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, more than 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 14.4oC. For information about summer temperatures across Scotland, please see the sheet '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 more than 1oC - from 7.9oC in 1973, to 9.39oC in 2023.  For information about winter temperatures across Scotland, please see the sheet 'Winter Temperatures'. 

Scotland Wide Trends: 
In figure 5, Scotland’s overall average temperatures are compared to that of Aberdeen. 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.