In Stuttgart, capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany, the climate is slightly continental, with cold (but not freezing) winters, and mild or pleasantly warm summers. The city is located in an area that would be the mildest of Germany, at least in the summer months, but the location is balanced out by the altitude, which is slightly higher than the plain, 250 metres (820 feet) above sea level, while the airport is located at about 400 metres (1,300 feet), near Filderstadt, and also by the proximity to the Black Forest.
The average temperature in January is 0.5 °C (33 °F), while in July it's 19 °C (66 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation is not very abundant, about 720 millimetres (28.5 inches) per year, but it is quite common and well distributed over the seasons; however, the rainiest season is summer, while the least rainy is winter. Rainfall often occurs in the form of short shower or drizzle, whereas during the summer, thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold: daytime temperatures are on average a few degrees above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while at night they are around freezing.
However, different weather situations can occur.
When the westerlies blow, the temperature can be quite mild, and can reach 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), but there may be wind and rain.
Under the influence of a high pressure system, the weather is cold, the sky is gray and fog can form.
On the contrary, when the city is reached by cold air masses from Russia, the temperature drops below freezing, for longer or shorter periods, even during the day. The temperature rarely drops below -15 °C (5 °F), however, it can do it on colder periods, which in the past were more frequent. Here are some values recorded in the past: January 1942: -23 °C (-9 °F); January 1947: -19 °C (-2 °F); February 1956: -25 °C (-13 °F); February 1963: -20 °C (-4 °F); January 1979: -17 °C (1 °F); February 1985: -25 °C (-13 °F); February 1986: -20 °C (-4 °F); January 1987: -25.5 °C (-14 °F), February 1991: -18 °C (0 °F).
Snowfalls in Stuttgart are quite frequent, though usually not abundant, and occur in the form of sleet or light snow, sometimes, however, snow can accumulate on the ground, and last for many days.

Spring, from March to May, is initially cold, with possible snowfalls still in March, and then it gradually becomes milder in April and May, although some cold days, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F), can occur also in May, especially in the first half of the month. However, April and May are, albeit to a small extent, the sunniest months.
Typically, in the second half of May the temperature becomes permanently acceptable, and there can be the first pleasantly warm days, with highs around 25 °C (77 °F) or even above.

Summer, from June to August, is mild; Atlantic disturbances can pass also in this season, bringing cool and rainy days, but there may also be some hot and sunny days, in which the temperature can reach 28/32 °C (82/90 °F), however, with some risk of afternoon thunderstorms; more rarely the temperature can even exceed 35 °C (95 °F).

Autumn, from September to November, is initially pleasant, in the first half of September, then it gradually becomes cold, dull and wet. The first night frosts usually occur in November, but sometimes also in October. During calm nights, fog can form.



The amount of sunshine in Stuttgart is not high in autumn and winter: the sun rarely shines from November to February, while it goes a bit better in summer: there are on average 7/7.5 hours of sunshine per day from May August.

When to go

The best time to visit Stuttgart runs from mid-May to mid-September, being the mildest of the year. July and August are the warmest months; however, it's better to bring a sweatshirt or sweater, a light jacket and an umbrella, for cool and rainy days.