Cornwall for the most part is surrounded by sea, and it is hardly surprising that the sea exerts a marked influence on the weather and climate of the county.

On the eastern edge of the Gulf Stream the greatest effect is felt in winter, when temperatures are generally higher than would be normally expected at such latitudes; the mean January temperature in Cornwall is similar to such Mediterranean resorts as Benidorm, Nice, Naples and Corfu! In summer, however, the sea does moderate the highest temperatures.

During the winter the temperature rarely falls below freezing (0°C) and in summer, although the mean maximum is around 19°C, the daytime maximum often reaches 21°C and occasionally 30°C.

Rain falls the year round, with a distinct maximum during winter, mainly from the regular procession of weather fronts that move east across the Atlantic and the U.K.

In summer these fronts are generally less frequent, taking a more northerly track and are much weaker, so the rain is often derived from thunderstorms generated over France and drifting north across southern England, usually during the evening and overnight.

Cornwall can expect well over 1500 hours of sunshine annually and, whilst May is usually the sunniest month, May to July average around 7 hours of sunshine a day.

From a sailor's and windsurfer's viewpoint, the exposed coastal waters around the county yield a mean wind speed force 4 - 5 in winter and 3 - 4 in summer. Gales can be expected around 10 days per month from December to February, but on average less than 1 day per month from May to August.

The sea temperature varies from 9 - 10°C in February to 16 - 17°C in August.

Newquay (Atlantic Coast)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hours of sun	59.6	83	131.2	189.9	219.7	216.5	204.1	193.5	157.6	11.3	73.1	55.2
Max. Temp Celcius	8.2	8	8	1.6	14	17	18.3	18.5	17.1	14.4	0.9	9.3
Min. Temp Celcius	3.2	2.8	2.8	5.4	7.9	10.7	12.5	12.7	11.2	9.1	5.9	4.5
Sea Temp.	8	9	9	10	11	12	15	16	14	13	13	8
Rainfall (mm)	113	91	80	52	61	56	64	73	81	92	111	116
Bude (Atlantic Coast)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hours of sun	56.4	78.1	127.4	179.1	209.6	198.1	188.8	180.3	148.1	107.4	66.8	15.1
Max. Temp Celcius	8.5	8.3	10	12	14.8	17.4	18.7	18.9	17.6	15.1	11.4	9.7
Min. Temp Celcius	3.1	2.8	3.8	5.1	7.7	10.5	12.3	12.5	10.9	8.7	5.7	4.4
Sea Temp.	9	8	9	10	11	13	15	15	14	10	12	9
Rainfall (mm)	93	67	62	49	53	51	66	75	79	83	103	95
St Ives (Far West)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hours of sun	55.7	79.7	124.7	181.3	215.6	212	200.4	187.3	151.9	107.6	68.5	50.6
Max. Temp Celcius	8.5	8.2	9.7	11.5	14.2	16.9	18.4	18.6	17.1	14.5	11.1	9.6
Min. Temp Celcius	4	3.6	4.6	5.8	8.1	10.6	12.4	12.7	11.5	9.6	6.5	5.3
Sea Temp.	8	9	10	10	11	12	14	16	14	13	12	9
Rainfall (mm)	129	106	88	55	66	61	66	75	86	100	119	132
Fowey (Riviera Coast)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hours of sun	59	64	110	179	189	166	179	184	123	90	97	42
Max. Temp Celcius	8.7	8.6	10.1	12.3	14.9	17.8	19.5	19.4	17.7	15.1	11.5	9.9
Min. Temp Celcius	3.5	3.2	4.2	5.6	8	10.7	12.4	12.6	11.1	9.1	5.9	47
Sea Temp.	8	9	10	11	11	13	14	16	15	14	13	10
Rainfall (mm)	140	102	122	55	69	70	61	66	88	126	117	157
Falmouth (Riveria Coast)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Hours of sun	58	78	120.2	180.9	216.2	215.3	209.3	192.3	152.4	104.6	71.8	51.9
Max. Temp Celcius	8.8	8.5	9.8	11.9	14.5	17.4	19.1	19	17.2	14.6	11.4	9.9
Min. Temp Celcius	3.9	3.5	4.5	5.8	8.1	10.8	12.5	12.8	11.3	5.9	6.3	5.1
Sea Temp.	8	9	9	10	11	12	15	16	14	13	13	8
Rainfall (mm)	130	103	92	61	64	59	65	79	91	99	127	132

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