Warm weather in europe in march: Top 5 warmest places in Europe in March you NEED to visit, RANKED

Extreme Heat Continues Its March Across Western Europe

Europe|Extreme Heat Continues Its March Across Western Europe

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A heat wave that has caused fires to rage in southwestern France and Spain is moving north toward Britain, which may see its highest recorded temperatures ever.

At the beach in Brighton, an oasis in southern England.Credit…Daniel Leal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

By Kaly Soto

Published July 17, 2022Updated July 19, 2022

Britain is bracing for its hottest day ever as a heat wave sweeps across Europe. Follow live updates here.

LONDON — The weather maps for Europe were blood red on Sunday as heat that has been baking Spain and Italy and fanning fires in southwest France worked its way north toward Britain.

In London, it was warm, in the high 80s, but temperatures on Monday and Tuesday were forecast to hit 100 or higher and to shatter records in a place where air-conditioning is rare and buildings are constructed to retain heat.

In France, the extreme temperatures that have fed wildfires in the south are expected to sweep into the north, especially along the Atlantic coast, which was bracing for uncharacteristically scorching weather.

In Italy, where temperatures were expected to be in the 90s on Sunday, the heat was bad enough, but the country is also experiencing its worst drought in years. The government has allocated 36.5 million euros, about $36.8 million, for water-starved farmers in northern regions. Two hydro-electrical plants had to be shut in the area because there was not enough water to cool them.

And in Spain, a heat wave entered its eighth day, with 30 wildfires burning across the country. Relief is hard to find, even after the sun goes down — Saturday night was Madrid’s fifth consecutive “torrid night,” a term used when temperatures do not fall below 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record stood at three nights. Rubén del Campo, the State Meteorological Agency’s spokesman, said that of the 27 torrid nights recorded in the past century, over half, 15, were since 2012.

Video

A heat wave has caused fires to rage in southwestern France and Spain.CreditCredit…Thibaud Moritz/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Like everywhere else on Earth, Europe is seeing more extreme weather events more frequently, partly as a result of climate change. For proof, one has to look back only to last summer, when floods washed through Germany and other countries in July, killing hundreds. In August, multiple wildfires consumed large areas of Greece. And, also in August, one town in Sicily may have recorded the hottest temperature ever in Europe: 124 degrees Fahrenheit.

But on Sunday, the attention in France was focused on the wildfires, in the southwestern Gironde region near Bordeaux, where over 1,200 firefighters were still struggling to contain two separate blazes.

The fires have destroyed over 25,000 acres of vegetation and have forced more than 14,000 people to evacuate since Tuesday, the local authorities said.

Four firefighters so far have been slightly injured, they said, and damage to buildings and homes has been minimal. Still, the authorities warned that the situation was unstable, with higher temperatures and shifting winds expected on Monday.

“The weather conditions are very, very bad,” Vincent Ferrier, a local official in Langon, an area of Gironde, told reporters on Sunday. “These are obviously the worst conditions that you can have when you are fighting against a fire.”

In Rome, where it has been in the 90s for the past week, street vendors dozed in the shade on Sunday morning while tourists filled their water bottles from the famous fountains.

Cooling off under a public sprinkler on Saturday in Barcelona. Spain has seen extreme temperatures for the past eight days.Credit…Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

“It’s hot — too hot to walk around during the day,” said Serena Vendoni, 57, a hairdresser from northern Italy who was visiting Rome with her family for a long weekend. “But it’s hot even at home. We have been turning on the A.C. every day and every night for almost two months now.”

She said that her family’s electric bill had skyrocketed as temperatures had rarely been under 86 for weeks.

“We want to be careful with the A.C.,” Ms. Vendoni said. Energy prices have shot up in Europe partly because of the war in Ukraine. “But we have to be able to live in the house — and sleep.”

On Sunday in Britain, people were making their own plans to withstand the coming heat. The forecasts for Monday and Tuesday were dire — on Friday, the country’s national weather service issued the most severe warning it has for London and a large part of England.

The warning, a “red” alert, is meant to convey a risk to life, and health officials stressed that even healthy people could be adversely affected. The public was warned to try to stay out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to make only essential journeys on those days, to avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day and to carry water with them.

Reporting was contributed by Aurelien Breeden from Paris, Francheska Melendez from Foz do Farelo, Portugal, Gaia Pianigiani from Rome and Euan Ward from London.

*March 2022 Forecast* An extraordinary weather showdown between Winter and Spring unfolds, with the Polar Vortex breaking down as we head into Spring

Meteorological Spring has now begun with March. But the weather patterns over the Northern Hemisphere are not yet ready for the transition from Winter, with the polar circulation now being impacted by the breakdown of the Polar Vortex.

There are some very strong weather drivers behind these changes, that typically command the weather patterns each winter season and extending into early Spring.

We will look at what is causing these large-scale changes, and how they will play out this month and into the rest of the Spring season.

We always tend to explain the behind-the-scenes processes at work, so you can much easily understand the grand scale of weather and the bigger picture.

WINTER SEASON 2021/2022 ENDS

 
The meteorological winter season covers the December-January-February period, so meteorological winter officially ended with February.

At this time, we usually take a look at the first (preliminary) temperature anomaly and the pressure pattern analysis for the entire Winter season.

Below we have the Dec-Jan-Feb global pressure pattern. What stands out is the strong semi-permanent high-pressure system in the North Pacific. Also, as a response to that, we have a broad low-pressure area over Canada, covering also the northern United States and Alaska.

Such a pattern typically pushes the jet stream down into the northwestern United States and onward towards eastern Canada. That helped to bring colder weather to the northern parts of the United States, extending also into the eastern parts.

Over Europe, we have a ridge present over western Europe up into the North Atlantic. That means a low-pressure area is to the east of the ridge, over Scandinavia and also parts of northeastern Europe.

For the first time, we are now also going to compare this analysis to the winter forecasts from November, which is the last month before meteorological winter begins.

We can see a very good forecast from ECMWF over North Pacific and North America. There was a strong high-pressure system in the Pacific and the low-pressure zone over Canada.

The forecast was not as good over Europe, with a low-pressure zone over the North Atlantic instead of Scandinavia.

Looking at temperatures, below we have global temperature anomaly for the same period. We can actually see a lot of warm anomalies in the polar regions, north of the 60N latitude. What stands out is a large and strong cold pool over Canada.

Most of Europe and the United States are under warmer than normal conditions. But the second half of the winter season has featured cold air outbreaks into the eastern half of the United States. In Europe, there were not enough cold air outbreaks to change the warmer average into negative anomalies.

Now looking at the ECMWF global temperature forecast issued in November, we can see the strong cold pool over Canada, and warm anomalies over much of the United States.

In reality, the warm anomalies over the United States were not as strong, and the central and eastern states have seen quite a few cold air outbreaks in the second half of winter.

Over Europe the forecast was not completely off, just the main bulk of warmer anomalies was further over western and central Europe.
 

LARGE-SCALE WEATHER DRIVERS

 
When we look at the seasonal forecasts for winter (or any other season) we always look at the large-scale climate drivers first. This season, it was the La Nina in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

But once the season starts, we tend to look more closely at the short-term variability. Besides the La Nina which we will cover later below, we have one other driver of the weather in the Northern Hemisphere. The infamous Polar Vortex.
 

NORTH HEMISPHERIC POLAR VORTEX

Every year as we head into autumn, the polar regions receive less and less sunlight. This way, cooling begins over the north pole.

But as the polar temperatures drop, the atmosphere further south is still relatively warm as it continues to receive energy from the Sun.

You can see the winter solstice in the image below. The polar regions receive little to zero solar energy, compared to regions further south, which still continue to receive plenty of sunlight and energy.

But, as the temperature begins to drop over the polar regions, so does the pressure. With colder temperatures over the pole, the temperature difference towards the south increases.

This also causes a pressure difference as a large low-pressure (cyclonic) circulation starts to develop across the Northern Hemisphere. It extends from the surface layers, far up into the stratosphere. This is known as the Polar Vortex.

The image below shows a typical example of the Polar Vortex at around 30km/18.5miles altitude (10mb level) around the middle stratosphere during the winter season.

It is basically like a very large cyclone, covering the whole north pole, down to the mid-latitudes. It has a strong presence at all levels, from the ground up, but can have different shapes at different altitudes.

In the next image below, we have the polar vortex at a much lower altitude, around 5km/3miles. The closer to the ground we go, the more deformed the polar vortex gets because it has to interact with the mountains and overall terrain and also with the strong weather systems

Be aware of its “arms” extending into the lower latitudes, bringing along colder air and snowfall. These arms also pack a lot of energy and can create strong winter storms, either Noreasters in the United States or powerful wind storms in the North Atlantic.

