Index

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• Introduction
• The coast - Hamburg
• The west - North Rhine-Westphalia, Frankfurt
• The north-est - Berlin
• Bavaria - Munich
• Mountains - Alps, Harz
• Best Time
• What to pack

Introduction

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In most of Germany, the climate is moderately continental, characterized by cold winters, with average daily temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F) or slightly higher, and warm summers, with maximum temperatures around 22/24 °C (72/75 °F) in July and August.
The northernmost area (see Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck, Rostock, Kiel) is slightly milder, but also rainier and windier because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. The massifs of south-central Germany and the small portion of the Alps in the far south, have a mountainous climate, which becomes of course colder as altitude increases.
Being exposed to both mild air masses from the Atlantic Ocean and cold air masses from Russia or the North Pole, in Germany the weather is often unstable, and can experience remarkable changes and different meteorological situations, such as cold, heat, wind, fog, snow and thunderstorms.
During winter, snowfalls in Germany are quite frequent, though generally not abundant (except in Bavaria and in the mountains, and sometimes in the north-eastern plain). Snow is more common across the eastern belt, from Bavaria, to the plains of the former GDR, and up to the Baltic coast, while it is rarer in the western part, that is, in the north-west near the North Sea and in the Rhine corridor.



During cold waves from Siberia, temperatures can plunge to -15/-20 °C (-4/5 °F) in much of Germany, but these periods usually last for a few days in the north and central part, while they tend to last longer in Bavaria, where cold air stagnates with more ease. Snowfalls often occur after a wave of Siberian frost, when the winds from the Atlantic begin to blow again. Later, with the persistence of the westerlies, the temperature rises further and the snow turns into rain.
The westerly winds, when they blow more intensely, can bring a fairly mild weather even in winter, with highs around 10/12 °C (50/54 °F) in much of the country (except the mountainous areas).
In spring, the temperature rises slowly in March, which is usually a cold month, with average lows around freezing, while highs range from 8 °C (46 °F) in Hamburg, to 9 °C (48 °F) in Berlin and Munich, to 11 °C (52 °F) in Frankfurt and the western areas. In April, they range from 12/13 °C (54/55 °F) in Hamburg and Berlin, to 15 °C (59 °F) in Frankfurt. While Frankfurt and the western regions may experience the first mild days, late cold spells, typical of spring, coming directly from the north, and passing quickly over the plains of Germany, are felt especially in Bavaria, where they cause snow showers with a higher frequency. Even in early April, short snowfalls with night frost are possible, especially in Munich and in Bavaria.
In spring and autumn, in the Alps and the valleys of Bavaria, the Föhn may blow, a southern warm wind which descends from the mountains, and brings a sudden increase in temperature, causing a rapid melting of snow, if present. The phenomenon is rarer in winter, when the wind usually doen't blow from the south.
By the second half of April, the weather becomes a bit milder, and in May, when the average maximum temperature is around 18/20 °C (64/68 °F), the first warm days occur, which in Germany are characterized by possible thunderstorms in the afternoon, especially in inland areas.
The German summer, although it often brings pleasant temperatures, is not very sunny. In fact, in this season there are cool and rainy days, when Atlantic disturbances move over the country, alternating with periods when a high pressure system affects the country, which begin with clear skies, and can even be hot, but then thunderstorms often form in the afternoon. These thunderstorms are less frequent in the northernmost region, which, however, is cooler and may experience more frequent rains due to disturbances coming from the Atlantic Ocean. Anyway, on warmer days, in Berlin and other cities that are not located near the coast, the temperature can reach 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) or even more.
In autumn, September is usually a pleasant month, but then the weather becomes progressively colder and rainy, with the first mists as well. In addition, the wind can be strong, especially in the northern areas. In November, the sun rarely shines; by mid-November it is practically winter, and the first snowfalls are possible.

The coast

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The northernmost part of Germany overlooks the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Here the weather is often cold, humid, cloudy, and rainy. In addition, this area is subject to strong winds and sea storms, especially the west coast, overlooking the North Sea. Even if the temperatures are not very low, the wind increases the feeling of cold. However, when in winter a high pressure system is formed on nearby Scandinavia, there may be very cold periods, when the temperature can drop below freezing even during the day. On the Baltic coast, the climate is similar to that of the North Sea coast, but the wind blows less frequently and less intensely, and in summer it rains a bit more rarely.
Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, the Land south of Denmark, is considered as the German capital of sailing and kitesurfing.

Hamburg

In Hamburg, which is not exactly on the coast, but halfway between the two coasts, the average temperature in January is around 1 °C (34 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

In Hamburg, 775 mm (30.5 in) of rain or snow fall per year, well distributed over the seasons, although there is a relative minimum in spring and a maximum in summer and autumn. Here is the average precipitation.

The amount of sunshine in Hamburg is not high: the sun rarely shines from November to February, while it goes a bit better from May to August, when the weather is variable, and between one disturbance and another the sun can come out. There are on average 6.5/7 hours of sunshine per day from May to August (but in this period in northern Germany the days are very long).



