Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries

Climate - Bosnia Herzegovina


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Bosnia Herzegovina

Map - Bosnia Herzegovina

You are here: Home --> Europe --> Bosnia Herzegovina


Share this page:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Email



In Bosnia and Herzegovina we have the following climatic zones: the Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers, in the small coastal stretch (see Neum), the transitional Mediterranean climate in the western plain (see Mostar), and the continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers, in the hilly areas (see Sarajevo) and the northern plain (see Bihac, Tuzla). Then, we have the cold mountain climate of the Dinaric Alps.

Precipitation is abundant in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, west of the mountains, where it amounts to 1,400 millimeters (55 inches) per year, and even more on the western mountain slopes, where it can exceed 2,000 mm (78 in). On the northern plain, on the other hand, it is moderate and gradually drops below 1,000 mm (40 in), until it reaches 750 mm (29.5 in) in the extreme north, on the border with Croatia.

In winter there can be cold waves, typical of the Balkan Peninsula, which are felt in a large part of Bosnia with snowfalls and frosts, while they have less evident effects in the coastal area. In summer, on the other hand, there can be very hot periods.

Index


  • The western plain - Neum, Mostar
  • Hills and mountains - Sarajevo, Bjelasnica
  • The northern plain - Banja Luka
  • When to go
  • What to pack

The western plain



Neum

The country has a short stretch of coast overlooking the Adriatic Sea, of about 7 kilometers (4 miles), for the rest, the border is just a few kilometers from the sea, while the coast belongs to Croatia.
The coastal area has a Mediterranean climate, with a mild, rainy winter and a hot, sunny summer. Precipitation amounts to about 1,000 millimeters (40 inches) per year.
In winter, during cold spells, the temperature can drop to -5/-6 °C (21/23 °F), while in summer it can reach 38/39 °C (100/102 °F).
Here are the average temperatures of Neum.
Neum - Average temperatures (2001-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January3.911.17.5395245.5
February4.411.68405346.4
March7.215.211.2455952.2
April10.419.114.8516658.6
May14.422.618.5587365.3
June18.327.923.1658273.6
July20.530.925.7698878.3
August20.531.125.8698878.4
September16.526.121.3627970.3
October12.718.815.8556660.4
November9.116.512.8486255
December512.18.6415447.4
Year1220.316.153.568.561

Near Neum, the Adriatic sea is warmest in July and August, when the water temperature is 24/25 °C (75/77 °F), while it's still acceptable in September, when the water temperature is 23 °C (73 °F), and a bit cool in June, when it's 22 °C (71.5 °F).
Neum - Sea temperature
MonthCelsius (°C)Fahrenheit (°F)
January1458
February1457
March1458
April1559
May1865
June2271
July2576
August2678
September2374
October2069
November1864
December1660
Year18.865.8

Mostar

Behind the stretch of coastline, there is a plain, crossed by the Neretva River, where the city of Mostar is located (but also the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje), which has a transitional Mediterranean climate, with winters already a bit colder and particularly hot summers. In summer, owing to the location a bit isolated from the sea, hot days are possible, with peaks above 40 °C (104 °F).
In Mostar, the main center of Herzegovina, the coldest record is -11 °C (12 °F) and was set in January 1963. More recently, the temperature dropped to -9 °C (16 °F) in January 2017.
The highest record is 43 °C (109.4 °F) and was set in August 2007.
Here are the average temperatures.
Mostar - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January2.89.36374942.9
February3.411.67.5385345.6
March6.215.811436051.8
April9.320.114.7496858.4
May13.325.119.2567766.5
June17.529.923.7638674.6
July203326.5689179.7
August20.333.526.9699280.4
September15.727.221.4608170.6
October11.721.616.6537161.9
November7.515.111.3465952.3
December3.8106.9395044.4
Year1121.11651.869.961

