Okay, so today I’m gonna ramble about this little side project I messed around with: checking the weather in Scotland for July. Sounds simple, right? Well, buckle up.
It all started ’cause my cousin’s planning a trip there, and he’s the kinda guy who dresses for the apocalypse if there’s even a hint of rain. So, naturally, he hit me up to “do some research.” Ugh.
First thing I did was just a plain old Google search. Typed in “weather in Scotland July average” or something equally brilliant. Got a bunch of those typical weather site results, you know, the ones that give you average temps and rainfall. Helpful, but not exactly giving me the full picture.
Then I thought, “Hey, I should try to be a bit more specific.” Scotland’s a big place, and the weather in Edinburgh ain’t gonna be the same as in the Highlands. So, I started searching for specific locations. “Weather in Edinburgh July,” “Weather in Isle of Skye July,” that sort of thing. That gave me a bit more localized data, which was cool.
But, you know me, I’m a bit of a data nerd. I wanted MORE. So, I started looking for historical weather data. Found a few sites that offered it, some were free, some wanted you to sell your soul for access. I ended up using one that had a free trial – perfect for my lazy self.
I grabbed the historical data for the past few Julys – temperature, rainfall, wind speed, the whole shebang. Then, I dumped it into a spreadsheet. Yeah, I know, super exciting stuff. I started looking for patterns. Were there consistently rainy weeks? Was there a specific part of July that was usually warmer?
Turns out, the weather in Scotland in July is basically a crapshoot. One year it’s sunny and warm-ish, the next it’s a constant drizzle. There wasn’t really a clear pattern, which, honestly, wasn’t that surprising. It’s Scotland, after all.
To make it somewhat useful, I calculated the average temperature range and the average rainfall for each location I looked at. Also, I noted down the highest and lowest temperatures recorded. That way, my cousin would at least have a general idea of what to expect.
Then, just to be a good cousin, I went a little overboard. I looked up some travel blogs and forums to see what people who’d actually BEEN to Scotland in July had to say. A lot of “pack for all seasons,” “layers are your friend,” and “don’t forget waterproofs.” Standard stuff, but it reinforced the idea that you gotta be prepared for anything.
Finally, I compiled all this info into a little document for him. Average temps, average rainfall, a list of essential clothing items, and a disclaimer that the weather is completely unpredictable. I even added a few links to live weather cams so he could obsessively check the forecast in the days leading up to his trip.
The takeaway? Scotland in July? Pack for anything. And maybe bring a good book, just in case you get stuck inside waiting for the rain to stop.
What I learned:
- Weather data can be a pain to wrangle.
- Scotland’s weather is as fickle as my cat.
- My cousin owes me a pint.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, it was a fun little diversion. I like messing with data, even if it doesn’t lead to any earth-shattering discoveries. And who knows, maybe my cousin will actually find my research helpful. Or maybe he’ll just ignore it and pack a suitcase full of parkas. Either way, I did my due diligence.