The sea is very cool even in summer, however, the water temperature reaches 18 °C (64 °F) in August. The North Sea is a bit warmer in winter, while in summer it has the same temperature as the Baltic Sea. Along the coasts, a moderate breeze often blows from the north, that's why the people sunbathing often take shelter in special beach chairs equipped with roof and back protection.
Here is the sea temperature near Rostock, on the Baltic Sea Coast.

The west

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The western part of Germany is overall the one that has the mildest climate.

North Rhine-Westphalia

In the north-west, the North Rhine-Westphalia, which borders the Netherlands and Belgium, has a climate influenced by the ocean, so in winter it is the mildest area, but it is also humid and sometimes windy, while in summer it is quite cool (although sometimes there may be short heat waves lasting 2-3 days). Here we find cities such as Essen, Dortmund, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Mönchengladbach, Duisburg, Bonn.
Here are the average temperatures of Dusseldorf.

In the south-west, still in the Rhine valley but further to the south (see Frankfurt, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart), the climate is less windy in winter and a little warmer in summer. Because of the proximity to France, this area is exposed to air masses of Atlantic origin as well, which at these latitudes can also be warm, when they are brought by the Azores Anticiclone.

Frankfurt

Here are the average temperatures in Frankfurt: as you can see, in summer it is the warmest city in Germany.

In Frankfurt, 630 mm (25 in) of rain or snow fall per year, so it's lower than in Hamburg because of the greater distance from the sea. Here is the average precipitation.

The north-east

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In the north-east plain, in the former East Germany, the climate is slightly more continental, and in cities such as Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden, the average January temperature is around freezing. Precipitation is not abundant because of the greater distance from the Atlantic Ocean, but sometimes in winter there can be quite heavy snowfalls due to cold air masses from the Baltic Sea.

Berlin

Here are the average temperatures in Berlin, the capital.

Precipitation amounts to 570 millimeters (22.5 inches) per year, so it's not particularly abundant, but it's well distributed over the seasons. Here is the average precipitation.

Bavaria

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Bavaria, the southernmost region, experiences the coldest and longer winter, both because of the distance from the sea and because of the altitude that begins to rise.

Munich

In Munich, 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, the January average temperature drops to 0 °C (32 °F), and there are around 100 days per year with temperatures below freezing, at least at night. Here are the average temperatures.

In Munich, almost 1,000 mm (40 in) of rain or snow fall per year. Here the proximity to the Alps enhances the chances of summer thunderstorms, so there's and evident peak in the summer rainfall. In contrast, in winter and spring, when the north wind collides with the mountains, snowfall easily occurs. Here is the average precipitation.

Mountains

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Alps

In southern Germany, we find a narrow strip occupied by the Alps. Here, the winter gets colder with increasing altitude. In Garmisch, a ski resort situated at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, the average temperature in January is -2 °C (28 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

In summer, the temperature varies greatly depending on weather conditions, and it can be even hot on clear days (which tend to become overcast during the afternoon, with possible thunderstorms), at least at intermediate altitudes, while it changes abruptly when Atlantic cold fronts, which as mentioned can affect Germany even in summer, move over the area. At the highest altitudes, snow can fall even in mid-summer.
Near Garmisch, on Zugspitze, the highest peak in Germany with its 2,962 meters (9,718 feet), it's cold even in summer: the average temperature is around -10.5 °C (13 °F) in winter and 2 °C (35.5 °F) in summer.

Zugspitze is also the sunniest place in Germany, at least in winter, in fact it is often above the layer of clouds or mists that affects plains and valleys. In contrast, clouds or fogs often form in summer, especially from noon onwards.

Harz

In addition to the Alps in the south, we find the Harz Mountains, which are isolated in the center-north of the country, and whose highest point is Brocken, 1,141 meters (3,743 feet) high. Here the temperature at equal altitude is lower than in the Alps because of the higher latitude. On average, 1,800 mm (70 in) of rain or snow fall per year, with a relative minimum in spring and a maximum in winter, when there are heavy snowfalls. Also, the summit is often foggy.
Here are the average temperatures.

Further south, at the highest points of the Thuringian Forest (Großer Beerberg and Großer Inselsberg), at almost 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, the temperatures are similar, just barely higher in summer.

Best Time

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Since there is no season that may guarantee stable weather conditions, the decisive element at issue to visit Germany is the temperature, as well as the length of the days. From mid-May to September, the temperatures are generally pleasant. Sometimes there can be cool and rainy days with highs around 15 °C (59 °F) or slightly higher, while in other periods, even hot days may occur, with highs around 30 °C (86 °F) or above, although the nights remain pleasantly cool.
The month of September is usually appreciated because of the lower chance of thunderstorms, and by those in search of the fall foliage, however, the days begin to shorten, while in June they are very long, especially in the north.
Summer is a good time for hiking in the mountains, though thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon. For a ski holiday, it is worthwhile to recall that in February the days are longer than in December and January, so you can take advantage of more daylight hours.

What to pack

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In winter: bring warm clothes, such as a sweater, a down jacket, a hat, gloves and a scarf, a raincoat or umbrella.

In summer: bring light clothes, but also some clothes for spring and autumn, a jacket, a sweater or sweatshirt; a raincoat or umbrella.

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