Average Temperatures – Aberdeen City

Annual Trends:
Fig. 1 demonstrates the average monthly maximum and minimum temperatures of Aberdeen City, comparing values from 1961-1990 to those of 1991-2020. Both the maximum and minimum of the modern period are greater than the previous period, suggesting the city has warmed over time. In further support of this warming trend, Fig. 2 shows continuous temperature data for Aberdeen over 50 years. The trendline displays a clear upwards trend, with a lot of variation inbetween. Overall, temperatures in the city have been increasing over the last half century:

• In 2023, the annual average sat at 9.1°C, over 1°C higher than the 1973 value of 7.9°C (NOAA, 2024)
• Between the 1973-1983 period and the 2013-2023 period, average temperatures in Aberdeen increased by a degree from 7.98°C to 8.98°C (NOAA, 2024)

Summer Trends:
Fig. 3 shows Aberdeen's annual summer temperatures over the last 50 years. Summer temperatures have not undergone as much of a change as the overall yearly average. These is a lot of variation in the pattern, with years of extremes such as 1996 and 1997. As of 2023, the average summer temperature sat at 14.4°C. For information about summer temperatures across Scotland, please see 'Summer Temperatures'. 

Winter Trends:
Fig. 4 shows Aberdeen's annual winter temperatures over the last 50 years. These temperatures are much less variable than the summer temperatures and show a more consistently increasing trend. In the last 50 years, Aberdeen’s average winter temperature has increased by over 1°C: from 7.9°C in 1973, to 9.39°C in 2023.  For information about winter temperatures across Scotland, please see 'Winter Temperatures'. 

Scotland Wide Trends: 
Fig. 5 shows Scotland’s overall average temperatures compared to Aberdeen's. While the Scotland-wide data set is on a shorter timescale, this comparison still offers valuable insight: it seems Aberdeen is of above average temperature for Scotland and is increasing in temperature faster than is typical for the country.