Climate

Average temperatures in Latvia during winter are reasonably mild, ranging in January from -2.8°C in Liepaja, on the western coast, to -6.6°C in the southeastern town of Daugavpils. July temperatures range from 16.7°C in Liepaja to 17.6°C in Daugavpils. Latvia's proximity to the sea brings high levels of humidity and precipitation, with average annual precipitation of 56.6 cm in Riga. There are an average of 180 days per year of precipitation, 44 days have fog, and only 72 days are sunny. Continuous snow cover lasts 82 days, and the frost-free period lasts 177 days.

In Riga (elevation 3 m), average temperatures are at their lowest in January/February at -6°C (with a minimum of -10°C and a maximum of -4°C), and their highest in July, at 17°C (with a minimum of 11°C and a maximum of 21°C). Rainfall averages from 2 to 8 cm a month, with the greatest amounts falling from June to October (5 cm a month or more), with the least (less than 3 cm) falling in March. Between October and February, the city receives 3 hours of sunshine a day (or less); sunlight hours reach their peak from May to July, with 9 hours per day. Humidity is fairly constant throughout the year, with a low of 71% in May and a high of 87% in December.