We are typically focusing more on the Stratospheric Polar Vortex, as it plays a very important role in the weather development throughout the season. It is known for its strong influence down from the stratosphere, in either direction, for a cold or warm winter.

A strong Polar Vortex usually means strong polar circulation. This usually locks the colder air into the Polar regions, creating milder weather for most of the United States and Europe.

As a contrast, a weak (wavy) Polar Vortex can create very dynamic weather. It has a much harder time containing the cold air, which can now escape out of the polar regions, into the United States and/or Europe. Image by NOAA.

Typically, a polar vortex circulation is disrupted due to a rise in temperature in pressure in the stratosphere. That is called a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event.

But there can also be smaller warming waves in the stratosphere, that do not collapse the polar vortex. Instead, they can sometimes displace or disrupt the polar vortex enough to weaken its influence on the surface levels. That can allow other drivers to take over more strongly, creating a different weather pattern.

To put the Polar Vortex into a perspective, we produced a high-resolution video, which nicely shows the vortex spinning over the Northern Hemisphere in the stratosphere at the 30mb level, around 23km/14miles altitude.

Video shows the NASA GEOS-5 analysis for late January 2022. Notice how the stratospheric vortex covers a large part of the Northern Hemisphere. It spins over the Northern Hemisphere, driving also the winter weather below with its circulation.

 
The main takeaway from the video should be that the Polar Vortex is not just one single winter storm or a cold outbreak that moves from the Midwest into the northeastern United States.

It is one large cyclonic area that is spinning over the entire Northern Hemisphere, from the ground up to the top of the stratosphere and beyond, reaching over 50km/31miles in altitude.

The Polar Vortex is important to monitor because every disruption as either a warming or a pressure wave in the stratosphere can mean a change in weather dynamics below.

The next image below shows pressure anomalies from the surface into the upper stratosphere over the winter season.

You can observe the strong low-pressure buildup in the stratosphere in late November. That was a strong polar vortex, connecting down to the surface levels in early December.

But strong high-pressure anomalies have emerged over the polar circle in December, which pushed back against the stratosphere, “disconnecting” the upper and the lower polar vortex far into February.

As far as the stratosphere and weather connection goes, there is a special graphic that puts that into a simple perspective. We can look at the pressure development from the surface up into the stratosphere over time.

The next image shows also shows the forecast, where we can see strong high-pressure systems in the lower levels which are pushing up against the polar vortex in March.

There are also high-pressure systems pressing down on the polar vortex from the very top of the stratosphere. All combined, it is slowly breaking down the polar circulation in the stratosphere, also impacting the weather patterns ahead.

Below we have a 3D structure image of the Polar Vortex. It shows the Polar Vortex being split apart into two separate cores. This is a major development, that will impact the polar circulation. You will find out in the forecast how this happened and what it means for the weather.

But the large-scale culprit behind the low-level blocking and weather dynamics this season was/is the oceanic La Nina. We mentioned it before, and we will quickly look at its current state and its role in the Spring weather ahead.
 

ENSO AND ITS COLD LA NINA

 
ENSO is short for “El Niño Southern Oscillation”. This is a region of the tropical Pacific ocean, changing between warm and cold phases on the ocean surface (and in-depth). Typically there is a phase change in around 1-3 years.

ENSO has a major influence on the tropical rainfall patterns (storms) and the complex exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere. Large-scale pressure changes can be observed in the tropics with each new developing phase. With some delay, these changes affect the circulation over the rest of the world.

The cold ENSO phase is called La Nina and the warm phase is called El Nino. Besides the temperatures, one of the main differences between the phases is also in the pressure state.

On the image below you can see the ocean surface temperature and pressure pattern difference between the warm and the cold phase.

During an El Nino, the pressure over the tropical Pacific is lower, with more rainfall and storms.

But during a La Nina, the pressure over the equatorial Pacific is high, creating stable conditions and less precipitation. This obviously translates into the global circulation, affecting both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres.

Below we have the latest global ocean temperature anomaly analysis from NOAA. We can clearly see the decaying cold anomalies in the tropical Pacific Ocean. That is the current La Nina phase slowly weakening, but still maintaining the cold anomalies within the La Nina threshold.

Combining the strongest 13 cold ENSO events gives us an idea of what their main weather influence is. The main feature, as you can see, is a high-pressure system in the North Pacific and low pressure over Canada.

This is what we have seen in the winter analysis at the beginning of the article. It helps us to confirm the strong presence and influence of the oceanic anomaly.

Over Europe, we see lower pressure over Scandinavia and higher pressure over northwestern Europe, but that cannot be designated as a typical weather response from the La Nina, due to low signal strength.

Knowing what will drive our weather in the coming weeks, we will look at the latest forecasts and how the weather will evolve this month.
 

POLAR VORTEX BREAKING DOWN

 
The strength of the polar vortex is most often measured by the power of the winds that it produces. This is done by measuring the zonal (west to east) wind speeds around the polar circle (60°N latitude).

On the image below we have the seasonal average wind speed for the Polar Vortex at 10mb level. The black line is the long-term average, and the blue line is the polar vortex strength in the 2021/22 season.

But the red line is actually the forecast, which shows the rapid weakening of the polar vortex is now starting and will continue into the month of March.

Below we have a closer look at the extended ensemble forecast for the 10mb winds. It shows the polar vortex currently weakening and then powering back up again briefly.

But after the brief power-up, the polar vortex will be under too much pressure. It will slowly weaken and break down, heading going into April.

Looking at the current polar vortex development, we can see that the vortex is under heavy pressure from the North Pacific and the Atlantic sector. It has been broken/split into two separate cores, one over east Canada and one over Siberia.

Taking a look at temperatures on the 10mb level (30km/18.5mi), we can see a warming wave engulfing both cores. A weak cold-core remains over Europe. These two low-pressure cores are what we have seen earlier above on the 3D structure.

Next up, we have the vertical pressure anomaly profile, revealing a connection between the stratosphere and the lower levels.

We can see the two cores of the split polar vortex. Both are connected down to the lower levels, directly to the weather systems over Canada and one over Eurasia.

This is a unique pattern setting up, called a negative Arctic Oscillation (AO). This is a weather oscillation that describes the atmospheric pressure and circulation around the Arctic circle. Negative AO equals a weak polar vortex and positive AO responds to a strong polar vortex.

We can nicely see that if we look at the latest state of pressure anomalies across the Northern Hemisphere. The Polar regions are dominated and surrounded by high-pressure anomalies.

Low-pressure systems and colder air is being displaced out of the polar regions, with one lobe over Eurasia and one pair over Greenland and the western United States. Such a pattern can be called “March madness”.

First looking at Europe, we can see the latest conditions being quite colder than normal over much of the continent. The exception is far northern Europe, currently under the influence of a ridge.

Taking a closer look at North America, we see mostly warm anomalies over much of the eastern half United States and Canada. Colder than normal weather is ongoing over most of the western half of the United States.

POLAR CIRCULATION SLOWS

 
Going further into the mid-month, the polar vortex will make a brief recovery, as the high-pressure systems pull back. We can see the stronger core moving back over the polar regions. The smaller core has faded out. Despite recovering, it is not strong enough to also stabilize the lower level weather circulation.

In the lower levels, we will be witnessing a similar pattern as we have seen before in the stratosphere, which is of course a broken down circulation. We have two main low-pressure zones, one over the Siberian region and one of course over North America.

Here the polar circulation is also “split” apart like in the stratosphere. It is disrupted by the strong high-pressure systems crawling over the Arctic, changing the jet stream and the path of weather systems.

Over Europe, colder weather will prevail in this period. Warmer than normal temperatures will expand over northern Europe, as the strong high-pressure ridge moves into Scandinavia. But that also amplifies the cold air transport from the north/northeast.

Over North America, we can see a strong pattern shift. As one core of the lower polar vortex stabilizes over Canada, it establishes a cold air transport from the north. A cold outbreak is expected in this period, affecting most of the United States to a varying degree.

Looking more closely, the main deterministic weather model shows an example of how this strong cold air outbreak will quickly spread from western Canada into the northwestern United States and down into most of the country. This is a significant cold anomaly for this time of the year.

The far eastern half of the United States is expected to have quite warmer than normal weather, in the warm southern flow ahead of the approaching cold outbreak.
 

SECOND HALF OF MONTH, SECOND BREAKDOWN

 
Taking a look at the temperature profile at the 10mb level (30km/18.5mi), we see another breaking (split) event in the second half of the month. The culprit is the same, high-pressure systems slicing the polar vortex in half.

