Understanding Our Results
Every result on Where is Hot or Not is built on decades of observed climate data, not short-term forecasts. We use 30-year “Climate Norms” (long-term monthly averages) to show what weather is typically like in a place for the month you want to travel.
How To Read Our Destination Cards
Wind Speed Categories
Wind speeds are shown in everyday terms rather than raw numbers. "Calm" and "Light" are generally pleasant conditions, "Breezy" is common on many holidays and means you'll notice the wind but it rarely spoils plans, while "Windy", "Stormy" and "Gales" highlight stronger levels that can affect comfort.
| Label | Wind Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|
| Calm | 4 – 10 |
| Light | 11 – 17 |
| Breezy | 18 – 24 |
| Windy | 25 – 31 |
| Stormy | 32 – 59 |
| Gales | 60+ |
Rainfall Categories
Rainfall is shown as monthly totals but grouped into simple categories. "Dry" and "Fair" mean very little rain and are ideal for travel, "Showers" suggest occasional wet days that usually pass quickly, while "Rainy", "Stormy" and "Floods" mark increasingly wet conditions that may shape your plans.
| Label | Monthly Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| Dry | 0 – 30 |
| Fair | 31 – 75 |
| Showers | 76 – 150 |
| Rainy | 151 – 300 |
| Stormy | 301 – 799 |
| Floods | 800+ |
We show wind and rainfall as categories to keep cards quick to scan across hundreds of destinations. The thresholds above are fixed globally for consistency.
Some destinations also carry a 'Wonder' badge. This highlights the places we think are truly extraordinary: the official 7 Natural Wonders, the 7 Manmade Wonders, and 21 additional “Should-Be Wonders” we’ve curated. They’re a reminder that our tool isn’t just about the weather — it’s about inspiring travel.
Where Our Data Comes From
We use 30-year climate averages (known as “Climate Norms”) for 1991–2020. Our data is primarily sourced from European national meteorological agencies, complemented by additional international services to ensure global coverage. Key providers include:
- European, Canadian and other national climate portals
- NOAA (USA)
- German Weather Service (DWD)
- MET Norway
All climate data is shared in line with WMO Resolution 40, which supports transparent, standardised exchange of weather and climate information.
How we turn raw data into the numbers you see
Monthly normals, not daily forecasts. Every value is a long-term monthly average, based on multi-decade records. This shows the typical pattern for the month you’re travelling, rather than a one-off weather forecast.
Completeness checks. We screen out months where the local station record is too patchy or shows obvious anomalies, so you’re only seeing reliable data.
Filling sensible gaps. Where a destination has missing data, we blend in trusted sources: global reanalysis for wind, and spatial interpolation from nearby long-term stations for rainfall and sunshine hours. This keeps results consistent with the wider region.
Categories, not just numbers. To make cards easy to scan, rainfall and wind are grouped into plain-English bands such as “Showers” or “Breezy”. The exact thresholds are published above for full transparency.
Quality & updates
Sanity checks. Each destination’s monthly profile is compared with its regional climate to flag unusual outliers.
Versioning. When official sources release new normals or better coverage, we refresh our database and note the change.
What this site is (and isn’t)
Typical weather, not guarantees. Climate normals describe long-term averages. Your own trip may be hotter, cooler, wetter or drier than average.
City-scale, not micro-climates. Within a single destination, conditions can vary between coast, hillside, and city centre — our data reflects the broader picture.
We can't guarantee your perfect weather, but with decades of official data behind our results, it's about as close as it gets.
