Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
In Hamburg, there is a
sub-oceanic climate, humid and rainy, with cold, gray winters and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The city is located in the north of Germany, about 75 km (45 mi) away from the North Sea, however, it is marked by the waters because it is crossed by the Elbe River, which splits into a network of canals in the city and then widens in view of the estuary. In addition, the river receives the waters of two tributaries, one of which, the Alster, widens to form two lakes.
The
wind blows quite frequently, and can be intense, especially from November to March.
The
average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 2 °C (35.6 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 18.4 °C (65.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Hamburg - Average temperatures (1991-2020) Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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January | -0.4 | 4.3 | 2 | 31 | 40 | 35.6 |
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February | -0.3 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 31 | 41 | 36.3 |
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March | 1.3 | 8.7 | 5 | 34 | 48 | 41 |
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April | 4.1 | 13.8 | 9 | 39 | 57 | 48.2 |
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May | 7.9 | 18 | 13 | 46 | 64 | 55.4 |
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June | 11.1 | 20.9 | 16 | 52 | 70 | 60.8 |
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July | 13.5 | 23.2 | 18.4 | 56 | 74 | 65.1 |
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August | 13.4 | 23 | 18.2 | 56 | 73 | 64.8 |
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September | 10.3 | 18.8 | 14.6 | 51 | 66 | 58.3 |
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October | 6.5 | 13.6 | 10 | 44 | 56 | 50 |
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November | 3.1 | 8.2 | 5.6 | 38 | 47 | 42.1 |
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December | 0.5 | 5 | 2.8 | 33 | 41 | 37 |
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Year | 5.9 | 13.6 | 9.8 | 42.6 | 56.5 | 49.6 |
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Precipitation amounts to 775 millimeters (30.5 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest month (April) to 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest ones (July, August). Here is the average precipitation.
Hamburg - Average precipitationMonth | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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January | 65 | 2.6 | 12 |
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February | 50 | 2 | 10 |
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March | 55 | 2.2 | 10 |
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April | 40 | 1.6 | 9 |
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May | 60 | 2.4 | 10 |
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June | 75 | 3 | 11 |
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July | 80 | 3.1 | 12 |
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August | 80 | 3.1 | 11 |
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September | 65 | 2.6 | 10 |
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October | 65 | 2.6 | 11 |
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November | 65 | 2.6 | 11 |
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December | 75 | 3 | 12 |
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Year | 775 | 30.5 | 128 |
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Although the
winter is not very cold for the latitude, it is often humid, windy and rainy. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing and it can snow.
Sometimes, there can be
cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In fact, Scandinavian high pressure systems can reverse the normal circulation and bring very cold periods, which in the past were more frequent. The cold record at the airport is -29 °C (-20 °F), set in February 1940.
Even in spring, until April or the first half of May, there is often cold and unstable weather.
In
summer, the temperatures are generally pleasant and lend themselves to outdoor activities, although there are cool and rainy periods, and sometimes thunderstorms can break out.
At times,
hot periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F). However, given the latitude and the short distance from the sea, usually the heat is less intense and lasting than in the central-southern German plains. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 33 °C (91 °F). The highest record is 39 °C (102.2 °F) and was set in July 2022. In August 2020, there were 12 days in a row with maximum temperatures ranging from 30 to 33 °C (86 to 97.5 °F).
On average, there are around 1,610
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Hamburg - Sunshine hoursMonth | Average | Total |
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January | 1.5 | 45 | February | 2.5 | 70 | March | 4 | 120 | April | 6 | 180 | May | 7 | 220 | June | 7 | 210 | July | 7 | 220 | August | 6.5 | 200 | September | 5 | 150 | October | 3.5 | 110 | November | 1.5 | 50 | December | 1 | 35 | Year | 4.4 | 1610 |
The latitude of Hamburg (53°33'N) is not high enough to observe the phenomenon of the white nights, in which the sun sets but it does not get completely dark even at midnight.
On June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 4:50 am and sets at 9:55 pm. On December 21, the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at 8:35 am and sets at 4:00 pm.
Best Time
The
best time to visit Hamburg runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, it can be hot in July and August, while in other circumstances, nights can be cool or even a little cold even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket.
Hamburg - 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 2 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) and a maximum of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -19.3 °C (-2.7 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11 °C (51.5 °F). However, it reached 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 18% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.4 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -0.3 °C (31.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17.7 °C (0.1 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 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 17 kph (10 mph).
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -15.3 °C (4.5 °F) in March 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 22.1 °C (71.8 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 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 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -7.1 °C (19.2 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (72 °F). However, it reached 28.6 °C (83.5 °F) in April 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °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 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.6 °C (27.3 °F) in May 2011.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 2.2 °C (36 °F) in June 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 0 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 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.4 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F) and a maximum of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in July 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.2 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 23 °C (73.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in August 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in August 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) in September 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 31.4 °C (88.5 °F) in September 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.1 °C (19.2 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.8 °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 -9.3 °C (15.3 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) in November 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 20% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.8 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of 0.5 °C (32.9 °F) and a maximum of 5 °C (41 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7.5 °C (18.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.1 °C (6.6 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it reached 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 35 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 15% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).