Whitby weather in August
August in Whitby: nice, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#1 of 12 months in Whitby · #620 of 1413 destinations to visit in August · comfort 82/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 20°C
- Nights
- 13°C
- Wet days
- 11
- Sun
- 10.7 h
- Humidity
- 79%
- Daylight
- 15 h
Traveller notes on Whitby in August
August is peak season in Whitby and the forum is emphatic: absolutely heaving, especially once the North Yorkshire school holidays start, with parking a nightmare and restaurant tables hard to come by. Most self-catering lets go by the whole week, Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday. On weather, the coastal caveat matters — a north-easterly off the sea can drop the temperature by as much as 8°C compared with inland, against an August average of only 18°C here and a sea at 15. One visitor reports 27°C days, so it does happen. The regulars' honest line is that Whitby is lovely and better outside peak season.
Other months in Whitby
Forum posters describe February in Whitby as a bit chilly, overcast and foggy, though still enjoyable for a visit. Posters consistently note the town stays quieter than summer but only a little cooler, with most shops remaining open and plenty to do despite the reduced crowds. Posters describe February's daylight as steadily lengthening through the month, with dusk arriving around 5pm early on and pushing later as the month progresses. Posters generally recommend embracing the quieter, moodier coastal atmosphere as part of February's appeal rather than a drawback. Posters generally rate February as cool, gray and often foggy but genuinely pleasant for a low-key Whitby visit.
Add your own note from Whitby's card on the map.
Whitby climate normals — August
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Whitby in August
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdstravelers describe it as peak season, Peak summer on the harbour, Whitby Regatta
Sourced from traveler notes: “August is peak season in Whitby and the forum is emphatic: absolutely heaving, es…” — Tripadvisor community
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Whitby's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherWhitby's best weather comes in May, July and August — separate windows, not one continuous season.
August includes Whitby Regatta.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Whitby in August
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Holiday
Peak summer on the harbour
20 Jul – 1 SepSchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThe car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them. Early morning and after six are the town's own hours. Source ↗
- Festival
Whitby Regatta
7–12 Aug · usuallySporting eventCrowdedProbably the oldest sea regatta on the north-east coast, going on 180 years: rowing and yacht races in the harbour, a classic car rally, and fireworks off the pier to close it. Source ↗
- Festival
Whitby Folk Week
19–28 Aug · usuallyMusic festivalBook earlyA week of concerts, dance sides and sessions in halls and pub back rooms in the run-up to the August bank holiday. Half of it happens without a ticket, in whichever bar has room. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Whitby — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Whitby?
Whitby in August — FAQ
- Is August a good time to visit Whitby?
- August in Whitby: nice, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Whitby on SeasonMap's comfort score (82/100).
- What is the weather like in Whitby in August?
- In August, Whitby averages a daily high of 19.8°C and a low of 13.3°C, with about 62 mm of rain over roughly 11.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Whitby in August?
- Whitby has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in August.
Within 300 km: Manchester's Manchester Pride around 20 Aug – 1 Sep, and Liverpool's International Beatleweek on 26 Aug – 1 Sep.