Cork Holiday Weather Overview
Cork is Ireland’s second city, and has a well deserved reputation for independence of spirit and feistiness. The city teems with cultural events and is a hub for traditional Irish music and dance, as well as good food and good craic.
Beyond Cork city centre, the surrounding area is packed with historic sites and family attractions. From Blarney Castle to the gorgeous, undulating coastline with its inlets and coves, Cork is a terrific destination for a family holiday - and with Cork’s temperate climate, it’s possible to visit at any time of the year.
The Weather in Cork
The weather in Cork is similar to the weather elsewhere in Ireland - mild, and occasionally wild. Warm summers give way to cool but often foggy winters, while rainfall is abundant throughout the year. There are no extremes of climate, and the weather in Cork is hardly ever disruptive to visitors or locals.
Cork in the Spring
Spring is a very popular time of year to visit Cork. The city is slow to warm up in spring, with daily highs ranging from around 7°C in March to 14°C in May, but when the spring does arrive it transforms the surrounding countryside. Overnight lows of around 5-9°C can be chilly, but there is often a lot of bright sunshine in the spring.
Bring layered clothing for a spring visit to Cork, plus a waterproof jacket - don’t forget that it can and does rain at any time.
Spring is a popular season for watersports along the coast, and for exploring tourist attractions such as Blarney Castle before they get too crowded.
Cork in the Summer
Cork in the summer is a city of festivals and events, with plenty going on for all tastes. The summer weather in Cork is largely warm, with daily highs reaching 20°C on average during August - but often it’s much warmer than this, with temperatures in the mid 20s making for a very pleasant holiday.
Summer evenings can still be cool, however, at only around 10°C, so you’ll want something with long sleeves even in August. Summer is Cork’s driest season, but that doesn’t mean you won’t catch a shower or two, so take an umbrella.
Cork in the Autumn
Autumn brings occasional stormy weather to Cork, with strong winds and lashing rain - but it also brings many cool, clear days which are perfect for exploring. Temperatures fall to approximately 10°C during the course of the autumn, and overnight lows of 5°C herald the arrival of winter later in the season. If you’re visiting Cork in the autumn, take a waterproof jacket and a sweater, but don’t allow the unpredictable weather to impact too much on what you’re doing.
Cork in the Winter
The winter months in Cork are quite mild, but often foggy. This is the wettest season and sometimes the rain can hang around for days - but the city and the coastline are still beautiful, and there are plenty of indoor attractions to keep you busy. Bring some warm clothing and something waterproof, but it rarely gets extremely cold. Daytime temperatures hover at around 8°C throughout the winter and nights rarely reach freezing.
Best months to visit Cork?
June and July are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Cork. The weather averages gathered from Cork weather forecast and Cork weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 17°c and average of 109.5333 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Cork?
February and March are the coldest months with temperature at around 4°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Cork?
December and October receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 106.65mm.
Travelling to Cork? Check out our Weather averages of Cork to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Cork section.