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Climate - Albania


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, when to go, what to pack

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Map - Albania


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Index


  • Introduction - Coast and plain - Hills and mountains
  • Best Time
  • What to pack

Introduction



In Albania, a small country of the Balkan peninsula overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the climate is Mediterranean on the coast (with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers), while it's slightly more continental in the interior, though it's really cold only in mountainous areas.
Rainfall amounts to about 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year on the coast, and is even more abundant in hilly and mountainous areas facing west and south, so much so that it often exceeds 2,000 mm (78 in) per year. The only sheltered areas, where it does not rain that much, are the inland valleys, such as that of Korçë, where 805 mm (32 in) of rain fall each year on average. Along the coast and in the plain, the rainfall regime is Mediterranean, with a maximum between autumn and winter and a minimum in summer, when it seldom rains. On the other hand, in mountainous areas, during summer, there can be some thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Coast and plain

Along the coast (see Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë), the climate is mild, however, during the winter, there can be cold days when the winds blow from Russia. The records are around -9/-10 °C (14/16 °F).
Despite the breeze from the sea, in recent years the summer has become very hot, as air masses of African origin often prevail. During heat waves, the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F) even on the coast.
Here are the average temperatures in Durrës.
Durres - Average temperatures (2011-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January4138.4395547.1
February61510.2425950.4
March81812.6466454.7
April102115.8517060.4
May142419.3577666.7
June183024658575.2
July213326.9709180.4
August213427.6709381.7
September182923.6648574.5
October142419567666.1
November102014.9506858.8
December61510.2425950.4
Year12.52317.754.573.464

In Durrës, rainfall amounts to 1,100 mm (44 in) per year, with a maximum between October and April and a minimum in summer. Here is the average precipitation.
Durres - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1305.113
February1154.512
March1003.912
April953.712
May7539
June5027
July301.25
August451.85
September7537
October1104.39
November1606.313
December1405.513
Year112544.3117

The temperature of the sea in Albania is still a little cool for swimming in June, while it becomes acceptable or pleasantly warm from July to September. Here is the average water temperature in Durrës.
Durres - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1458
February1457
March1458
April1559
May1865
June2271
July2476
August2577
September2374
October2169
November1864
December1660
Year18.765.7

In the capital, Tirana, which is located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from the coast, the climate is similar to that of the coast, although it is a bit colder at night. Winter is mild and rainy, but it can sometimes get cold at night, while summer is hot and sunny, with some very hot days. Here are the average temperatures.
Tirana - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2127.1355444.7
February3148.3375747
March61711.3426352.3
April92014.6486958.3
May132518.7557765.7
June172923628573.4
July193225.3659077.6
August183325.5659178
September152821.6598370.8
October112317.1517462.8
November71812.6456554.7
December3148.6385747.5
Year10.122.216.1550.37261

In Tirana, 1,300 mm (53 in) of rain fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Tirana - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1355.310
February1505.910
March1305.111
April1154.510
May1204.79
June853.35
July301.24
August301.23
September602.45
October1054.17
November2108.312
December1756.912
Year13455398

In Albania, the sun shines regularly in summer, especially in the plain and along the coast, while in the other seasons, there may be sunny days, but also cloudy and rainy days. Here are the average sunshine hours per day in Tirana.
Tirana - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4125
February4.5125
March5.5165
April6.5190
May8.5265
June10300
July11.5355
August10.5325
September9265
October7220
November4125
December390
Year72545

Tirana

In cities located around sea level but farther from the sea, or sheltered by mountain ranges, the climate is slightly more continental.
Here are the average temperatures in Shkodër.
Shkodër - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2106.1355142.9
February3127.8385446.1
March61611436051.7
April92014.4496758
May132418.9567666
June172923.2638573.8
July193326669178.8
August203427689380.5
September162821.8618271.3
October122216.9537262.4
November81611.9466153.3
December4117.5395245.5
Year10.821.316.0551.570.461

Hills and mountains

Moving inland, and with increasing altitude, the climate becomes much colder. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are cooler. For instance, in Korçë, located in the east, 900 meters (2,950 feet) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from a low of 1.5 °C (34.5 °F) in January to a high of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in August.
Korçe - Average temperatures (2011-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-251.6284234.9
February194.6334840.4
March3127.6375445.6
April61711.6436353
May102115.2496959.4
June132519.3567766.7
July162822.2618372
August162922.4618472.4
September122418.4547665.1
October81913.3466655.9
November4138.4395547.2
December073.5314538.3
Year7.217.612.354563.654.5

As mentioned, in Korçë, 805 mm (32 in) of rain fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.
Korçe - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.89
February803.18
March552.29
April602.49
May803.110
June451.87
July2514
August2513
September401.65
October803.17
November1455.711
December1003.910
Year80531.792

The highest mountains in Albania are in the east, on the border with northern Macedonia, where we find Mount Korab, 2,764 meters (9,068 feet) high, and in the north, where we find the Prokletije (or Albanian Alps), which are part of the Dinaric Alps, and whose highest peak is Maja Jezercë, 2,694 meters (8,838 ft) high.

Best Time



The best time to go to the Albanian coast for a beach holiday is summer: in July and August, the sun shines and the Adriatic Sea is warm.
If you want to visit the cities of the plains, such as Tirana or Shkodër, considering that they can be hot in summer, you can choose the months of May, June, and September. October has pleasant temperatures too, but it can be quite rainy, especially in the second part.
September, a month when the sea is slightly warmer than in June, may therefore be an interesting choice, to take a trip throughout the country and at the same time to spend some time at the beach.

What to pack in the suitcase



In winter: bring warm clothes, a coat, and a raincoat or umbrella. In mountainous areas: bring warm clothes, such as a down jacket, a hat, gloves, and a scarf.
In summer: bring light clothes, and a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening or for the mountains.

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 See also (cities or regions):

 Durres
 Korçe
 Tirana
 Vlore

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 Greece
 Macedonia
 Montenegro
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