Climate of Latvia

Climate of Latvia

Where is the country of Latvia located? Latvia is one of the Baltic states on the Baltic Sea. According to the Köppen climate classification, Latvia has a temperate maritime climate, with cool winters and mild summers. Precipitation falls throughout the year, with slightly more precipitation in the autumn; Spring is again slightly drier than average. Under the influence of the seawater, it is often several degrees warmer along the coast in winter than inland.

Winters

Winters are cool and last quite long. Usually winter starts around the end of October/beginning of November and lasts until April. With a strong easterly current, icy air can be brought in from Russia, which causes freezing temperatures in Latvia, also along the coast. Snow falls in abundance in winter, sometimes several tens of centimeters within 24 hours. Although the winters are on average cold, it can be not too bad and relatively mild under the influence of westerly currents brought over the Baltic Sea.

Spring and Autumn

In the spring – which lasts from mid-April to mid-June – major differences in weather conditions are possible within a very short period of time. When the wind changes, completely different weather can arise, with temperature differences rising to almost 20 degrees within 24 hours. If you travel to Latvia in spring or autumn, you will have to take different weather conditions into account. That is something to think about when you pack your suitcase or travel bag. By looking at the current weather forecast for Latvia just before departure, you are better aware of what kind of weather to expect.

Summer

The beginning of summer is sunny and quite warm. Especially in July the mercury can rise to 25 degrees and higher and it is very pleasant to stay in Riga or other places in Latvia. Often there is a weather change in the month of August and it is still quite warm but in combination with larger amounts of rain. Beautiful days and gray days alternate in August. In September, the summer weather is almost always over with the exception of a single late summer day. From the end of September the temperatures usually drop quite quickly with the first nights of frost at the end of October.

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℃ -10℃ 1 16 2℃
February -2℃ -9℃ 2 12 1℃
March 2℃ -5℃ 4 13 1℃
April 9℃ 0℃ 6 13 2℃
May 16℃ 6℃ 9 11 4℃
June 20℃ 10℃ 10 12 10℃
July 22℃ 12℃ 9 13 16℃
August 21℃ 12℃ 7 16 17℃
September 16℃ 8℃ 5 16 14℃
October 10℃ 4℃ 3 16 10℃
November 3℃ -1℃ 1 19 7℃
December -1℃ -6℃ 1 20 3℃

Best time to visit Latvia

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Latvia? 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. The Republic of Latvia is one of the Baltic States located in Northeastern Europe. The climate of Latvia lies on the border of a temperate continental climate (Dfb climate) and the temperate maritime climate (Cfb). The influence of the Baltic Sea, where Latvia is located, is certainly present. The regular supply from the east of very cool air in winter or very warm air in summer means that Latvia can have to deal with the capriciousness that is a pronounced characteristic of a continental climate.

Best months for Latvia

Looking at the temperatures and the number of hours of sunshine, the period from June to August is the best time to travel for a holiday to Latvia. There is then slightly more precipitation than during other months, but the number of rain showers is less than in winter.

Winter in Latvia

The winter period from December to February is quite cool and very gloomy. Snow showers are frequent during the Latvian winter. The average daytime temperatures are around or just below freezing. At night there is often moderate to severe frost. This period is ideal for winter sports in Latvia, such as skiing, snowboarding and skating. Due to the lack of mountains, skiing is done on hills. The descents are therefore short.

Spring in Latvia

In the period from March to May the temperatures rise and it becomes noticeably sunnier. The limited amounts of precipitation make April and May good months for a culture trip or tour of Latvia. You hardly have to count on summer temperatures in spring.

Summer in Latvia

As described above, summer is the best time to travel to Latvia. With average maximum temperatures of 20 to 22 degrees, this is the warmest season of the year. The sun is especially visible in June and July. It is good to know that the seawater of the Baltic Sea is also cool in summer. The water along the coast does not get much warmer than 17 degrees. In June you can simply call the sea water cool with a temperature of 8 to 13 degrees.

Autumn in Latvia

Autumn sets in in Latvia in September. It will rain more and more often, the temperatures will drop and the sky will become increasingly cloudy. The chance of a day with a typical autumn-like character increases, partly because the average wind blows harder and there may be days with strong winds. Due to the weather, autumn is not the best time to travel to Latvia.

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