The Black Forest in the southwest corner of Germany is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. In spite of its ominous sounding name, the Black Forest has gorgeous river valleys, great hiking trails and bright, sunny peaks. There are activities for all the family to enjoy in this picturesque part of Germany, and the Black Forest is one of the countryâs most popular holiday spots.
Climate
The Black Forest is one of the sunniest and warmer regions in Germany. Average high temperatures in the summer reach around 25C, with lows only dropping around an average of 14C. As autumn approaches, temperatures are on the decline, averaging about 15C. The winter months attract bitter cold temperatures, especially in the higher elevations of the Black Forest. Temperatures reach an average low of -3C and highs just above freezing, about 3C. Spring brings a quick increase in temperatures ranging anywhere from 0C to 18C. During this time rainfall increases, bringing a wet summer.
Summer
The summer months in The Black Forest are wetter than the rest of the year. These months can bring an average of 100mm of rain during the months of May, June, and July. Summer is the rainiest time for the Black Forest, but the amount of rain does not scare away tourists as there is plenty to enjoy regardless of the weather. The temperatures in June bring an average low of 13C and an average high temperature of 19C. June is the rainiest month bringing rainfall averages up to 110mm during the month. The month of June averages about 12 rainy days, staying constant from 12 days in May.
July brings less rain, averaging about 99mm of rain during the month. Less rain means more sunshine for the Black Forest and warmer weather. The average high for the region is about 25C, with a low of 15C. June, July and August all see about 14 days of rain. Daylight hours peak in June and July with a total of 7 hours both months to enjoy the beauty of the Black Forest. August sees a slow decline for daylight, waning to 6 hours of sunlight. August brings hotter temperatures in spite of the close approaching autumn. Temperatures will peak to 26C during the month and reach a low of 14C. August has lighter rainfall, making an enjoyable month for a small break.
Autumn
Autumn brings a steep decline in temperature beginning in September. The temperature only reaches a high of 21C with an average low of 10C. The average rainfall is about 62mm, but September only averages 13 days of rain. The amount of sunshine dwindles to an average of five hours every day during the month.
October experiences a steeper decline in temperature with an average high of only 16C. The average lows reach a chilly 7C with only four hours of sunlight. Rain is a little more frequent with 15 days of rain, but there is the same average amount of rainfall as September, 62mm. October is a month with more winter temperatures than cool autumn breezes.
Winter
The winter months are a prime tourism season because of the numerous ski resorts in The Black Forest. Wind speeds average around 14 km/h and can gust up to 16km/h. November brings much cooler temperatures, a decrease in rainfall and increase in snow especially in higher elevations. Temperatures hit an average high of 9C and a low of 2C. This month only has an average of just two hours of average sunlight due to the constant cloud coverage in the area. This cloud coverage attributes to the colder temperatures and increase in precipitation, mainly snow.
December has bitter cold temperatures averaging 3C and an average low of 0C. However, December still attracts plenty of visitors drawn to a region well known for its traditional take on the Christmas season and the promise of a winter wonderland. January is peak ski season with more snow falling. The total amount of snowfall days does not compare to the snow lying days. Anywhere from 40-70mm of snow will stay around on top of the Black Forest Mountains. There are still few hours of sunlight, an average of only 2 hours a day; however, there is plenty of time to enjoy the slopes.
February also sees an increase in ski tourism, maintaining cold temperatures averaging 4C. The average high only reaches 6C, but maintains the amount of snow needed for skiing. The average amount of precipitation is 36mm, but mostly comes in the form of snow. Spring comes quickly to the Black Forest with a speedy increase in temperatures.
Spring
The temperatures in March stay on a steady incline, reaching an average high of 11C. The average low stays around 2C, but mostly during the nighttime. The hours of sunlight attributes to the warmer temperatures, averaging four hours daily. The average amount of rainfall reaches nearly 50mm in about thirteen days of the month.
With the onset of spring, in April the temperature jumps considerably, becoming more like spring. Average rainfall stays around 55mm with 14 days, on average, of rain. The amount of rainfall dips slightly during April because of the warmer weather. April temperatures reach a warm 15C maximum average, but an average low of 4C, reminding visitors that winter is lingering, April has an average of five hours of sunlight, helping the Black Forest to thaw from the frigid winter.
May experiences a steep incline again in temperature as summer approaches. Reaching an average of 19C, the warm days of May are refreshing. The average low still stays around 8C dropping mostly at night. The hours of sunlight reach an average of six hours aiding the arrival of summer. May is the rainiest month of spring bringing an average of 70mm of rain during the month. Tourism is healthy during the spring as the temperature warms and the resortâs stunning natural beauty comes into its own.