Average Temperature (Winter)

Across Scotland, average winter temperatures range from below -1°C to above 6°C, with a mean of 5.77°C across the country (Met Office, 2024). This mean is 1.17°C colder than the UK wide average which sits at 6.95°C (Met Office, 2024). 
In the East of Scotland, winter temperatures are slightly colder than the country wide average, recording 5.45°C for the 1991-2020 period (Met Office, 2024). Looking at figure 1, it can be observed that the West is more variable in winter temperature than the East, with slightly warmer coastlines, but intense cold in the high-altitude mountains. 

Focusing on just the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire local authorities, figure 2 displays some interesting patterns. As is expected, the higher altitude mountainous regions are much colder, while low altitude regions vary from about 1 - 4°C. The coldest coastal areas are found to the North and South of Aberdeen, near Peterhead and Inverbervie/Johnshaven. A notable feature is a much warmer spot near Banff which continues along the Moray coast. This is likely a result of the area's shelter from prevailing Atlantic winds, as it is surrounded by mountains to the south and west (NatureScot, 2019). 

Controls on Scotland’s Temperature 
Scotland’s temperature patterns are controlled by many interrelated factors, including latitude, topography, altitude, prevailing winds, and air masses. Across the ~200 km width of Scotland the climate is hugely varied, split between three distinct climate zones of the West, East, and North (Scotland’s Environment, 2014). 
Being surrounded by water, the seas play a key role in controlling Scotland’s climate. One major component is the influence of the North Atlantic Current, flowing north along the West Coast of Scotland. With heat from the current directed toward the country by South-westerly prevailing winds (Scottish Government, 2011), this regulates the temperature of the West Coast (Met Office, n.d.). The East coast is less affected by the North Atlantic Current, as it is protected by mountain ranges like the Grampian Mountains (Scotland’s Environment, 2014). This creates an effect known as a rain shadow, resulting in lower rainfall and more variable temperatures in the East. This explains the lower winter temperatures of low altitude East Coast regions, as they do not experience the same regulatory effect of the NAC as the West Coast. 

It is also crucial to note that these temperature patterns are changing in response to anthropogenic climate change. Major warming has been recorded over Scotland in recent decades – to learn more please see the sheets ‘Aberdeen City Temperature Trends’ and ‘Scotland’s Projected Temperature’.