Today's weather for Warsaw, Poland22nd Nov 2009 07:00

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Weather Overview for Warsaw

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, sits on the Vistula River in east-central Poland. The city receives a humid continental climate with all four seasons and its highest rainfall taking place during summer months. Summers are mild and winters are cold and snowy. The weather in Warsaw is characteristically unpredictable so no matter the trend of the season, visitors to the city should come prepared for colder weather.

Summer in Warsaw, from June till August, is usually quite mild. The average daytime high is around the low 20s and at night it usually cools down considerably, approaching 10°C; night times definitely require some extra layers, and air-conditioning is probably unnecessary. However, day time highs are quite erratic, and have often reached up to 30°C. The high temperatures are said to be exacerbated by heavy urbanisation; an abundance of concrete keeps temperatures artificially high. Summer is not as humid as winter but this can still become uncomfortable. This is the rainiest time of year with June seeing the heaviest rain and July coming an incredibly close second.This does not mean that it rains all of the time; while you will have to cope with a few wet days if visiting at this time, this is still the warmest and most pleasant time to experience Warsaw.

Autumn, from September till November, sees temperatures drop from a mild 18°C in September to a cold 6°C in November. Night time temperatures drop accordingly and by November they near freezing. Precipitation levels drop but rain is still quite frequent. If you don’t mind intermittent wet periods and the cool temperatures, Warsaw is beautiful in autumn as its many parks turn red and gold.

Winter is cold and lasts from December till February. The average high temperature fluctuates between a pathetic 1°C and a mean -1°C. At night temperatures drop below freezing, usually getting down to around -5°C. Again, speaking of average conditions won’t really prepare tourists for Warsaw as the weather is unreliable to the point of dishonesty. While the average coldest temperature may be -5°C, Warsaw has been known to see periods of extreme cold around -20°C. In this season precipitation drops; January and February are the driest months; about half of precipitation that does fall falls in the form of snow in lower areas, and exclusively as snow in the mountains. December sees the beginning of Warsaw’s ski season which lasts into March.

Spring, from March till May, is mild and unpredictable. The average high temperature rises from 6°C in March to a pleasant 19°C in May, though night times remain cold, not getting above ten degrees even in May. Rainfall begins to increase as the snow thaws and the effect is a wet city. By May rainfall is almost at its highest levels. 

Poland’s changeable weather is due to many contrasting weather systems converging from different directions. The multitude of variables makes predictions difficult to make and surprises a regular occurrence. Warsaw’s lower areas and the rest of the land around the Vistula actually receive low levels of precipitation in comparison to the rest of the country.

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