The climate of Tartu is slightly continental, with very cold winters, during which the temperature is often below freezing, and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The city is located in the south-eastern part of Estonia, not far from Lake Peipus, beyond which lies Russia. We are in the most continental area of Estonia, the one most exposed to both the winter cold and the summer heat.
In winter, there may be cold spells from Russia, which were once more frequent. The coldest record is -38.6 °C (-37.5 °F) and was set in December 1978.
In summer, there can be hot days, with temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F). The highest record is 34.9 °C (94.8 °F) and was set in July 1959. In July 2010, the average maximum temperature was 29.2 °C (84.5 °F).In 2021, the temperature reached 34 °C (93 °F) in late June, and reached or exceeded 30 °C (86 °F) for six straight days in June and twelve straight days in July.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.2 °C, with a minimum of
-6.6 °C and a maximum of
-1.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-20 °C. However, it dropped to
-32.4 °C in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5.5 °C. However, it reached
10 °C in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.1 kph.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-4.5 °C, with a minimum of
-7.4 °C and a maximum of
-1.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-19.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-32.2 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
5 °C. However, it reached
9 °C in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14 kph.
March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.4 °C, with a minimum of
-4.1 °C and a maximum of
3.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-13.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-24.5 °C in March 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
11 °C. However, it reached
18.4 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.2 kph.
April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.1 °C, with a minimum of
1.1 °C and a maximum of
11.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.4 °C in April 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
27.9 °C in April 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is of
13.5 kph.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.5 °C, with a minimum of
5.8 °C and a maximum of
17.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
10.2 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
0.1 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31.5 °C in June 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 18 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are very 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 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
23.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7 °C. However, it dropped to
3.1 °C in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
34.5 °C in July 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are very long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
August is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
11.9 °C and a maximum of
21.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.6 °C in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
34.7 °C in August 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.1 °C, with a minimum of
7.9 °C and a maximum of
16.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.5 °C in September 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
29.6 °C in September 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
October is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.2 °C, with a minimum of
3.2 °C and a maximum of
9.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.6 °C in October 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
21.2 °C in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
1.2 °C, with a minimum of
-0.8 °C and a maximum of
3.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-21.6 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
13 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 13% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-2.2 °C, with a minimum of
-4.2 °C and a maximum of
-0.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30.6 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
6 °C. However, it reached
12.5 °C in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 6 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are short. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 12% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
15.6 kph.