One high-pressure system is pressing on the polar vortex from the North Atlantic, and one from the North Pacific. But a decent double temperature wave is also involved, helping to further weaken the main core of the polar vortex, which otherwise thrives on colder temperatures.

The vertical pressure anomaly profile reveals a connection in a similar place as with the first break (split) event. But this time, the two cores are more evenly matched in power, tho connecting to the lower levels in a similar region.

The pressure pattern forecast for the early parts of the second half shows the breakdown event of the polar circulation to also continue in the lower levels. We can see that the high-pressure rising over the Pole is persistent, keeping the low pressure locked over Canada and the Siberian sector.

In Europe, we see the colder air finally moving out, being confined more to western Europe. Warmer air advances further into central Europe, as the strong ridge starts to take over.

Over North America, we can see a strong cold pool remaining over Canada and the northern United States. This, together with the weakened polar circulation does allow for a drop of colder than normal air into the eastern half of the United States.

NOAA also regularly releases their 8-14 day forecast for the United States. Below we have the temperature forecast for mid-March, where NOAA calls for colder weather in much of the northern and eastern United States, with the coldest in the Midwest.

Warmer than normal weather is expected in the southwestern United States, under a high-pressure zone.

We have the precipitation forecast below, which calls for more precipitation in the northwest and in the northeast. The central and southern United States can expect drier than normal conditions in the mid-month.

Taking a look at the far second half of the month, requires a different approach, using the extended/weekly forecast from the ECMWF extended ensemble forecast.
 

LATE MARCH 2022 WEATHER

 
Looking at the pressure pattern, we see a continuation of the weather pattern. The polar circulation is still broken down, with the main source of power being the core over Canada. A high-pressure system prevails over Europe.

The temperature forecast for Europe suggests colder temperatures in the far southeast. But most of the mainland will see a return of warmer than normal weather, under the expanding high-pressure blocking.

Over North America, the pattern continues from February, with a temperature gap from the northern United States down into the eastern half. This is a likely path of continued colder air outbreaks, as long as the strong cold air anomaly remains up in Canada.

Looking at the pressure pattern going into April, we can see an attempt at a slight recovery in circulation. The strong cross-polar ridging is not really seen at present. The main low-pressure core remains over Canada and Greenland.

The temperature forecast for Europe suggests the same pattern as in late March, with warmer than normal temperatures taking over most of the continent.

Over North America, the pattern doesn’t change much going into the first days of April. Some of it is due to the stable low-pressure system over Canada. But it can also be due to the forecast just averaging out at this extended time range.

The fact remains that as long as there is a stable low-pressure anomaly over Canada, there will be a cold anomaly region there, allowing colder air outbreaks, which in spring can also lead to severe weather.
 

MARCH 2022 OFFICIAL NOAA FORECAST

 
Every month, NOAA also releases the monthly outlook for weather conditions across the United States.

Below is the latest official March 2022 temperature forecast/outlook for the United States by NOAA. It shows the temperature probability, with colder weather being more likely in the northwestern United States.

The southern and eastern United States have a higher probability of warmer than normal weather.

The official precipitation forecast is similar to the model forecast. We see an equal-to-higher probability for more precipitation in the northwestern and the eastern United States. The far southern United States is forecast to have a drier than normal month, especially in the southwest.

A special forecast graphic below shows the drought tendency over the month of March. We can see continued to worsen drought conditions over much of the western half of the United States.

But what are the current drought conditions? Well, most of the western and southern United States is under some level of drought conditions. The driest conditions prevail in the south-central states and in the northwestern United States.

As you will see also below on the outlook for the entire Spring season, the drought conditions in the southwestern United States will prevail for some time. And likely worsen.
 

SPRING 2022 SEASONAL WEATHER FORECAT

 
We will look at the ECMWF model, as it is often referred to as “the best” model for long-range forecasting.

In the pressure pattern forecast from ECMWF below, we can see the typical La Nina high-pressure system in the North Pacific. The low-pressure system is present over western Canada and expanding into Greenland and the polar regions.

The jet stream is bending in between the high and low-pressure systems as we have seen in the previous, as during the winter.

We see the North Atlantic in a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) mode, which means an amplified jet stream from Iceland and into Scandinavia. A positive NAO generally means mild/warmer conditions for Europe and the southeastern United States.

The global temperature forecast below shows North America divided into two parts. Western Canada is forecast to remain colder than normal, thanks to the jet stream position. There is a high chance of this colder air extending south, into the parts of the northern and eastern United States. The Southern United States is forecast to be warmer than normal.

Looking closer at Europe, we see the surface temperatures are mostly above normal. Some colder anomalies are seen in the far North Atlantic, where the low-pressure systems will travel across. Far southeastern Europe is also forecast to be colder than normal, due to a more northerly flow.

Over North America, the ECMWF forecast shows colder than normal surface temperatures in Alaska and western Canada. We see a slight indication of colder air intruding into the northwestern United States. The rest of the country is mostly warmer than normal, especially in the southwest.

Notice a weaker warm anomaly in the eastern United States. That indicates a window for colder than normal air to spread into parts of the eastern United States. A higher chance for that is in the early part of the spring.

The precipitation anomaly forecast below shows a more normal La Nina type pattern over Canada and the United States. We see the mainland United States with wetter conditions in the northwest and the east, and drier conditions in the southwest and over Florida.

Europe is trending with more precipitation over the northern regions, following the jet stream and low-pressure systems. Drier conditions are forecast for most of western and central Europe, under high-pressure systems.

Below is the latest official Spring temperature forecast for the United States by NOAA. It shows the temperature probability, with colder to equal chances in the northwestern United States. The southern and eastern United States have a high probability of warmer than normal spring weather.

Such a pattern however still allows for strong cold air outbreaks into the Midwest and the northeast. A strong cold pool will be present in western Canada, which can be triggered to send a cold air outbreak into the United States if the pressure pattern shift occurs.

The official precipitation forecast is also quite similar to the model forecast. We see an equal-to-higher probability for more precipitation in the northwestern and the eastern United States. The southern United States is forecast to have a drier than normal spring, especially in the southwest.

We will release regular weekly and monthly updates as fresh forecasts and data are available. So make sure to bookmark our page. Also, if you have seen this article in the Google App (Discover) feed, click the like button (♥) there to see more of our forecasts and our latest articles on weather and nature in general.
 

SEE ALSO:

Spring 2022 will be affected by the ENSO. Learn here more about what ENSO is and how it impacts the weather.

Best Time to Visit Europe | Travel Tips

Plan your perfect escape with our weather guide to Europe

Europe is a large and impossibly varied continent. From the romance of Paris, the heat and the history of Rome, to the culture of London, Europe has it all. You could spend your whole life in Europe, and still have new and interesting things to see and explore.

However, it is this varied nature that makes choosing the best time to visit Europe all the more complicated. Although the continent is beautiful all year round, depending on when you go, you can experience Europe in beautiful sunshine, or in the rain and snow.

  Most Ideal Low Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

overview

In January, expect some places to be bitterly cold. Depending on where you are, you’ll find that snowfall is not uncommon. For example, in Berlin, the temperature can be as cold as 29-37 °F (-1°C) with a fair amount of snowfall. In the south, the climate improves, but remains relatively cool nevertheless, such as in Amalfi, Italy, which sees temperatures between 46 and 55 °F.

overview

As the winter snows melt, the rain arrives. Though the temperature isn’t quite as cold as in December or January, you should bring a coat. For example, in Naples, Italy, the temperature can vary between 40 and 56 °F (5 – 15 °C), and in Northern France, it can sometimes be bitterly cold 415°F (5°C )

overview

March is a cool and wet time to be in Europe, with some places seeing far more cold, rainy days than warm sunny ones, though, of course, this isn’t universal. In terms of temperature, expect cool and pleasant conditions in the south and cold weather in central Europe.

