, humid and rainy, influenced by currents from the Atlantic and the North Sea, with cold, gray winters and cool to mild summers.
The island of Sylt is located in the northernmost part of Germany, in Schleswig-Holstein, on the border with Denmark. We are in the German part of the historical region of Friesland, in the group of the North Frisian Islands. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway built in 1927 and on which only a railway passes.
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. Because of the influence of the sea, temperatures drop below freezing less often than in the rest of Germany. On the coldest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches -7 °C (19.5 °F).
, in which the temperature 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 is -21 °C (-6 °F), set in January 1942 and February 1940. More recently, the temperature dropped to -16 °C (3 °F) in February 1956, to -15.5 °C (4 °F) in January 1987, and to -11.5 °C (11.5 °F) in February 2012.
Even in spring, until April or the first half of May, there is often cold and unstable weather.
, the weather is variable, with fairly frequent rains, perhaps alternating with bright spells. There can be cool days, with highs of 15/17 °C and a moderate or strong wind from the sea. However, there are also mild or pleasantly warm periods.
At times, warm 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 25 °C (77 °F). However, given the latitude and the presence of the sea, 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 29 °C (84 °F). The heat record is 33 °C (91 °F), set in August 2018.
is slightly higher than in the rest of northern Germany. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Unlike the rest of Germany, Sylt's latitude (54°55'N) is high enough to observe the phenomenon of the
, in which the sun sets but it does not get completely dark even at midnight, and this happens from 12 June to July 1st.
On June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 5:15 am and sets at 9:45 pm. On December 21, the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at 8:50 am and sets at 4:00 pm.
never becomes warm for swimming (except for tourists from northern Europe). On the long beach, people sunbathe in special deckchairs with protection against the wind.
to visit Sylt runs from June to August, 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.
The following weather data was collected in List, in the northern part of the island.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.4 °C, with a minimum of
0.7 °C and a maximum of
4.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.3 °C in January 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
8 °C. However, it reached
10.6 °C in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are short.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 92%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.3 °C, with a minimum of
0.6 °C and a maximum of
4.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.5 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
7.5 °C. However, it reached
12.8 °C in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.2 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
6.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.1 °C in March 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12 °C. However, it reached
16.6 °C in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
4.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8.1 °C, with a minimum of
5.1 °C and a maximum of
11.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.1 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
24.7 °C in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12 °C, with a minimum of
8.9 °C and a maximum of
15.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in May 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
12.2 °C and a maximum of
17.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
5.6 °C in June 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 17 hours and 20 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
July is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.5 °C, with a minimum of
14.7 °C and a maximum of
20.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.4 °C in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
32.8 °C in July 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
15.2 °C and a maximum of
20.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
9.4 °C in August 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 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 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
19 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15 °C, with a minimum of
12.6 °C and a maximum of
17.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6.2 °C in September 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
27.8 °C in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 11 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 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
16.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.7 °C and a maximum of
12.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.5 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
22.7 °C in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.6 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
8.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.1 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
12.5 °C. However, it reached
15.8 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 21% of the time.
The average humidity is 90%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3.8 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
5.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.3 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
9.5 °C. However, it reached
12.1 °C in December 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 7 hours and 20 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 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 93%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
5.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.