Climate - Ukraine

Index

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• Introduction
• Inland areas - Kiev
• The coast - Odessa, Crimea
• When to go
• What to pack

Introduction

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In much of Ukraine, the climate is continental, with cold winters and warm summers, which become progressively warmer as you move towards the south. The southern area, which overlooks the Black Sea, has a slightly milder weather in winter, but we cannot speak of Mediterranean climate (the winter is cold anyway), except on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula (see Yalta).

Precipitation in Ukraine is quite frequent throughout the year, but it's not abundant in most of the country, since it hovers between 500 and 600 millimeters (20 and 23.5 inches) per year in the vast inland area occupied by plains and hills. The rainiest season is summer because of afternoon thunderstorms. However, winter is not dry, since precipitation in this season is not abundant but it's quite frequent, and often occurs in the form of light snow.
In the Black Sea region, precipitation is even scarcer, below 500 mm (20 in) per year, since summer thunderstorms occur more rarely. The only area that is quite rainy is the western one, Galicia (see Lviv), where almost 800 mm (31.5 in) of rain fall per year, and the Carpathian Mountains, where precipitation reaches 1,200 mm (47 in) per year, in addition to the small area of the Crimean Mountains, where it can reach 1,000 mm (40 in). To the west of the Carpathians, there is another flat area, though small, where precipitation exceeds 700 mm (27.5 in) per year.

The sun in Ukraine rarely shines in winter, especially in inland areas, where gray skies prevail, while it often shines in summer, especially along the shores of the Black Sea. On average there are about 1,850 hours of sunshine per year in the north and 2,250 in the south.

Ukraine is a large country, the second in Europe with an area of 603,600 km² (233,050 mi²), and it is largely occupied by plains (in the east) and hills (in the west). The only mountainous area of some importance is found in the west, south of Lviv, where there's a portion of the aforementioned Carpathian Mountains, which reaches its highest point in Mount Hoverla, 2,061 meters (6,762 feet) high. Here, of course, the temperature decreases with increasing altitude, especially in summer, while in winter, cold air often clings to the soil, causing a thermal inversion that keeps the plain cold. In summer, thunderstorms in the mountains are more frequent and abundant.
Other mountains, though less extended, are the aforementioned Crimean Mountains, whose highest point is Mount Roman-Koš, 1,545 meters (5,069 feet) high.



Winter is cold in much of Ukraine: the average temperatures are below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) in inland areas and around freezing on the coast, while they exceed this value in Crimea. Snow covers Kiev for about 80 days per year (which were about one hundred in the previous decades, when the climate was colder).
The coldest periods are those in which the Siberian Anticyclone settles in the country: in these situations, the temperature can drop to -20 °C (-4 °F) or even below. The cold records are around -30/-35 °C (-22/-31 °F) in inland areas and around -25/-28 °C (-13/-18 °F) on the coast.
During the coldest periods the sea can freeze, sometimes in the Odessa Bay, more often in the Sea of Azov, which is shallow and closed by the Crimea, and only during the coldest winters, as in February 2012, also in Crimea.
The average winter temperature has increased by a few degrees over the last few decades, especially in the interior. Anyway, periods of severe cold are still possible, although, in comparison with the past, they are less frequent and tend to be shorter.

Spring is an unstable season, in fact, both the temperature and the sunshine hours grow rapidly, however, cold weather can return. In continental areas, the thaw generally occurs in late February, but during some years also in March; the snow turning into mud can make it difficult to travel on rural roads.
In March, during some years, the temperature can drop to -10 °C (14 °F), and sometimes even -15 °C (5 °F), in inland areas.
Even in April, especially in the first half of the month, the temperature can drop below freezing and it can snow.
By May, the temperatures generally start to become pleasant, but it can still get cold at night, especially in the first half of the month.