Overview

In Spring, the temperatures in Europe can vary wildly, but, if you are planning to be in northern or central Europe, you should expect significant rain. Temperature-wise, it is comfortable, with southern parts varying between 50°F (10°C)and 65 °F 18°C. In northern or central Europe, you can expect quite a bit of rain, and cool weather.

overview

May is the best time visit Europe thanks to the pleasant temperature. You can still feel some of the coolness of Spring, thus making this a good time to go exploring. In warm southern Spain, the temperature tends to stay between 54 (12°C) and 69°F (20°C), with sunny weather throughout, although the occasional shower wouldn’t be unexpected. In the north, it’s cooler and more likely to rain.

overview

With the start of summer, Europe becomes a warm place indeed. In Spain, which is very popular with visitors, the temperature is often between 71 (21°C) and 80°F (26°C). In the north, the temperature is unlikely to be quite this warm but you can expect pleasant and rain-free days.

overview

July is a good time to visit Europe. While you will be able to enjoy the hot mid-summer weather, it isn’t quite as intensely warm in southern Europe as it is in August. The weather is certain to appeal to those who want to enjoy summer weather but don’t like it too warm. As with May and June, expect the weather to be refreshingly cooler in the north.

overview

In many European countries, August is the busiest month for visitors although it’s also one of the warmest months. For example, on the beautiful island of Sicily, in southern Italy, the heat can be quite intense.

overview

In September, you can still enjoy the hot weather of the summer, but in some places, the temperature will noticeably decrease as the month progresses. However, expect the weather to remain pleasantly warm throughout.

overview

In mid-Fall the weather starts to change noticeably. While you will still enjoy warm, and even hot days, in coastal regions, there is a general decrease in temperature as you travel northward. In Spain, the temperature can vary significantly, so preparing both for cold weather and warm weather can be a good idea.

overview

At this time of year, the weather gets noticeably cooler. For example, in Madrid, the temperature often stays between 54 (12°C) and 66°F (18°C), and in the north, for example in Amsterdam, the weather is typically a few degrees colder, with increased rainfall.

overview

If you visit Europe during December you should prepare for cold weather, and, in some places, snow. Don’t necessarily think that southern places will be much warmer either; even in southern regions such as Sicily, it can get as low as 50°F (10°C).

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The Ultimate Guide to Packing for Europe in Spring

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Spring in Europe is a beautiful time of year to visit, whether you’re north in Ireland or south in Italy. We’re sharing our ultimate guide to packing for Europe in spring to help you nail your travel wardrobe.

Europe can be an unpredictable place to travel to in terms of weather, and no matter what time of year you go, you could get sun or rain. It’s a huge continent with stunning and diverse countries, and vacations here can last from a weekend getaway to an entire year.

Always, always, always check the weather forecast for each destination on your itinerary before your trip. Once you’ve researched the weather, you can focus on creating a travel capsule wardrobe, which should easily fit in a carryon suitcase with the help of packing cubes to compress your clothing.

Spring in Europe runs from March through May and can be a beautiful time to visit, as the temperature is warming up and the tourists have yet to arrive. While the flowers will be starting to bloom, the weather will still be pretty cool and rainy in some parts of the continent.

Start by reading these general tips on packing for spring travel:

• How to Pack for Trips with Mixed Weather
• How to Layer a Summer Dress for Spring
• How to Pack for Europe in Spring
• Best Shoes for Traveling in Spring and Fall

No matter where you visit, you should always be prepared for changing conditions, using layers and accessories to ensure you stay comfortable if the weather changes.

Tip: If the weather forecast predicts colder weather, read our packing guide for Europe in Winter!

Using tips from our readers, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to packing for Europe in spring:

Back Bow Packable Hooded Raincoat

United Kingdom

The weather in the UK is always unpredictable, including spring time. One of the most important things to remember is that just because it’s “spring” doesn’t mean it will necessarily be warm. The weather can vary hugely hour by hour and day by day.

In general, the east is drier than the west, and it’s cooler up north than it is south. And then there’s the rain, which can be expected in spring, along with wind, especially in hilly or mountainous areas. However, there can still be sunnier days.

Because of the varied weather, layering is a must. Wear a merino base layer and add a sweater and a beanie hat that won’t blow off from the wind. Don’t forget gloves and a scarf! For shoes, pack a few pairs. Flats are great for days when it’s warmer or for a dinner out. For walking and rainy days, wear flat ankle boots.

You’ll also need a raincoat when packing for Europe in spring. If you’re in a busy city like London, forget the umbrella as it will be hard to carry around in crowds. Wear a hat or a jacket with a hood. Stick to a lightweight, windproof, waterproof jacket and wear a fleece zip-up underneath for colder days.

Tip: The Tube and trains can get very hot, so this is where layers come in handy! Make it easy to strip off layers as you go into warmer buildings and out into the cold. 

Want more tips? Find out what to pack for London year round!

Anatomie Skyler Pants

France

France is beautiful in spring, but it can still be chilly in the early months. In some parts, you can expect frost until May, while in the south, it can get suddenly warm by May and summer can appear early. If you’re near the Alps or Alsace region, expect colder temperatures, while the weather will be more mild in Nice and French Riviera regions.

When packing for Europe in spring, choose “smart” or “dressed up” casual attire. For example, you could wear well-tailored jeans with a pretty blouse, trench coat, and comfortable ankle boots. Depending on how much time you plan to spend outdoors and how low the temperatures, you may need warmer outerwear, so you can plan to layer for the weather as needed.

To learn more about the Skyler Anatomie pants, please watch the video above!

A tunic or sweater dress would be comfortable for indoors or outdoors with thick tights, while a cinched shift dress with thin stockings can be worn both museum-hopping or dancing at night as things warm up. You can also layer thin and thick tights if the temperature drops or wear them under jeans or leggings.

For outerwear, opt for durable synthetics that provide a measure of warmth plus wind- protection– especially near the coast. A weatherproof shell or rain jacket will help keep you dry, but be prepared for slippery cobblestone as well.

Tip: Springtime in France is less crowded, but it can also be wetter from other seasons and places. A rain poncho or travel umbrella will keep you and your bag dry and will save you up to 42 Euros for an umbrella upon arrival. 

For more tips, read our guide on what to pack for France!

Sam Edelman Tinsley Rain Boot

Austria

Austria in early spring can be decidedly chilly, with snow potentially still in the forecast. Later on, in the season is an ideal time to visit as you’ll likely encounter pleasantly warm, sunny weather, although be prepared for the occasional shower and gray, overcast day.

For a typical springtime visit to Austria, bring lots of layers, as you can never be fully sure how the weather will progress when you set out in the morning. And if you’re traveling early in the spring season, you’d be wise to bring a few extra layers and sturdy, waterproof footwear.

For cute outfits for your spring trip, pack jeans, skirts, a variety of long-sleeve and short-sleeve tops, and sweaters to layer. For outerwear, go for a light trench coat—it’s a timeless piece that’s comfortable, practical, and sophisticated, and looks good thrown over jeans or a dress.

In terms of footwear, pack sleek (preferably waterproof) Chelsea boots. They’re comfortable but always look on-trend and go well with both dresses and jeans. A chic ballet flat in a neutral shade like blush or black is another footwear option that’s perfect for spring for dressier evenings.

Tip: During colder weather, the restaurants stores and hotels may be very warm. If you tend to get hot easily, take at least one short-sleeve top to wear as a base layer so you can take off your layers as needed. 

Before your trip, find out what to wear in Austria!

Teva Washed Canvas Shoe

Italy

Spring in Italy is unpredictable. The temperatures can vary from chilly to warm and sometimes even hot. Plus, the temperature greatly varies where you are in Italy. The north will be cooler, while the south will be more Mediterranean and warmer.

Despite the unpredictable weather, Italian spring is beautiful and you can spot flowers and greenery everywhere. To prepare for warm or cold weather, pack for both. Look for bright and light colors during this finicky season; when it’s sunny, it’s very warm. Jeans are a must, along with skirts in light fabrics. Stick to dark denim–it’s always in style.

When packing for Europe in spring, don’t forget a sweater and light jacket for layering on cold days and evenings and a waterproof outerwear item, such as a light trench coat, for unexpected rainstorms.

Perhaps most important for Italy is comfortable shoes, as you’ll likely be walking for hours and on uneven cobblestone paths. Ankle boots and flats are a safe bet. Sneakers have also become very popular in Italy. You can’t go wrong with a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths or chic sneakers.

Tip: Pack a pair of dressy shoes as locals like to dine out with style and elegance. In some venues, hosts at the entrance might not let you in if you’re wearing flat shoes. You’ll also want to bring along a scarf for coverage at religious sites where you’ll need to dress conservatively. 

For more tips, please read our complete Italy packing list!

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

Germany

Like many northern European countries, Germany’s spring weather greatly varies depending on the month and year. While it’s typically cool and rainy, some years have been warmer while others have still experienced snow. There’s even a nursery rhyme in Germany, which basically translates into: April doesn’t know what it wants– sunshine and rain and sometimes snow in between.

