Climate - Albania

Index

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

Introduction

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In Albania, 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, with low chance of cold nights in winter and effective afternoon breezes in summer.
However, although the climate is generally mild, during the winter, there can be cold days when the winds blow from Russia. In summer, on the other hand, it can get very hot when the sirocco blows from Africa.
Here are the average temperatures in Durrës.

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.

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.

In the capital, Tirana, which is located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) away from the coast, the climate is similar to that of Rome, even though the rains are more abundant in the period from October to June. Winter is mild and rainy, but it can sometimes get cold at night, while summer is hot and sunny, with some very hot days. The average daily temperature in January is 6.5 °C (44 °F), while in July and August it is about 24.5 °C (76 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

In Tirana, 1,300 mm (53 in) of rain fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.

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.



In cities located around sea level but farther from the sea, or sheltered by mountain ranges (such as Shkodër), the climate is slightly more continental, that is, a bit colder in winter, with average temperatures around 5 °C (41 °F) in January, and hotter in summer, with highs often around 35 °C (95 °F).
Here are the average temperatures

Hills and mountains

Moving inland, and with increasing altitude, the climate becomes much harsher, with cold and snowy winters, and cooler summers. For instance, in Korçë, located in the east, 900 meters (2,950 feet) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from a low of 0.5 °C (33 °F) in January to a high of 21 °C (70 °F) in August.

As mentioned, in Korçë, 805 mm (32 in) of rain fall per year. Here is the average precipitation.


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

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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

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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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