Climate - Georgia

The climate of Georgia is mild and rainy on the coast and in the western plain, while it is more continental and arid in the central and eastern inland areas. In the mountains, it is obviously colder.

Index

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• The coast - Sukhumi, Batumi
• Inland areas - Tbilisi
• Best Time
• What to pack

The coast

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Along the coast of the Black Sea and in the western plain (zone 1 on the map), rainfall is abundant, since it amounts to 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year or more, and it's distributed fairly evenly over the seasons, albeit with a maximum in autumn and winter. Winter along the coast is fairly mild, since the average temperature in January is about 7 °C (45 °F). The sea moderates the climate, while the Caucasus Mountains in the north partially protect this area from cold winds. However, beyond the Caucasus, we find the freezing Russian plains, and a bit of cold air can sometimes surpass the mountains and reach the coast: there are on average about ten days with snowfall per year. Summer is warm or even a bit hot, with a daily average around 23 °C (73 °F) in July and August; the sun often shines, but as we mentioned, there can be rainfall as well, which in summer occurs mainly in the form of downpours or thunderstorms.

Sukhumi

Here is the average precipitation in Sukhumi, in the northern part of the coast.

Despite the frequent rains, the amount of sunshine becomes good in summer, while in winter, there's not much sun. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Batumi

In Batumi, in the southern part of the coast, precipitation reaches as high as 2,500 mm (99 in) per year, with a peak in autumn. Here is the average precipitation.

Owing to the more frequent rains, in the southern part of the coast, the sun shines less often in the summer.

Here are the average temperatures in Batumi.

The sea in Georgia is warm enough for swimming from July to September, and reaches 25 °C (77 °F) in July and August.

This type of climate is also found in the plain near the coast, in cities like Kutaisi and Senaki, even though the summer gets a little warmer because of the distance from the sea. In ancient times, this area comprising the coast and the western plain was called Colchis.

Inland areas

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In the interior (zone 2 on the map), separated from the western plains by secondary mountain ranges such as the Likhi Mountains, we find valleys and plateaus lying at an altitude between 400 and 1,000 meters (1,300 and 3,300 feet).

Tbilisi

In the capital, Tbilisi, located in the valley of the Kura, at 450 meters (1,450 ft) above sea level, the climate is slightly continental, and it's much more arid than on the coast. The monthly average temperature ranges from 3 °C (37 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July. Here is the average temperature.

The rainfall amounts to 500 mm (20 in) per year, with a minimum in winter, even though the sky is often cloudy, and a maximum in late spring, in May and June, mainly because of afternoon instability, which can cause showers and thunderstorms and partly continues in summer. During winter, snowfall is quite frequent (although it's not abundant because of the low level of precipitation), and so are cold spells, during which the temperature can drop to about -15 °C (5 °F). Summer is sunny, despite a few afternoon downpours or thunderstorms; there can also be hot days, with maximum temperatures around 36/38 °C (97/100 °F).
Here is the average precipitation.

As mentioned, the sun in Tbilisi often shines in summer, apart from afternoon thunderstorms, while in winter, it is not very frequent.

Tbilisi is a windy city, and can experience strong winds quite frequently.



The Caucasus Mountains (Greater Caucasus in the north and Lesser Caucasus in the south) and the secondary chains (zone 3 on the map) have an Alpine climate, more or less cold depending on altitude, with heavy snowfalls in winter; there are vast glaciers above 3,500 meters (11,500 ft), especially along the watershed of the Greater Caucasus, which is higher. The highest peak in Georgia is Mount Shkhara, 5,193 meters (17,037 ft) high. Precipitation is particularly abundant in the westernmost mountains: the Mtirala National Park, in the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, receives more than 4,500 mm (177 in) of rain per year.
A dry and warm wind, similar to the Föhn, can blow from the mountains, towards the valleys but also towards the coast.

Best Time

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The best times to visit Georgia are spring and autumn, especially from mid-May to mid-June and from mid-September to mid-October. Since autumn is very rainy in the coastal area, here, you may prefer spring.
The best period for a beach holiday, and also for hiking in high mountains, is of course the summer, from June to August, when it can get hot in Tbilisi and in inland valleys (but those who can stand the heat can choose this season to visit the whole country).

What to pack

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In winter: in Tbilisi, the plains and the coast, bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a jacket, a hat, and a raincoat or umbrella. For high mountains, bring mountain clothing, hiking boots.

In summer: in Tbilisi, bring light clothes for the day, a sun hat, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and possibly an umbrella for the afternoon rains. For the coast, bring light clothing, a light sweatshirt for the evening, a scarf for the breeze. For the mountains, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sun hat, a sweater and a jacket, hiking shoes, and a raincoat or umbrella; for the highest peaks, bring mountain clothing.

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