Germany Climate

Climate of Germany

Germany has a temperate climate, which, depending on the incoming air masses in each area, can take on a slightly different form.

The north and northwest of the country have an oceanic temperate climate. Winters here are relatively mild, and summers are quite warm. In the warmest months, the temperature fluctuates between 18°C and 23°C, while in the coldest months it drops to around 0°C. Precipitation is year-round (about 600 mm - 800 mm), in winter there may be a dusting of snow, but it does not last very long, a few days at most. In the North Sea, sea fronts cause slightly higher temperatures and more frequent precipitation than in the Baltic Sea. Storms are common on the coast and it can be very windy.

The eastern and central parts of the country show continental characteristics. Winters here are long and moderately cold, with temperatures falling to several degrees below 0°C. On average, there is snowfall from December to March. The summer months are usually sunny and warm, around 20°C - 25°C. There are also hot days, where the mercury slate reaches 30°C. Annual precipitation in the area is 600 mm - 700 mm.

The Southwest (Deutsche Weinstraße - German Wine Route, Upper Rhine Plain) is the warmest region in Germany. Summers here can be very hot and long, the heat can reach 30°C. Winters are usually very mild, with the mercury column never falling below 0°C, and snowfall is very sporadic. Rains occur throughout the year (about 700 mm) and generally come in the form of afternoon brief downpours and thunderstorms.

The south of the country (Bavarian Highlands, Alps) has elements of a mountain climate with climatic stackedness, where temperatures and precipitation depend on the altitude of the area above sea level. The higher it is, the colder and wetter it is. The Bavarian Highlands are much warmer than the foothills of the Alps, thanks to the warm and dry winds that blow there in spring and autumn. In the summer months, temperatures in the Bavarian highlands reach around 20°C, while in winter they drop to -5°C. In the higher parts of the Alps, it is much colder, below 10°C in summer and around -10°C in winter. Annual precipitation is the highest in the country at 2,000 mm. It snows profusely, and the cover reaching several meters lasts for several months.