Weather and climate in Montenegro

The climate of Montenegro is Mediterranean on the coast, with heavy rains from September to April, while moving inland it becomes progressively more continental, with colder winters, also due to the higher altitude.
Precipitation in Montenegro is plentiful, especially in the coastal strip and in hilly and mountainous regions overlooking the sea. The rains are not very frequent, but when it rains, it rains a lot. The rainy season is long and runs from September to April; sometimes, the rains are torrential.
Certain areas of Montenegro receive the highest amounts of rain of the entire European continent, on a par with some areas of Friuli, in northeastern Italy (see for example Cetinje).
In addition, in inland areas and mountain ranges, additional rainfall occurs in the form of afternoon thunderstorms in late spring and summer (more frequently in May and June).
On the contrary, on the coast and in Podgorica, at least rainfall decreases in summer, when thunderstorms are rare.

The climate in detail

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• Coast and plain - Ulcinj, Podgorica
• Inland areas - Nikšic
• When to go
• What to pack

Coast and plain

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On the coast, the climate is mild but rainy in autumn and winter, while in summer it's hot and sunny, though tempered by the breeze.
Winter is mild, with average temperatures in January around 9 °C (48 °F). However, cold air masses of Russian origin may reach the coast, bringing a dry, down-slope wind which descends from the mountains and lowers the temperature down to the freezing point or even a little below. Typically, this wind does not bring snow, except in the limited areas where cold air manages to penetrate between the mountains.



The Bay of Kotor is sheltered and mild, but in the cold season the temperature drops suddenly when the Bura blows, a cold wind coming from the interior.

Ulcinj

In Ulcinj, in the southern part of the coast, the average temperature ranges from around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in January to 25.5 °C (78 °F) in August.

Rainfall amounts to 1,250 millimeters (49.5 inches) per year, with a maximum from October to February and a minimum in July and August.

The sea in Montenegro is warm enough for swimming from July to September, while it is a bit cool in June and October.

Podgorica

In the capital, Podgorica, located at sea level but at some distance from the sea, the climate is still quite mild, but a little more continental than on the coast. So, winter is a bit cold, with an average in January of 5 °C (41 °F), while summer is hot and sunny, when days can be scorching. Heavy rains are possible from October to March.

In Podgorica, precipitation amounts to 1,700 mm (67 in) per year.

On the coast and in Podgorica, the amount of sunshine is very good in summer, when the sky is usually clear, while in winter it is not very high, however, some clear days can occur even in this season.

Inland areas

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Nikšic

Nikšic, the country's second city, is located at 650 meters (2,100 feet) above sea level, and has a moderate continental climate. Winters are cold, with snowfalls and frosts during cold spells, while summers are generally pleasant, with highs around 28 °C (82 °F), but with possible hot days, during which the temperature goes above 30 °C (86 °F).

The hill areas are even more rainy than the coast. In Niksic, 2,000 mm (78 in) of rain fall per year. In winter, heavy snowfalls can sometimes occur.

In Nikšic and in the interior, the amount of sunshine is slightly lower than that of the coast.

Continuing inland, the climate is even colder, so that in the far north, on the border with Serbia (see Bijelo Polje, Pljevlja), at a given altitude, the temperature is similar to that of the Alps, and during the most intense cold waves, the temperature can drop to -25/-30 °C (-13/-22 °F).
In Montenegro, there are mountains exceeding 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The highest peak, Zla Kolata, is located in the south-east at the border with Albania; it reaches 2,534 meters (8,314 feet) and is located in the group of the Prokletije (or Albanian Alps), which are part of the Dinaric Alps.

When to go

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The best time to visit Montenegro goes from May to September.
On the coast, the summer is a good season for a beach holiday, especially in July and August: the weather is sunny and hot, but tempered by the breeze. We cannot exclude some brief afternoon thunderstorms (as we have said, more rarely than in inland areas).
In Podgorica, the summer can be uncomfortably hot, and the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F), especially in July and August, so you can choose the months of May and September.
In mountainous areas, thr summer is the best season. The sun often shines, even though there's some chance of thunderstorms in the afternoons.

What to pack

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In winter: in the inland region, bring warm clothes, a down jacket, a hat, a scarf, gloves, a raincoat or umbrella. In Podgorica and the coast: warm clothes, such as a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella.
In summer: in the inland region, bring light clothes, a T-shirt, but also long pants, a light jacket and a sweatshirt for the evening; an umbrella. In Podgorica and the coast: light clothing, and possibly a sweatshirt for the evening, especially in June.

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See also the temperatures month by month