Weather and climate in Dresden (Germany)

In Dresden, a city of eastern Germany, the capital of the Land of Saxony and crossed by the Elbe river, the climate is moderately continental, characterized by cold winters and quite warm summers.
The city is exposed to both cold and warm air masses, so both the weather and the temperature are highly variable.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 635 millimeters (25 inches) per year, so it's not abundant, as is common in Eastern Europe, but it's well distributed throughout the year. During the warm season, from May to August, afternoon thunderstorms can occur. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, with average temperatures hovering around freezing. Actually, during winter, different situations can occur.
When Atlantic currents prevail, there are relatively mild periods, when it can rain and the temperatures can exceed 10 °C (50 °F); in these cases, however, wind and humidity can increase the feeling of cold.
Then, there are situations in which a high pressure system dominates, and the weather is cold and gray, with night frosts and daytime temperatures around freezing, or even a little below. Later, when the westerlies start to blow again, flowing above the layer of cold air, they can bring snow, sleet, rain mixed with snow or rain that freezes.
At other times, cold air masses of Siberian origin can cause snowfalls and frosts, sometimes intense. In the past, once every few years, it happened that the temperature remained below freezing for an entire month. In recent years, it has become rarer, however, cold waves can sometimes still occur, during which the temperature can drop to around -20 °C (-4 °F).
The coldest record is -30.5 °C (-22.9 °F) and was set in February 1929.

Spring, from March to May, is an unstable season.
On the one hand, northwesterly currents can bring cold periods, so much so that in March, and sometimes until mid-April, it can still snow. In addition, some cold days, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F), can still occur in May, especially in the first half of the month.
On the other hand, southwesterly currents can bring very mild or quite warm periods, with highs above 20 °C (68 °F) in April and above 25 °C (77 °F) in May.

Summer, from June to August, is pleasantly warm: daytime temperatures hover around 22 °C (72 °F) in June and 24 °C (75 °F) in July and August. However, nights are cool, and sometimes even a little cold. Atlantic depressions can affect this area even in this season, bringing some cool and rainy days, while in periods of good weather, the temperature can approach 30 °C (86 °F). There is some variability from year to year: there may be summers characterized by long periods of warm and sunny weather, and others in which cool and rainy weather is more frequent. However, some hot days, with highs around 28/30 °C (82/86 °F), occur every year.
Occasionally, there can even be heat waves, with highs of 35 °C (95 °F) or more, but usually, they only last two or three days. The highest record is 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) and was set in August 2015.
On sunny days, thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.

In autumn, from September to November, Atlantic fronts, which had never completely stopped, become more frequent, although a period of good and unseasonably warm weather can sometimes occur, a sort of Indian summer, called Altweibersommer, in September and sometimes in October. Usually, September is still an acceptable month; cold and gray weather usually arrives in the second half of October or more likely in November, when the first snowfalls are also possible.



In Dresden, there are on average 1,760 hours of sunshine per year. The amount of sunshine is not great, however, it is passable from May to August, when the days are also very long. From November to February, the sun rarely shines and the days are short. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Dresden runs from mid-May to late September. In September, the days are shorter than in the previous months, but the weather is generally pleasant and crisp. However, it's better to bring some heavier clothes also in summer, such as a sweatshirt or sweater, and a light jacket for cooler evenings. It may be also useful to bring an umbrella or a raincoat, for rains and thunderstorms.

Dresden - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.6 °C (33 °F), with a minimum of -1.9 °C (28.6 °F) and a maximum of 3 °C (37.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10.5 °F). However, it dropped to -20.4 °C (-4.7 °F) in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it reached 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

---

February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.6 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) and a maximum of 4.5 °C (40.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -20.3 °C (-4.5 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in February 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

---

March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.9 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 8.5 °C (47.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -13.2 °C (8.2 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

---

April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28.7 °C (83.7 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

---

May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.9 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F) and a maximum of 18.7 °C (65.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) in May 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81.5 °F). However, it reached 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

---

June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.3 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 30 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

---

July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.5 °C (76.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.2 °C (45 °F) in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (7 mph).

---

August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 6.4 °C (43.5 °F) in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) in August 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

---

September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) in September 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

---

October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.0 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 26.3 °C (79.3 °F) in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

---

November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) and a maximum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (24.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.2 °C (8.2 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2 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 14 kph (9 mph).

---

December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.8 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) and a maximum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 0 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 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).