast. The third most southerly county in the UK, Dorset is less affected by the more intense Atlantic winds than [[Cornwall]] and Devon. Dorset, along with the entire [[South West England]], has higher winter temperatures, average {{convert|4.5|to|8.7|C|F}}, than the rest of the United Kingdom.<ref name="winter">{{cite web |year=2001 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/16.gif |title=Mean Temperature Winter Average |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=14 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109072339/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/16.gif |archive-date=9 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Dorset maintains higher summer temperatures than Devon and Cornwall, with average highs of {{convert|19.1|to|22.2|C|F}}.<ref name="summer">{{cite web |year=2001 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmax/14.gif |title=Maximum Temperature Summer Average |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=14 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109072700/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmax/14.gif |archive-date=9 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Excluding hills such as the Dorset Downs, the average annual temperature of the county is {{convert|9.8|to|12|C|F}}.<ref name="annual">{{cite web |year=2001 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif |title=Mean Temperature Annual Average |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=14 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109065731/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif |archive-date=9 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The south coast counties of Dorset, Hampshire, [[West Sussex]], [[East Sussex]] and [[Kent]] enjoy more sunshine than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, receiving 1,541–1,885 hours a year.<ref name="sunshine">{{cite web |year=2001 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/ss/17.gif |title=Sunshine Duration Annual Average |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=14 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202183238/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/ss/17.gif |archive-date=2 December 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Average annual rainfall varies across the county—southern and eastern coastal areas receive {{convert|700|–|800|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year; the Dorset Downs receive between {{convert|1000|and(-)|1,250|mm|in|abbr=on}} per year; less than much of Devon and Cornwall to the west but more than counties to the east.<ref name="rainfall">{{cite web |year=2011 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/8110_1km/Rainfall_Average_1981-2010_17.gif |title=Rainfall Amount Annual Average 1981–2010 |publisher=[[Met Office]] |access-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107151017/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/8110_1km/Rainfall_Average_1981-2010_17.gif |archive-date=7 January 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{{excerpt|Weymouth, Dorset|Climate|only=templates|templates=weather box}}{{clear right}}