Since the weather during spring can be unpredictable, you will need to be prepared to face all the elements. When packing for Europe in spring, start off with the basics. You can never go wrong with a pair of jeans. Opt for darker washes as they are figure flattering and will disguise any dirt. An ideal outfit would consist of a pair of skinny jeans or your favorite lightweight pants and sneakers, ankle boots, or long boots. If you want to wear a skirt or dress, wear tights underneath.

An umbrella and a raincoat is a must in spring, as you never know when it might rain! It’s best to pack a lightweight and small umbrella or a thin and lightweight raincoat, so it doesn’t take too much space up in your bag.

Don’t forget a hooded jacket or parka to keep you warm if it gets chilly. Be sure you have a waterproof outer layer and a layer underneath that you can take off on warmer days. Women in Germany love wearing black leather jackets and a cardigan underneath.

Tip: For accessories, bring a large and thin scarf for those chilly days. On warm days you can easily take it off and pack it in your purse.  

For more tips, read up on what to wear in Germany!

J Crew Merino Wool Sweater

Sweden

After a cold winter season, the days start to get longer in spring but you can still expect cold weather in Sweden. March often still sees snow, and the northern part of the country can remain white and wintery through the whole season. Towards the end of the season, it’ll warm up, but don’t expect temperatures above the low 60s (Fahrenheit).

In the spring, your essentials should include a pair of comfortable loafers or slip-on shoes, dark jeans that work for day and night, and a crossbody bag. If the forecast shows snow, bring waterproof boots that will keep your feet warm. An easy overcoat and a nice scarf are perfect additions for cooler days and nights.

This video reveals why the J. Crew Tippi sweater is a hit for winter!

A dress can always look pretty and feminine, but don’t opt for light materials. Pack a dress in a thicker material such as denim or wool and add a pair of black stockings to your look to warm your legs.

If you’re in a stylish city like Stockholm, don’t forget to pack a stylish silk top, black pants, and ankle boots with a slight heel for evenings out when visiting the wide variety of bars and bistros all over Stockholm’s city center.

Tip: Bicycles are a popular form of transport within the cities, and a great way of getting around and sightseeing. However, make sure that you dress appropriately, such as shoes, pants, and a cross body bag or something that will not interfere with your bicycle riding abilities. 

Here are some packing tips and Swedish style ideas to help you decide what to wear in Stockholm any time of the year!

Ami Stretch Skinny Jeans

Switzerland

Spring weather in Switzerland can be unpredictable and so it is important to layer. You can wake up in the mornings to nearly freezing weather and it can warm up 30 or 40 degrees by the afternoon and cool back down in the evenings.

When packing for Europe in spring and Switzerland’s on your agenda, it’s important to be prepared for anything. Your daily outfit for spring would be a light top teamed with a pair of jeans and a warm jacket.

Start with your base including a good pair of jeans or trousers in a darker shade. Generally speaking, dark blue denim is considered timeless European fashion. Pair this with a light blouse or sleeveless top in a bright color as it is spring and you are celebrating this. This outfit can be accompanied by a lightweight jacket or a cardigan to protect you from the chill of the mornings and evenings.

Ballet flats are cute as they are comfortable and will keep your feet warm, you can purchase your favorite pair in a selection of different colors such as a floral print.

Tip: Although most Swiss people are able to speak English it shows respect if you attempt to address them in their native tongue “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” (“Do you speak English?”) This will result in you receiving a much warmer reception.  

For more tips, read our guide on what to pack for Switzerland!

De La Vina Leather Low Boot

Ireland

For spring in Ireland, you can expect mild temperatures with occasional rain showers, wind, and spells of sunshine. The days grow longer during the spring months, and further into the country you will see green landscapes, yellow tulips, and countless spring lambs.

Almost anyone will tell you that rain is always a possibility in Ireland. When packing for Europe in spring, waterproof boots and a warm waterproof jacket are musts.

Since spring in Dublin is cool, you will need a good pair of jeans in a dark shade–black is always a favorite. Layering is also essential. Sweaters, jackets, and tees are perfect. Try to stick to neutrals or pastel colors. A splash of color can come from a simple crossbody bag and scarves. Cashmere or silk scarves are perfect for the spring weather and look elegant, instantly enhancing a look.

Remember that the major cities like Dublin and Galway are very trendy, combining formal and casual wear. The most important thing is to always look presentable and avoid anything too revealing, like crop tops or short shorts. You will be cold and look inappropriate.

Tip: When traveling to Europe in the spring, consider visiting Ireland for St. Patrick’s day when the cities are alive with festivals! Dublin and Galway, among other cities, also host a number of festivals during the spring that are worth visiting. 

Are you wondering what to wear in Ireland? Use these packing list ideas for Dublin as a starting point for your trip!

Striped Cape-Scarf

Norway

Spring is arguably the most beautiful time of year to visit Norway, but the spring weather can either arrive incredibly early (in February) or late (with snow still there in May). You’ll want to check the weather before your trip to know which kind of spring weather you can expect.

In general, spring in Norway is chilly. Along with snow, you may encounter lots of wind, so you’ll want to pack and wear plenty of layers.

When you’re planning what to pack for a trip to Norway, keep in mind that locals like to keep things simple in their wardrobe, right down to the colors. They tend to gravitate toward gray, beige, black, and blue.

A pair of black or navy trousers and dark jeans will work great as your base. Pair these with long-sleeve shirts and sweaters, along with a lightweight, waterproof jacket. Since it can be warm indoors, wear pieces that are easy to take on and off.

For footwear, boots are fabulous. Not only are they comfortable and waterproof but they are perfect for all elements and all occasions. Since it may be windy, skip the umbrella and wear a beanie, scarf, and hooded jacket on those rainy days.

Tip: The Danes are some of the friendliest and happy people you will encounter, and the vibrant Oslo metropolis has a reputation for entertainment and an energetic nightlife. Pack an item that is slightly dressier for a fun night out! 

Here are more tips on what to wear in Norway!

Calvin Klein Packable Jacket

Russia

Spring is a dynamic time in Russia. The temperatures can change rapidly or stay stagnant for weeks. The temperature difference between April and May could be drastic. Be prepared for gray skies and rain. However, the flowers and trees start to bloom in May and June, making it a delightful time to visit.

Since Russia in the spring can still be quite chilly, jeans and boots are a smart choice for casual wear. Sweaters will keep you toasty warm, though if you visit in the late spring you might want to wear layers for sunny days.

In the spring, skirts get shorter, but women still typically wear tights or pantyhose under them for warmth. It can also be wet, either from rain or a late snow. Make sure you pack an umbrella and a raincoat. You’ll want sturdy shoes as well–ones you don’t mind getting wet.

Tip: When in doubt, dress more conservatively. It’s a good idea not to show cleavage, unless you have a layer underneath, or wear see-through clothes or bright makeup. Choose understated jewelry instead of flashier pieces. 

If you’re wondering what to wear in Russia, take a look at what they recommend you bring for your vacation.

Blondo Villa Waterproof

The Netherlands

Spring is the time the trees and tulips are blossoming and blooming, the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is shining, but sometimes there’s still rain. Layering is the best way to handle this weather; you can remove items when it’s warm and keep them on when it’s cold. Have an umbrella ready for those wet days!

When packing for Europe in spring, choose long pants, like jeans, with a warm jacket. It can be your favorite black leather jacket or a 3-in-1 outdoor jacket in your favorite color. These jackets will keep you warm and dry, plus you can remove the inner fleece jacket if it’s too warm or use the fleece jacket by itself and leave the outer layer at your hotel.

Underneath, you could wear a lightweight turtleneck sweater. Have a matching scarf to keep your neck warm. At the moment, Dutch women love to wear oversized scarves!

Watch this video review on the Blondo Villa Waterproof boot!

Good walking shoes are most certainly important for your travels to the Netherlands. If you wear ankle boots, be sure they’re comfortable. Or choose stylish sneakers. Even if you plan on using the tram system or riding bicycles throughout the city, you will at some stage find yourself walking across the remarkable cobblestone streets, just to explore or browse through the busy shopping streets. Sensibility should reign here with your choice of footwear; avoid heels and opt for shoes that offer grip and are slip-resistant.

Tip: If you go on a bike tour through the Netherlands, you need bike-friendly clothes. For your bag, wear a backpack so you can be hands-free. Choose one that’s water-resistant so your personal belongings stay dry. 

Visiting the Netherlands on your next trip? Read up on what to wear in the Netherlands!

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings

Spain

Spring is one of the most beautiful times to visit Spain. The weather is not too cold, flowers bloom in abandon, and the streets come to life with music and delicious farm fresh foods. While March and April can still be chilly, it starts to warm up in May. Warmth comes with the sun, but as soon as it disappears you can feel the draft, so it’s best to layer your clothing.