This is also a rainy area, since we are to the west of the mountains. The rainfall almost 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year, and the only relatively dry months are July and August, with around 50 mm (2 in) of rain. Here is the average precipitation.
Mostar - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1405.510
February1254.99
March1204.79
April1254.910
May953.79
June702.87
July552.25
August552.25
September1405.57
October1505.98
November1957.711
December1756.911
Year145557.3100

In Mostar, the sun does not shine very often in winter, while it frequently shines in summer. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Mostar - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January4125
February4.5125
March5.5170
April6.5190
May8250
June9.5290
July11335
August10315
September7.5225
October5.5175
November4115
December4120
Year6.72435

Hills and mountains



To the east of the small plain near the sea, we find the Dinaric Alps, parallel to the coast. In this area, the climate becomes more continental at hill altitudes, while at higher altitudes we find an Alpine climate. Let's start with the cities located at an altitude of a few hundred meters.
In Livno, about 50 km (30 mi) away from the sea and 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, the monthly average temperature ranges from in 1 °C (34 °F) in January and February to 20 °C (68 °F) in July.

Sarajevo

In Sarajevo, the capital, 120 kilometers (75 miles) away from the sea and 500 meters (1,650 ft) above sea level, the average ranges from 0.6 °C (33 °F) in January to 21.3 °C (70.3 °F) in August.
In winter, during cold waves, the temperature can drop to -20 °C (-4 °F) and even below. The coldest record is -26.4 °C (-15.5 °F) and was set in January 1942. In recent years, the temperature dropped to -22 °C (-7.5 °F) in January 2017.
In summer, nights are usually quite cool, however, during the day it can sometimes get very hot, with peaks around 36/37 °C (97/99 °F) in July and August. The highest record is 40 °C (104 °F) and was set in August 1946.
Throughout this area of hills and low mountains, the wind is quite frequent. In Sarajevo, the south-west wind, which blows more frequently in spring, is similar to the Foehn, that is, a warm and dry wind descending from the mountains.
Here are the average temperatures.
Sarajevo - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-2.94.10.6273933.1
February-1.96.62.4294436.3
March1.411.56.4355343.6
April5.116.410.8416251.4
May921.415.2487159.4
June12.625.419557866.2
July14.227.821588269.8
August14.328.221.3588370.3
September10.322.316.3517261.4
October6.517.211.9446353.4
November2.810.76.8375144.2
December-1.84.21.2294034.2
Year5.916.411.142.561.552

In Sarajevo, precipitation is not as abundant as on the western side, because the mountains to the south partly protect it from the humid winds of the Adriatic. Precipitation amounts to about 950 mm (37.5 in) per year, but it's well distributed over the seasons. In fact, the rains brought by western frontal systems in the cold half of the year are replaced by afternoon thunderstorms in late spring and summer. In winter, there is a fair amount of snowy days.
Here is the average precipitation.
Sarajevo - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.810
February652.610
March652.69
April803.111
May903.511
June903.510
July7539
August652.67
September903.59
October903.59
November853.39
December853.310
Year95537.6114

The sun in Sarajevo is rarely seen in winter, while in summer, it shines quite often, though not as often as in Mostar and along the coast.
Sarajevo - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January2.585
February3.5100
March4.5145
April5155
May6.5195
June7.5230
July8255
August7.5240
September6175
October5155
November395
December260
Year5.21895

Sarajevo

In the high mountains, the climate gets naturally colder. The highest mountain is Maglic, 2,386 meters (7,828 feet), on the border with Montenegro.

