Weather and climate in Zagreb (Croatia)

The climate of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
The city is crossed by the Sava river and is located on the plain, but at the foot of a mountain massif, Medvednica, 1,035 meters (3,396 feet) high.
Winter is cold and gray, with snowfalls and frosts, although there are also some quite mild periods. Sometimes fog can form.
In the period 1971-2000, there were on average 29 days of snow per year, usually from November to March, and occasionally in April, but the number of days is decreasing due to global warming.
During cold spells, which occur every year or so, the temperature drops to -15 °C (5 °F) or below. The coldest record dates back to January 1942, when the temperature dropped to -22 °C (-7.5 °F) in the city center and to -29 °C (-20 °F) in Maksimir Park. More recently, the temperature at Pleso airport dropped to -24 °C (-11 °F) in January 1985 and to -21.5 °C (-6.5 °F) in February 2012.
Summer is hot and quite sunny, although there may be some rainy days, especially in June, besides, thunderstorms can sometimes break out in the afternoon. Nights are usually cool.
In the hottest periods, the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F). In the city center, the heat record is 40.5 °C (105 °F), recorded in August 1950, while at the airport the temperature reached 39 °C (102 °F) in August 2012 and August 2013.

Best Time

The best times to visit Zagreb are spring and autumn, and in particular, the months of May, June and September: daytime temperatures are pleasant, although it's better to bring a sweater and a jacket for the evening. In July and August, the temperature is usually not too hot, however, there is the risk of some very hot days, which can happen, though more rarely, also in the second half of June and in the first half of September.

The following data were collected in the Maksimir park.

Zagreb - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 885 millimeters (34.8 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest month (January) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest one (September). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2000 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Zagreb - Weather by month

Based on the period 1996-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.4 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -2 °C (28.3 °F) and a maximum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (14 °F). However, it dropped to -18.1 °C (-0.6 °F) in January 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in January 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.4 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -0.9 °C (30.3 °F) and a maximum of 7.8 °C (46 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17 °F). However, it dropped to -17.8 °C (0 °F) in February 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 25.8 °C (78.4 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 2.5 °C (36.4 °F) and a maximum of 12.7 °C (54.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) and a maximum of 18 °C (64.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.6 °C (23.7 °F) in April 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 61%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.7 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 22.4 °C (72.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in May 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) in May 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.9 °C (58.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in June 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.1 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) and a maximum of 28 °C (82.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.0 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (61 °F) and a maximum of 27.9 °C (82.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in September 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (23.9 °F) in October 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 27.5 °C (81.5 °F) in October 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -10.8 °C (12.6 °F) in November 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in November 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -1 °C (30.3 °F) and a maximum of 5.3 °C (41.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.4 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).