Climate of Estonia

Climate of Estonia

Where is the country of Estonia located? Estonia is one of the Baltic states located on the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. Estonia is the northernmost of the Baltic States. The climate is best described as a moderate maritime climate, with cool winters and mild summers. Precipitation falls throughout the year with a little more in the autumn; spring is slightly drier than average. Under the influence of the seawater, it is often several degrees warmer along the coast in winter than inland. In the summer months it is the other way around: it is often warmer inland than in coastal towns such as the capital Tallinn.

Wintery

Estonian winters are cool and long lasting. Usually winter starts around the end of October/beginning of November and lasts until April. In the winter months there is regular snow, which often remains for a longer period of time. As far as cold is concerned, it can be better than expected and temperatures will remain slightly above the long-term average, but with a strong easterly current, icy air from Russia can cause very low temperatures and keep temperatures well below minus ten degrees during the day.

Spring

Spring lasts relatively short, from about the end of April to mid-June. During this period, temperatures can vary from frost at night to over 20 degrees during the day. As a traveler, you have to take into account the fickleness of the weather in Estonia. It matters a lot whether there are warmer air currents from the south or whether there is a cool supply from the north. With regard to your clothes and shoes, be prepared for all possible weather conditions.

Summer

The summer months in Estonia are generally very pleasant. Just say nice and warm without getting stuffy, because the relative humidity is fairly low. In the presence of strong high pressure areas, the summer can last until the beginning of September, but in some years a constant supply of depressions from the beginning of August throws a spanner in the works and the summer is practically over. Once the heat has dissipated during August, the chances of summer returning diminish. If the heat lasts until the end of August, there is a chance of some good late summer weather in September.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January -3℃ -11℃ 1 18 2℃
February -3℃ -10℃ 2 14 1℃
March 1℃ -7℃ 4 15 1℃
April 7℃ -1℃ 6 13 2℃
May 15℃ 4℃ 9 11 4℃
June 20℃ 10℃ 10 12 10℃
July 22℃ 12℃ 9 13 16℃
August 21℃ 12℃ 7 15 17℃
September 15℃ 8℃ 5 17 14℃
October 8℃ 4℃ 3 18 10℃
November 2℃ -2℃ 1 20 7℃
December -2℃ -7℃ 1 21 3℃

Best time to visit Estonia

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Estonia? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Estonia is the northernmost country of the Baltic states. It is separated from Finland to the north by the Gulf of Finland. The climate of Estonia lies on the border of the temperate maritime climate and the temperate continental climate. Summers are generally mild and winters are on the cool side. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed over the year, with more precipitation recorded in the period from July to November than in the period from December to June. In winter, a reasonable part of the precipitation falls in the form of snow or other winter precipitation. The winter months are very gloomy. In the month of January, the sun shows itself on average for just under an hour a day. The rest of the time it will be partly to heavily cloudy. If you want to go on holiday to Estonia, it is best to choose a trip in June, July or August. These are the hottest months of the year. Count on an average of 18 to 22 degrees in the afternoon and minimum temperatures that often vary from 8 to 14 degrees. The closer to the sea, the warmer it is at night. June and July are the sunniest months in Estonia, followed by August and May.

Beach holiday in Estonia

Estonia has coastal areas and beaches. The number of pleasant days for a day at the beach is quite limited. You have the greatest chance of this in July and August, but July and very occasionally September can also provide some beach days. What is good to know is that the sea water temperature does not rise that high. With 17 degrees in August it will stop. That it is about four degrees cooler than our North Sea coast. It hardly prevents the locals from taking a dip in the sea, because they are often not used to it.

Winter sports

The winters in Estonia are cold enough to do winter sports. The amounts of snow are also sufficient. What it lacks, however, are serious mountains. There are better destinations for those who want to go skiing or snowboarding. Those who like cross-country skiing or ice skating can do just fine in Estonia in the winter months. In fact, you can count Estonia among the better cross-country destinations in Europe. The best travel time for winter sports in Estonia is from December to March, with January and February being the real top months.

Estonia