Have fun with your travel outfits for Spain in the spring. Bright colors, pastels, and florals are appropriate for this season, as everyone mimics nature’s vivid colors. Long tunic tops can be paired with leggings, replacing trousers and denim.

Dining out is popular in this fair weather, but make sure you bring along a scarf or a jacket. March can still be quite chilly so a denim jacket or blanket scarf can be a lifesaver when the weather gets crisp.

Comfortable footwear is a must for those long days of walking, but you can also pack a low chunky heel that can be worn out at night or for less strenuous activities.

Tip: Petty theft in Spain is very prevalent. Always keep an eye on your things, and remember to pack them securely. Make your clothing theft-proof and choose items with strong zippers. Read these anti-theft tips for more information.

If you’re traveling to Spain, read our full packing list here!

Yosi Samra Samara Ballet Flat

Greece

Greece is a beautiful Mediterranean destination, and springtime brings fairly mild weather. You may enjoy some warm days, but you can expect evenings to be chilly, especially when you’re on the coast.

When packing for Europe in spring, include jeans and smart capri trousers in darker shades that you can team with bright tank tops and blouses for the warmer days and long sleeve shirts and 3/4 tops for cooler days. Bring a light jacket for the evenings to ward off the chill. 

Accessorize your outfit with sunglasses and a chic sun hat. Skirts and shorts are perfect to wear during the day with ankle boots. Black is a great color choice because you can wear it with anything, and it’s forgiving in regards to dirt.

If you’re visiting Athens, you’ll want to take your style up a notch. This city is known for its smart-casual style. This means that the men are dressed impeccably and the women are unashamed of their bodies, opting for figure-enhancing clothes like short skirts and incredibly high heels. It’s acceptable to wear jeans around the city, providing you dress them up with a smart blazer or blouse and elegant accessories.

Tip: Since there are many historic and beautiful sites throughout Greece, like the Acropolis, make sure you have appropriate footwear. The easiest method for sightseeing and getting around is on foot. 

For more tips, read our full packing list on what to wear in Greece.

Compass Rose Packing Cubes

How to Organize Your Clothing

Packing cubes can help organize all the clothes you want to bring, not just your cardigan! We designed our own brand of slim packing cubes, with a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything. The video below shows you how!

Learn our hacks with packing cubes in the video!

We also put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!

What are your tips on packing for Europe in spring? Share in the comment section below!

For more Europe packing tips, please read:

• 10-Step Packing Guide for Europe
• What to Wear in Europe: Packing List for Every Destination
• The Only Packing List for Europe You’ll Ever Need!
• 2 Weeks in Europe in Winter – Carry On Only

Suggested travel resources:

• Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring
• How to Choose the Best Shoes for Europe
• The Best Carry-on Suitcases for Europe

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When is the best time to visit Europe?

Covering 3.931 million square miles, Europe is a pretty big place. From the Arctic tundra of northern Scandinavia to the balmy beaches of the Mediterranean, the continent is home to a wondrous variety of sights and experiences, and some of the most fantastic vacation destinations on Earth. But you may be wondering; when is the best time of year to visit Europe? How can you successfully plan a Europe vacation when there is much to see, do and consider? That’s where we come in. We’ve put together this handy guide to the best times to visit Europe, including seasonal weather, crowds, beaches, and much more.

When to visit Europe for great weather

It’s hard to sum up all of Europe’s weather in one word, so we’ll go with ‘varied.’ In truth, the type of weather you can expect on your European adventure depends greatly on where and when you choose to visit. There are places you can go in Europe for guaranteed sun and fun year-round (Spain’s Canary Islands are famously warm even in the depths of winter), and equally, places that are perfect for a snowy adventure. In this section, we take a look at some of our favorite European destinations by season, and what you can expect from the weather.

Spring weather in Europe

Best for; City breaks

Spring is a beautiful time in Europe. Across the continent, the days are getting longer, and the temperatures begin to rise. The weather in Europe in March, the first month of Spring, is generally still chilly, particularly at night, and some destinations (such as Paris and the mountains of France, Switzerland, and Italy), still see snowfall. In April, things are starting to get a bit brighter. Flowers begin to bloom and iconic destinations, such as the Greek islands, open for the tourist season. The weather in Europe in May is perfect in many tourist hotspots. It is also the best time to visit southern Europe to avoid the soaring temperatures of summer. Capital cities such as Rome and Paris benefit from the golden light of Spring, while the warm temperatures are far better for exploring than the high temperatures of Summer. 

What to pack for a spring visit to Europe

Spring in Europe is a mixed bag, weather-wise. Early in the season, temperatures will be cold; as low as 45F in Northern France and even colder in the snowy countries of Scandinavia. So if you’re visiting in March or early April, a warm coat and plenty of layers to wrap up in will help keep the chill at bay. The weather in Europe during Spring can also be rather wet, even into May. A good travel umbrella and a light waterproof jacket ensure that your sightseeing won’t be interrupted by showers.

The Greek Island Symi

Summer weather in Europe

Best for; beach vacations

Summer is the most famous and popular time to visit Europe for great weather, and for good reason. From June through August, the mercury rises to the high 80’s in the south, which is the ideal temperature for spending lazy vacation days on the beaches of the Mediterranean. The weather tends to be the hottest across the board in July, with June and August being just a touch cooler. Classic European beach destinations, such as Marbella in Spain and Santorini in Greece, are also very dry during the summer, only seeing an average of 2 rainy days across the three-month period from June to August. 

What to pack for summer in Europe

For any season in Europe, the key to comfort is to pack layers. If you’re off on a beach vacation to Spain, the South of France, or Greece, you can stick with light clothing and plenty of sun protection. For city breaks in the summer, it would be wise to pack a light rain jacket, particularly for popular destinations Paris and Dubrovnik, which are prone to short, heavy showers.

Montmartre in Paris in Summer

Autumn weather in Europe

Best for; Active, outdoors vacations 

Destination	Average max temp (F)	Average min temp (F)	Av. rainfall days	Av. snowfall days
Marbella (Spain)	73	57	10	0
Paris (France)	62	49	19	0
Algarve (Portugal)	74	61	16	0
Rome (Italy)	72	58	16	0
Malta	76	68	13	0
Dubrovnik (Croatia)	69	58	16	0
Santorini (Greece)	73	70	9	0
Tenerife (Spain)	81	70	8	0

Fall is a particularly beautiful time in Europe, particularly in wild and rural places. The colors of the leaves on the trees slowly change from fresh green to russet and burnt orange, and warm days are coupled with crisp, clear nights and misty mornings. The temperatures start to drop off in cities and northern destinations, although southern places cling to high temperatures until late October. The biggest change in weather from the summer is the number of rainy days you can expect. Even dry resorts such as Marbella and the Algarve see significant rainfall in the autumn months.

What to pack for Autumn in Europe

Be prepared for change, and you won’t go wrong. Europe in Fall is a mixed bag, with some days hot and sunny and others, wet, windy and cold. Pack for every eventuality and you’ll be covered for whatever the weather throws at you. Even if you’re going somewhere, such a Mallorca or Tenerife, which holds onto sunshine and warm temperatures year-round, there’s always a chance of an odd rainy day or cold night in the Fall.

Fall in Rome

Winter weather in Europe

Best for; Skiing vacations, festive celebrations, or winter sun

Winter is the most varied time for weather in Europe. Some places, such as Iceland, Norway, and the Alpine regions are knee-deep in snow by mid-December, while others, such as Portugal’s Algarve, Spain’s Canary Islands, and Malta are basking in 60 degrees temperatures and higher. For fans of snowy adventures, winter is of course the best time to hit the slopes in Italy, Switzerland, and France, with steady snowfall from December through February.

What to pack for winter in Europe

If you’re going anywhere other than one of the winter sun destinations, you’ll need to take plenty of thick, woolly coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Many places in Europe are not only cold, but windy, which makes the temperature feel even lower. Sturdy shoes are also a must for winter in Europe, as nothing ruins a sightseeing day more than wet, cold feet.

A train in the Swiss Italian Alps in winter

When to visit Europe to beat the crowds

As we mentioned earlier, Europe is an extremely popular destination, and certain times of year see millions of tourists from all over the world descend on beaches, cities, and resorts. For many people, being squashed onto a stretch of sand with hundreds of other people like sardines in a tin is not the most attractive way to spend a vacation. The good news is, there are absolutely times when you can plan a European vacation to avoid the crowds.

When is Europe busiest?