Summer in Ukraine is warm and quite sunny, with possible thunderstorms, which are more likely in the center-north. Maximum temperatures in July are around 25/26 °C (77/79 °F) in the north (see Chernihiv, Kiev) and around 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) in the south (see Dnipro) and on the coast of the Black Sea (see Odessa). The summer on the Black Sea Coast, especially in Crimea, is similar to that of the northern coast of the Mediterranean (French Riviera, Liguria), although the rains are a bit more frequent, around 5/6 days per month.
In summer, the inland regions are sometimes affected by disturbances of Atlantic origin or by cool air masses from the north, so the average temperature is lower than in the regions overlooking the sea, but the former are also subject to heat waves, which last a few days and can raise the temperature to 35 °C (95 °F) or more.

In autumn, the temperature decreases rapidly. September is still a pleasant month in the Black Sea area, with highs around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F), while the north it's already cool, with highs around 19/20 °C (66/68 °F). Sometimes, it can get cold, with the first snowfalls, already in October, however, the turning point occurs in November, when it starts to get cold across the country, and the sunshine becomes scarce as well.

Inland areas

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Kiev

Here are the average temperatures of Kiev, the capital, located in the north of the country.

In Kiev, precipitation amounts to 640 mm (25 in) per year. The wettest season is summer. Here is the average precipitation.

The sun in Kiev is rarely seen from November to February, while in summer, it shines quite often. Here are the average sunshine hours.

In the north-west, in Lviv, the climate is a bit less warm in the summer, since it is located at 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level.

In the center-south, in Dnipro (formerly Dnipropetrovsk), the summer is instead a little warmer than in Kiev.

The coast

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Odessa

The coast of the Black Sea is not so mild in winter. In Odessa, the average temperature in January is 0 °C (31.5 °F), there are on average 40 days with snowfall, and the cold record of the past 20 years is -22 °C (-7.5 °F). However, summer is warm to hot and sunny, with some thunderstorms. Here are the average temperatures.

In Odessa, just 470 mm (18.5 in) of rain fall per year.

In Odessa, the winter sky is often gray, while the summer is sunny.

The Black Sea, cold in winter, becomes acceptable for swimming in July and August, while it is a bit cool in June and September. In the east, the Sea of Azov, more closed and sheltered, is a bit warmer in summer.

Crimea

In Crimea (which was annexed to Russia in 2014), winter is not as cold as in Odessa. However, in winter, the Crimean peninsula and the Sea of Azov are affected by cold winds, sometimes violent.
In Simferopol, located in the interior of the peninsula, the average January temperature is 0.3 °C (32.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

The only relatively mild area in winter is the south coast of the peninsula (see Yalta), south of the Crimean Mountains: these mountains partially protect the coast from the cold northern wind, which turns into a down-slope, dry and relatively warm wind. Here, the average winter temperatures are about 5 °C (41 °F). Summer is hot and sunny, with some thunderstorms. Here are the average temperatures in Yalta.

The sea in Yalta and Sevastopol reaches 24 °C (75 °F) in July and August.

When to go

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The best time to visit Ukraine as a whole runs from mid-May to mid-September.
In order to avoid heat waves, which may occur in midsummer (July and August), especially the south-central and in the east of the country, you can opt for the two periods, mid-May to late June and the first half of September. However, those who can stand the heat can also go in July and August.
The best time for a beach holiday in the Black Sea Coast is the mid-summer period (July and August), when you will find sunny and warm weather, tempered by sea breezes, with a few rainy days.

What to pack

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In winter: pack very warm clothes, such as a sweater or fleece, a down jacket, a fur hat, gloves, and a scarf. For Jalta, pack a sweater, a jacket, a raincoat or umbrella, and a scarf and earmuffs for the wind.

In summer: in Lviv, pack spring/autumn clothes, being ready to add or remove the outer layer, and an umbrella. In the north-east and in Kiev, pack T-shirts and shorts for hot days, a jacket and a sweatshirt for the evening and for cooler days, and an umbrella.
In the south and on the Black Sea coast: pack light clothes, and a sweatshirt or light jacket for the evening.

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