Average Annual Rainfall in Braemar (1857–2026)

Precipitation in Braemar (1857–2026)

The average annual rainfall in Braemar is 883.9 mm, based on historical Met Office data for the period 1857–2026. This figure places Braemar in a moderately wet category for the United Kingdom, though it is far from the wettest spots in the western Highlands. Annual totals, however, fluctuate considerably: the driest year in the series recorded 601.0 mm in 1889, while the wettest year, 1872, reached 1519.0 mm.

Rainfall is distributed unevenly across the year. Autumn stands out as the wettest season with a total of 273 mm (September, October, November), followed closely by winter with 257 mm (December, January, February). Summer contributes 201 mm (June, July, August), and spring is the driest season with 182 mm (March, April, May). This marked autumn peak is typical for eastern Scotland, where Atlantic frontal systems become more frequent and vigorous from late September onwards.

Average rainfall by month

The table below shows, for each month, the long-term average monthly precipitation, the highest daily fall recorded in that month, and the average number of rain days (over 1 mm) per year. October is the wettest month on average, with 101.8 mm across the full period, and it also ties with January for the highest average number of rain days at 13.7. By contrast, June is the driest month with just 54.3 mm on average and the fewest rain days at 10.0.

Top 5 most intense rain days on record

The following table lists the five days with the highest recorded precipitation at the braemar station. Two of these events occurred in August, and another two in September, reflecting the late-summer and autumn window when short, intense convective showers can coincide with deep Atlantic depressions.

Annual precipitation series

This table shows the complete annual series for the braemar station, with the total rainfall for each year, the number of days with more than 1 mm, and the maximum daily fall in that year. The data run continuously from 1872 to 2005, with a gap in 1911 and a partial record for 2026. Note that 1959 and 1997 are marked by very low totals — 2.8 mm and 101.4 mm respectively — likely due to incomplete observations rather than true drought conditions. The most recent full year displayed, 2005, registered 336.8 mm over 59 rain days, well below the long-term average.

The chart shows the complete annual series. The table lists the most notable years; the full series comes from Met Office.

Frequently asked questions

How much rain falls annually in Braemar?

883.9 mm of average rainfall per year, according to the braemar station of Met Office for 1857–2026. That is somewhat drier than the Scottish average because Braemar lies east of the main mountain barrier, so it receives less orographic rain than places like Fort William.

How many rain days does Braemar have each year?

137.4 days of rain on average per year (days with more than 1 mm). This means roughly 38% of the days in a year see at least 1 mm of rain, though the actual frequency varies strongly with season, peaking in winter months.

Which month is the wettest?

October is the wettest month on average with 101.8 mm. January and December follow closely with 93.8 mm and 94.1 mm respectively. The driest month is June with 54.3 mm.

What was the most intense rain day?

The highest daily rainfall recorded at Braemar is 87.0 mm, which fell on 13 August 1885. That day stands above the next two highest events, 84.0 mm on 15 September 1873 and 83.3 mm on 25 January 1937.

Is Braemar a rainy or dry area?

With an annual average of 883.9 mm, Braemar is moderately wet for UK standards, but clearly drier than western Scotland, where annual totals often exceed 1500 mm. Spring is the driest season with 182 mm, while autumn brings the most rain with 273 mm.