Climate

Germany's climate is temperate and marine, with cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers and in the south occasional warm föhn wind. The greater part of Germany lies in the cool/temperate climatic zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. The climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Drift, which is the northern extension of the Gulf Stream. This warmer water affects the areas bordering the North Sea including the peninsula of Jutland in north Germany and the area along the Rhine, which flows into the North Sea. Consequently in the north-west and the north, the climate is oceanic; rainfall occurs year round with a maximum during summer. Winters there are mild and summers tend to be cool, though temperatures can exceed 30°C (86°F) for prolonged periods. In the east, the climate is more continental; winters can be very cold, summers can be very warm, and long dry periods are often recorded. Central and the southern Germany is a transition region which varies from moderately oceanic to continental. The maximum temperature can exceed 30°C (86°F) in summer.

Berlin

In Berlin (elevation 51 m), in the northeast of the country, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at -1°C (with a minimum of -4°C and a maximum of 2°C), and their highest in July, at 18°C (with a minimum of 13°C and a maximum of 23°C). Rainfall averages from 3 to 6 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from June to August (over 5 cm a month), with the least (3 cm) falling in March.

Frankfurt am Main

In Frankfurt (elevation 103 m), in the southwest of the country, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at 0°C (with a minimum of -4°C and a maximum of 4°C), and their highest in July, at 19°C (with a minimum of 13°C and a maximum of 24°C). Rainfall averages from 4 to 7 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from June to August (over 5 cm a month), with the least (3-4 cm) falling from February to April.

Greifswald

In Greifswald (elevation 2 m), in the far northeastern corner of the country, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at -1°C (with a minimum of -2°C and a maximum of 2°C), and their highest in July/August, at 17°C (with a minimum of 13°C and a maximum of 21°C). Rainfall averages from 3 to 7 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from June to August (over 5 cm a month), with the least (3 cm) falling in March.

Hamburg

In Hamburg (elevation 14 m), in the central north, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at 0°C (with a minimum of -3°C and a maximum of 3°C), and their highest in July/August, at 16°C (with a minimum of 12°C and a maximum of 21°C). Rainfall averages from 4 to 8 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling in July and August (8 cm), with the least (less than 5 cm) falling from February to March.

Munich

In Munich (elevation 527 m), in the southeast corner of the country, average temperatures are at their lowest in January at -3°C (with a minimum of -6°C and a maximum of 1°C), and their highest in July, at 17°C (with a minimum of 12°C and a maximum of 22°C). Rainfall averages from 5 to 14 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from May to July (10 cm a month or more), with the least (less than 6 cm) falling from November to March.