Across the continent, Summer is the peak season, It doesn’t matter if you’re watching sunsets on Santorini, trying tapas in Spain, or exploring the beaches of northern France, between June and August, it is going to be busy. August is the busiest month across Europe and is the peak time for family vacations.

Many European destinations are also crowded during the festive holiday season, particularly throughout December. Millions of tourists head to the famed Christmas markets of Germany, The Netherlands, France, and Czechia at this time of year. Ski resorts are also very busy in December, and during the school break in February.

Crowds in London, England

When to visit Europe for fewer crowds

The shoulder seasons are widely regarded as the best time to visit Europe to avoid crowds. Popular cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Rome, and Athens see much lighter footfall during the spring and fall months than in the summer and winter. Attractions are less crowded, beaches are emptier and, as a result, prices are lower. March is generally the quietest month across the board, with a small spike in numbers in April for Easter celebrations. May is the best month to visit Europe for a compromise between good weather and fewer crowds than in the peak season, although visitor numbers begin to creep up during the month.

September, when European schools restart, is a good time to enjoy the last of the summer sun with fewer families around, while October and November see low numbers of people and chillier weather setting in.

When to visit Europe for a beach vacation

The best time to visit Europe’s beaches is in May and September for the majority of destinations. This is because the Mediterranean, Balkan and Aegean resorts are enjoying high temperatures and calm seas, without the thronging crowds of the peak summer season.  

If you’re visiting winter sun destinations, such as Tenerife or the Algarve, you have even more options. If you are hoping for a bit of vitamin sea to chase the winter blues away, then November through March is a great time to take advantage of cheaper flight prices and bask in winter warmth. 

Bengal Cave, The Algarve, Portugal

When is the best time to visit Europe for a ski vacation?

Europe is home to some of the best ski resorts on Earth, attracting winter sports fans and top-class athletes from all over the world. Ski vacations in Europe are all about glamour, with resorts such as Chamonix and Zermatt providing equal doses of glittering skiing, nightlife and cozy, rustic alpine living. For top skiing, you need good snow and lots of it. Thankfully, the Alpine regions of France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria offer just that, between late November and March. Other popular regions for skiing in Europe include the Pyrenees on the Spain-France border, the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria, and the Sierra Nevadas in Spain. Check out our guide for more information on fabulous ski vacations in Europe.

Zermatt ski resort, Switzerland

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AO Blog Update | Verisk’s Atmospheric and Environmental Research

September 15, 2022

Dear AO/PV blog readers:

We have shifted the public release of the Arctic Oscillation/Polar Vortex blog to every other Wednesday through the summer season.

For those who would like an early look on Mondays, we will be offering at a nominal price (US $25) a PDF version of the upcoming blog, and we will be rolling out access to the datasets used in the production of this blog.

At present we plan to make available in comma-separated values the timeseries of the Polar Cap Height and the timeseries of the Wave Activity Flux (vertical component), though we would appreciate to hear your suggestions for additional data of interest to you all.

Dr. Judah Cohen from Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER) embarked on an experimental process of regular research, review, and analysis of the Arctic Oscillation ( The positive AO is often associated with cold weather in the Arctic but mild weather across the mid-latitudes including the Eastern United States, Europe and East Asia. The negative AO phase is characterized by a high-pressure center anomaly over the entire Arctic basin or polar cap and low-pressure center anomalies in each ocean basin in the mid-latitudes. The negative AO is often associated with milder weather in the Arctic but severe winter weather, including cold-air or Arctic outbreaks and snowstorms across the mid-latitudes including the Eastern United States, Europe and East Asia. The AO can be considered an atmospheric mixing index. During the positive AO phase there is little mixing of atmospheric masses between the Arctic and lower latitudes (mid-latitudes and subtropics) so the cold air stays bottled up in the Arctic and mild air dominates the mid-latitudes. During the negative AO phase there is increased mixing of atmospheric masses between the Arctic and lower latitudes (mid-latitudes and subtropics) so the cold air is release from the Arctic and mild air in the mid-latitudes and subtropics flows more easily into the Arctic region. “>AO) and Polar Vortex (PV). This analysis is intended to provide researchers and practitioners real-time insights on one of North America’s and Europe’s leading drivers for extreme and persistent temperature patterns.

During the winter schedule the blog is updated once every week. Snow accumulation forecasts replace precipitation forecasts. Also, there is renewed emphasis on ice and snow boundary conditions and their influence on hemispheric weather. With the start of spring we transition to a spring/summer schedule, which is once every two weeks. Snow accumulation forecasts will be replaced by precipitation forecasts. Also, there will be less emphasis on ice and snow boundary conditions and their influence on hemispheric weather.

Subscribe to our email list or follow me on Twitter (@judah57) for notification of updates.

The AO/PV blog is partially supported by NSF grant AGS: 1657748.

Special recap of winter 2019/20

Summary

• Winter 2019/20 was characterized by widespread warmth across the mid-latitudes continents including the United States (US), Southern Canada and especially Europe and Northern Asia. In contrast it was relatively cold across the North American Arctic including Alaska, Northern Canada, Greenland, parts of Eastern Siberia and the Central Arctic.
• The phase of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) had a warm bias but in general remained neutral that winter. ENSO did not seem to be a big factor that winter.
• October Siberian snow cover was fast to advance early in the month, then stalled and finished the month with a rapid spurt. October Siberian snow cover extent (SCE) was well above normal and more than most recent years. SCE was also above normal across North America.  As I have argued much of my career above normal SCE in the fall across Siberia is favorable for disrupting the polar vortex.
• Arctic sea ice was below normal during the fall but focused in the North Pacific sector more so than in the Barents-Kara seas. This pattern of sea ice anomalies is not thought conducive to disrupting the polar vortex (PV).
• Unusual for the PV, there was little variability all winter with the PV locked in an undisturbed state. The only meaningful disruption was in late November and early December and it was minor and I believe was a reflective or stretched PV event.
• Overall, during the winter, the PV was strong to record strong. The strong PV was for much of the winter coupled with a positive to even record positive Arctic Oscillation (AO). The pattern of Northern Hemisphere (NH) surface temperature anomalies was consistent with a strong PV and positive AO and contributed to the warmest overall winter across the NH continents in recent years.

Boundary Forcings

The climate community focuses on El Niño/Southern Oscillation or ENSO in making seasonal forecasts and a mostly neutral event was predicted by the models for winter 2019/20 and therefore ENSO was not much of a factor in the winter forecasts.  In Figure 1 I show the forecasts from dynamical models that show general warmth across the NH and do not exhibit the iconic northwest North America/Southern US dipole associated with ENSO variability.

Figure 1. The winter 2019/20 surface temperature anomalies forecast for the Northern
Hemisphere from the a) NOAA CFSv2, b) the North American Multi-model Ensemble
(NMME), c) the C3S model ensemble (ECMWF, UK Met and Meteo France models) and
d) the AER statistical model.

I will no longer discuss ENSO in the remainder of the blog post as the observed surface temperature anomaly pattern for the winter much more closely resembled that related to a positive AO more so than either phase of ENSO.  However, I do want to mention that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) was near record positive in the fall and early winter.  This is not a teleconnection pattern that I usually pay attention to, nor do I know much about it.  But it is plausible that it did contribute to a lack of high latitude blocking and a strong PV that winter, especially in the absence of strong ENSO forcing.

At AER we use ENSO in producing seasonal forecasts, but in addition we have pioneered the use of Arctic boundary forcings in winter seasonal forecasting including Arctic sea ice but especially Eurasian snow cover in October.   We have demonstrated using observational analysis and model perturbation experiments that extensive Eurasian October snow cover is related to/can force a strengthened Siberian high, increased poleward heat flux, a weak stratospheric polar vortex (PV), which culminates in an extended period of a negative Arctic Oscillation (AO).  A negative AO is associated with below normal temperatures in the Eastern US and Northern Eurasia including Northern Europe and East Asia. Scientists including those at AER, have shown a similar atmospheric response to low Arctic sea ice.  In our recent paper Cohen et al. (2021) we also argued that above normal Eurasian SCE can favor reflective or stretched PV events that result not in a negative AO but rather a negative Nort Pacific Oscillation (NPO) pattern that favors widespread cold across North America east of the Rockies and Central/East Asia but not Europe.

There are different ideas how variability in Arctic sea ice might influence winter hemispheric weather but the trend has been a convergence to a similar set of mechanisms first proposed for Eurasian snow cover.   Also, there is growing consensus that it is Barents-Kara sea ice in the late fall and early winter that has the greatest impact across Eurasia.  Similarly, low Arctic sea ice in the Chukchi-Bering Seas might favor colder temperatures downstream across North America.

