Like most parts of the British Isles, Birmingham experiences a temperate maritime climate. During July, considered to be Birmingham’s hottest month, average temperatures can rise up to 20 °C (68 °F), taking a significant dip during the coldest month of January, usually hovering around 4.5 °C (40.1 °F). Birmingham weather is renewed by its distinct lack of extremities; however the city is also open to attacks by tornados. The city was last attacked by a tornado in July 2005 when homes and business in the south part of Birmingham experienced severe damages.

Although in past decades, Birmingham weather was characterized by mild summers and cold winters, conditions have changed dramatically during recent years. Winters have becoming considerably milder, snowfall less frequent and the usually fine summer weather is occasionally intercepted by extended heat waves.

Being a rather large city, it was inevitable that Birmingham would suffer by the 'urban heat island' syndrome, so typical of urban areas of its size. To give an example, on 14 January 1982 experienced its coldest night recorder, with temperatures dipping to a freezing −20.8 °C (−5 °F) at Birmingham International Airport on the city's eastern edge, but just −12.9 °C (9 °F) at Edgbaston, near the city centre.

Because of its inland location and comparatively high elevation Birmingham is considered to be a snowy city. Although snow showers are often known to pass through the city via the Cheshire gap on North Westerly airstreams, it’s not unusual to come off the North Sea from North Easterly airstreams.