Bjelasnica

In Mount Bjelašnica, south of Sarajevo, at an altitude of 2,000 metres (6,500 feet), the average temperature ranges from -6.5 °C (20.5 °F) in January to 12 °C (53.5 °F) in August. The coldest record is -29 °C (-20 °F), set in January 1963. The highest record is 24 °C (75 °F), set in August 2007. Here are the average temperatures.
Bjelasnica - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-8.5-4.5-6.5172420.3
February-8.5-4.6-6.5172420.2
March-5.8-2.2-4222824.8
April-21.7-0.1283531.7
May2.36.84.6364440.2
June6.812.29.5445449.2
July8.914.311.6485852.8
August9.414.612495853.6
September4.89.47.1414944.8
October1.463.7354338.6
November-2.51.2-0.7273430.8
December-7.2-3.2-5.2192622.6
Year04.42.153239.836

Precipitation amounts to 1,300 mm (51 in) per year, and there is no dry season. In winter, heavy snowfalls occur.
Bjelasnica - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January1003.913
February1054.114
March1003.912
April1003.912
May1054.113
June1154.511
July1054.110
August903.59
September1204.710
October1405.511
November1505.913
December1254.914
Year135053.1143

The northern plain



On the northern side of the mountains we find low-lying valleys, while in northern Bosnia, near the border with Croatia, we find a flat area.
In this area, in cities such as Bihac, Tuzla, Banja Luka, the climate is of the continental type, basically not very different from that of Sarajevo.

Banja Luka

In Banja Luka, the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the average temperature ranges from 1°C (34 °F) in January to 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in July. As far as extreme values are concerned, in the last thirty years the temperature has dropped to -23 °C (-9.5 °F) in February 2012, while it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2007 and August 2012.
Here are the average temperatures.
Banja Luka - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
MonthMin (°C)Max (°C)Mean (°C)Min (°F)Max (°F)Mean (°F)
January-2.84.81274133.9
February-1.77.42.9294537.2
March213.27.6365645.7
April6.218.312.3436554.1
May10.522.216.4517261.4
June14.626.620.6588069
July16.128.622.4618472.3
August15.728.522.1608371.8
September11.423.217.3537463.2
October6.917.612.2446454
November311.67.3375345.2
December-1.35.52.1304235.8
Year6.817.412.0544.263.253.5

Here too, precipitation amounts to around 900/1,000 mm (35/40 in) per year, so it's still quite high, and also well distributed because of the frequent thunderstorms in summer. Here is the average precipitation in Banja Luka.
Banja Luka - Average precipitation
MonthMillimetersInchesDays
January702.811
February702.811
March75310
April903.510
May1003.910
June1204.711
July7539
August652.65
September702.86
October1054.18
November1054.113
December1154.512
Year106041.7116

In Banja Luka and in the northern plain, the sun shines more or less the same number of hours as in Sarajevo and in the hilly area.
Banja Luka - Sunshine hours
MonthAverageTotal
January1.555
February2.570
March4125
April5.5160
May6.5205
June7.5220
July9270
August7.5240
September6185
October4.5135
November2.570
December1.545
Year4.91780

When to go



The best time to visit most of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely the hilly area (see Sarajevo) and the northern plain (see Bihac, Tuzla, Banja Luka), is from June to September. However, given that some very hot days are possible in July and August, you may prefer June and September if you don't like the heat. The summer weather is often sunny, but thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon. Normally, nights are cool.

In the small western plain, in Mostar or Medjugorje, where in summer it is often very hot, you can choose May, June, and September. In July and August, rainfall is rare, but it can sometimes be hot. From October to April, and therefore even in winter, the weather is usually mild, but sometimes it's windy, and in addition, the rains are abundant.
For a beach holiday, the short coastal stretch, because of its Mediterranean climate, is good in summer (especially in July and August).

What to pack



In winter: for Sarajevo and inland areas, bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a down jacket, a hat, gloves, and a raincoat or umbrella. For the plain of Mostar and the coast: warm clothes, such as a sweater, a coat, and a raincoat or umbrella.
In summer: bring light clothes, T-shirts, but also long pants, a light jacket and a sweatshirt for the evening and for cooler days, especially in inland areas; an umbrella.

Back to top


© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Europe

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Email





 Nearby countries:

 Croatia
 Montenegro
 Serbia

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:


Home About Contact Us Link Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Link
Policy