Bristol in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Bristol sees average daytime highs around 80°F and overnight lows near 62°F, with 13.4 in of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 73°F in early June to 78°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Bristol's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Bristol's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 80°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 62°F
- Rainfall
- 13.4 in
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 mph
- Travel score
- 6.3
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Bristol in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 73°F in early June to 78°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Bristol reaches about 80°F and drops to 62°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Bristol
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
summer sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Bristol weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35° / 20° | 3.6 | 9.5 | 6.3 | 9.3 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 37° / 22° | 3.1 | 8.7 | 5.4 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 45° / 29° | 4.3 | 11.1 | 4.5 | 11.7 | 1.1 |
| Apr | 58° / 40° | 3.9 | 11.2 | 1.2 | 13.1 | 4.0 |
| May | 68° / 49° | 3.8 | 11.6 | 0 | 14.3 | 6.0 |
| Jun | 77° / 59° | 4.5 | 11.9 | 0 | 15 | 6.4 |
| Jul | 82° / 64° | 4.3 | 11.2 | 0 | 14.7 | 6.1 |
| Aug | 80° / 63° | 4.6 | 11 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.4 |
| Sep | 73° / 55° | 4.3 | 9.2 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 61° / 44° | 4.4 | 9.5 | 0.2 | 10.9 | 5.2 |
| Nov | 49° / 35° | 3.5 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 9.6 | 2.2 |
| Dec | 40° / 26° | 4.3 | 10.2 | 4.8 | 9 | 0.1 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Bristol gets around 13.4 in of rain over 34 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 6 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 48 min in early June to 13 hours by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Bristol
In summer, Bristol overlaps its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Bristol sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is summer a good time to visit Bristol?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Bristol for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Bristol in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Bristol sees daytime highs around 80°F and nights near 62°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Bristol in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 69°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 38 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in February near 36°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 4 to Sep 28 — about 2.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 39 | 36 | 37 | 44 | 54 | 64 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 64 | 55 | 46 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | Bracing |
| Feb | 36 | Bracing |
| Mar | 37 | Bracing |
| Apr | 44 | Bracing |
| May | 54 | Bracing |
| Jun | 64 | Cool |
| Jul | 71 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 73 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 71 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 64 | Cool |
| Nov | 55 | Bracing |
| Dec | 46 | Bracing |
UV index in Bristol in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Bristol peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 5 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Bristol in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Bristol is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 11 | Good |
| Mar | 12 | Good |
| Apr | 12 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 14 | Moderate |
| Jul | 15 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Bristol?
Bristol sits at 41.7°N, 72.9°W, 305 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Plainville, 5.0 mi away.
Topography around Bristol
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Bristol.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Bristol has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 840 ft around an average of 545 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,148 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,585 ft.
The land around Bristol is covered by trees (68%) within 2 miles, trees (81%) within 10 miles, and trees (77%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Bristol (41.6718°, -72.9493°, elevation 305 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.