The weather in Latvia is fairly typical of its northerly
location, though the climate is moderated considerably by the presence of the
Baltic Sea and Gulf
of Riga on its west
coast. Conditions increase in extremity the further north you head and also as
you move away from the moderating influence of the sea waters.
The climate is largely continental, temperate in parts and humid.
The country sees a large range in annual temperatures, with winters getting
particularly cold and summers getting much hotter than you might expect at such
a northerly latitude. The coast’s climate can be described as maritime with
winters that are slightly milder than other parts of the country.
You can expect precipitation year
round in Lativa, though it is highest in summer, peaking in August. Summers are
generally mild; the warmest months are July and August. Spring and autumn are
periods of rapid change but are generally pleasant nearer to summer. Winters
are cold and snowy.
Riga is Latvia’s
cosmopolitan capital city, lying on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in the
Gulf of Riga. It sits on the fertile low-lying
Eastern European plain, a plain largely covered in pine forests and lush flora.
It has a temperate climate that sees warm summers and cold winters.
The coldest months in Riga are January and
February which have an average daily
temperature of -6°C and see the mercury often falling below a blistering
-25°C! Heavy snowfall is common; away from the coast snow cover can last for up
to 80 days in winter. Summers in Riga
are warm and particularly humid. The summer months see an average
temperatures of about 18°C, though the mercury has been known to rise well
into the 30’s, pushing 36°C on many previous occasions.
When the cold winds from Russia and interior Lativa hit the warm sea rain
and fog is created over Riga.
This is particularly common in the autumn months of September to November.
The vibrant coastal capital of Riga has beautiful
winding cobblestone streets and Art Nouveau architecture. Lying slightly
further inland you will find the enchanting city of Sigulda
which has long been known locally as the 'Switzerland of Latvia', because of
its position in the Gauja
Valley and the medieval
castles that dot the region.
While Riga
is the largest city in Latvia
and also the most popular, if you have the time there are many beautiful cities
to visit across the country. If you head inland you should visit the towns of
Aluksne and Rezekne which lie in interior Latvia
near Russia. If
you choose to visit these cities then it’s best to organise your trip in the
months outside of winter - as they lie further from the sea the winter months
can see very extreme weather. You could also visit the towns of Liepaja, which lies on the west coast, or Ventapils, which
sits in a more northerly location on the coast upon the Irbe Strait.
Latvia is located in Northern Europe upon
the coasts of the Baltic Sea. It lies south of
Estonia,
north of Lithuania
and to the west of Belarus and
Russia. As
travellers search for undiscovered destinations, Latvia is becoming more and more
popular.
During the Soviet period, Latvia experienced heavy industrialisation and a
huge influx of immigrants, mainly from Russia. Latvia
claimed its independence in 1991 and Russia withdrew its military forces
in 1994. Since then the country has undergone a transformed itslef, joining
NATO and the European Union in 2004 and implementing strict language and
citizenship laws. In 2004 the Government introduced controversial reforms to
restrict the use of the Russian language in schools and in 2006 a law was
brought it that those who failed a Latvian language test three times will be
denied citizenship.
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