Climate - Budapest (Hungary)

The climate of Budapest is continental, with cold winters and warm summers.
The city is the capital of Hungary and is located in the north of the country, 35 km (20 mi) away from the border with Slovakia. The Danube River cuts the city in two at an altitude of 100 meters (330 feet), but while the east part (Pest) is flat, the west part (Buda) climbs hills that exceed 300 meters (1,000 feet). The highest point, the János Hill, reaches 527 meters (1,729 feet).
At the Ferihegy Airport, the average temperature ranges from -1.5 °C (29.5 °F) in January to 21 °C (70 °F) in July.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation is not abundant, in fact, it amounts to 610 millimeters (24 inches) per year, although it's fairly well distributed over the seasons. However, there is a maximum in late spring and early summer (in May and June) due to afternoon thunderstorms, and a secondary maximum in autumn (November) due to Atlantic depressions.
Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, with average temperatures around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) or slightly below. Cold air often stagnates on the ground, bringing cold and gray weather, with mist and fog; snowfall is quite frequent, but generally not abundant.
On some occasions, however, cold air masses from Russia invade the Hungarian Plain, bringing strong winds at the beginning and then intense frosts. Here are the temperatures recorded in some particularly cold winters: January 1985: -20 °C (-4 °F); February 1985: -24 °C (-11 °F); January 1987: -27 °C (-16.5 °F); February 2012: -23 °C (-9.5 °F); January 2017: -22 °C (-7.5 °F).

In spring, different situations occur: the average temperature rises quickly, and already in March, the first pleasant days may occur, but the return of wintry weather is also possible, with snow and frost in March and more rarely in April. The clash between different air masses can generate intense winds.
In the second half of April, the temperature can already exceed 20 °C (68 °F), and in May, the first hot days can occur, with peaks around 30 °C (86 °F). However, in other situations, it can still be cold in the first half of May, and more rarely in the second, at least at night. By May, thunderstorms begin to erupt in the afternoon.

Summer, from June to August, is warm and sunny. In fine weather, afternoon thunderstorms can occur.
Sometimes, Atlantic weather fronts can still affect this area, bringing cool and rainy weather.
At other times, there may be heat waves, most likely in July and August, during which the maximum temperature can reach and exceed 35 °C (95 °F). The temperature even reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2007, and 39 °C (102 °F) in August 2015; on other occasions (in the months of August 2000, 2003, 2013 and 2017), it reached 38 °C (100.5 °F).

Autumn is initially a mild and pleasant season in September, when, however, it sometimes begins to get a little cold at night, then, by October, the temperature decreases rapidly, and cloudiness and rain become more frequent. November is a cold and gray month, and in the course of the month, the first snowfalls may occur.



The amount of sunshine in Budapest is good in May and in summer, while it's poor or mediocre from November to February, when gray skies predominate. On average, there are 1,990 hours of sunshine per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The latitude of Budapest (47°30'N) is more or less the same as Seattle, therefore on the north of the United States.
On June 21, the longest day of the year, the sun rises at 4:46 am and sets at 8:44 pm. On August 15, the sun rises at 5:40 am and sets at 7:55 pm. On December 21, the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at 7:28 am and sets at 3:55 pm.

Best Time

In order to avoid both the winter cold and the summer heat, the best times to visit Budapest are spring and autumn, and in particular, the months of May, June and September: daytime temperatures are pleasant, although it's better to bring a sweater and a jacket for the evening. In July and August, the temperature is usually not too hot, however, there is the risk of some very hot days, which can happen, though more rarely, also in the second half of June and in the first half of September.