October 2019 Eurasian snow cover extent (SCE) was above normal even when compared to recent Octobers (Figure 2a).  Snow cover advance was relatively fast in early and late October but stalled mid-month but for the entire month SCE was well above normal.  I also compute the snow advance index (SAI) which is a measure of the pace or speed of the snow cover advance across Eurasia (see Cohen and Jones 2011 for more detail).  The value was also above normal but not as high as the SCE for October.

Figure 2. a) Standardized snow cover extent anomaly across Eurasia for October 1979-2019 b) Observed Arctic sea ice extent anomalies November 2019.  Negative anomalies shown in blue shading.

Fall 2019 Arctic sea ice was below normal (Figure 2b) however Barents-Kara sea ice was only slightly below normal in November and higher that most recent Novembers with the exception of 2014.  Therefore, Arctic sea ice was probably not as favorable for forcing a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW and where the zonal mean zonal wind reverses from westerly to easterly at 60°N and 10 hPa) often followed by a negative AO and cold temperatures across the NH mid-latitudes compared to other recent years. 

The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) was in its westerly phase that winter.  The QBO is a periodic oscillation of the zonal winds in the equatorial stratosphere and in the westerly phase the zonal winds are stronger.  The westerly phase is thought to favor a stronger PV, which favors milder temperatures across the NH continents. It is plausible that the westerly QBO contributed to the overall mild winter.

And of course, the near record warm global atmosphere and ocean provided an overall warm backdrop heading into the winter of 2019/20.

Late fall/very early winter

As mentioned above, October 2019 Eurasian snow cover extent was above normal due to an early and late month surge in snow cover advance.  Above normal snow cover across Siberia in October favors a strengthened Siberian high in November with the largest positive sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies northwest of the climatological center (see Figure 3a taken from Cohen et al 2014). The rapid advance of snow cover at the end of October favored the northwestward expansion of the Siberian high in November which dominated the monthly mean for November (Figure 3b).  Below normal sea ice in the Barents-Kara seas is also associated with the northwestward expansion of the Siberian high and the combination of the rapid advance in snow cover at the end of October and low Barents-Kara sea ice contributed to an episode of blocking centered over the Urals for the months of November.  From Figure 3, the northwestward expansion of the Siberian high is clearly evident as well as the “classic” tripole SLP anomaly pattern with relatively high pressure near Scandinavia/Urals and low pressure in both the North Atlantic and North Pacific Ocean basins that is the hemispheric circulation that is most favorable for disrupting the stratospheric PV.

Figure 3. a) Regression of November sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies (hPa) onto October monthly mean, October Eurasian SCE (contouring) and December meridional heat flux anomalies at 100 hPa, averaged between 40-80°N (shading). b) Observed average sea level pressure (hPa; contours) and sea level pressure anomalies (hPa; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere from November 1-30, 2019.

This tripole pattern is optimal for forcing increased vertical transfer of Rossby wave energy (vertical wave activity flux or WAFz) and poleward heat flux.  The WAFz plot in Figure 4 shows active WAFz throughout November first in the troposphere and then in the stratosphere.  The period of active WAFz, peaked the last week of November in the stratosphere. 

Figure 4. Observed daily vertical component of the wave activity flux (WAFz) standardized anomalies, averaged poleward of 40-80°N from October 1 through March 31 (data for first week is missing).  

As I have discussed in the blog and in past winter summaries one of my focuses of my research has been to demonstrate that behavior of the stratospheric PV is not just binary, i.e., a strong PV and a weak or disrupted PV that is only really considered when a major mid-winter warming (MMW) is observed, which is identified when the zonal mean zonal wind reverses from westerly to easterly at 60°N and 10 hPa.

It turns out that the tropospheric response to a polar vortex disruption where WAFz is “reflected” is quite different from when WAFz is “absorbed.”  The tropospheric response to a PV disruption where the WAFz is absorbed is the “classic” response to stratospheric PV disruptions.  The tropospheric response is characterized by Greenland blocking, negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), relatively cold temperatures across northern Eurasia and milder across North Africa, the Middle East and the North American Arctic.  Also, the tropospheric response is usually delayed relative to the WAFz pulses and the response can be of long duration, lasting of up to two months. In contrast the tropospheric response to a PV disruption where the WAFz is “reflected” is characterized by blocking near Alaska, relatively cold across much of Canada, the Eastern US and Central Asia and mild across Alaska and Europe.  The response is not associated with a negative NAO but rather a negative North Pacific Oscillation (NPO). Also, the tropospheric response is usually rapid relative to the WAFz pulses and the response is of relatively short duration lasting on the order of days and up to two weeks. This will be a of more important consequence in winter 2020/21.

It is not until winter 2021/22 did we regularly produce the WAFz diagnostics that demonstrate reflective events so I what I now argue is somewhat circumstantial.  In November and December there are two observed examples of positive WAFz pulses quickly followed by negative WAFz pulses – first in at the very end of October and early November and then again in late November and early December (Figure 4).  This is strongly suggestive of a reflective events that involve upward WAFz pulses over Asia that reflect off the polar vortex and then are directed downward over North America.  As I just mentioned, reflective WAFz results in blocking/high pressure as well as warming near Alaska with upstream and downstream troughing and cold temperatures across Central and Eastern Asia and North America east of the Rockies first in the stratosphere and quickly followed in the troposphere.  In Figure 5, I present the geopotential heights for both 10 hPa and 500 hPa from November 1-15, 2019.  Figure 5a closely matches the “reflective” cluster 4 for the stratospheric PV (see Figure 1 from Kretschmer et al. 2018) with a stretched PV from Asia to North America and positive geopotential height anomalies centered near the Dateline, Eastern Siberia and the North Atlantic with downstream negative geopotential heights across Asia but especially North America.  And at 500 hPa there is strong ridging stretching along the West Coast of North America including Alaska and into Eastern Siberia with another ridge in the North Atlantic.   The main troughs are in East Asia and eastern North America.  There is another trough in Western Europe. 

Figure 5. a) Observed average 10 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere for November 1- 15, 2019. b) Observed average 500 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere from November 1 – 15, 2019.

This pattern results in below normal temperatures in Northern Asia, Western Europe and especially Eastern Canada and the Eastern US (see Figure 6).  On the flip side there are relatively warm temperatures under the mdi-tropospheric ridging along the West Coast of North America, Eastern Siberia Greenland and Eastern Europe.

Figure 6. a) Observed average surface temperature anomalies (°C; shading) for November 1 – 15, 2019.

Another stretched PV or reflective event takes place in late November and early December.   I show the NH geopotential height pattern for the first half of December both at 10 hPa and 500 hPa in Figure 7.  The pattern in the stratosphere looks more like a Canadian warming than a starched PV but if you look ahead at Figure 9a for late November it looks much more a typical stretched PV event.  In the mid-troposphere (which is usually a bit delayed relative to the response in the stratosphere) the pattern better resembles that associated with stretched or reflective PV events with strong ridging near Alaska with troughs across Asia and eastern North America that extends into the North Atlantic. 

Figure 7. a) Observed average 10 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere for December 1- 15, 2019. b) Observed average 500 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere from December 1 – 15, 2019.

The surface temperature anomaly pattern also resembles that associated with a stretched PV with cold temperatures in East Asia (though not very impressive this period but the cold became more expansive in late December – see ahead to Figure 10b) and Eastern Canada and the Northeastern US (see Figure 8).  It was also relatively warm in western North America, Europe, Western and Central Asia.  However overall, the stretched/reflective PV event of early December is not as clean or as strong as the event in early November.

Figure 8. a) Observed average surface temperature anomalies (°C; shading) for December 1 – 15, 2019.

The tropospheric response to stretched/reflective PV events is relatively short on the order of one to two weeks. And after the stretched/reflective PV events in early November and December the tropospheric circulation and surface temperature anomaly patterns relax in late November and December with some residual impacts.   The stratospheric PV seems to remain in a stretched configuration for much of November and December (see Figure 9a&b).  However, in the troposphere, the ridging centered near Alaska and Eastern Siberia abates and the troughs in eastern North America are replaced with ridges (see Figure 9c&d).  Still, ridging near the Urals helps to maintain troughing in East Asia and relatively cold temperatures dominate Central and East Asia while milder temperatures overspread eastern North America in late November and December (see Figure 10a&b).  And with strong westerly flow in both periods across Europe, Europe remains mild for both periods.

Figure 9. a) Observed average 10 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere for November 16- 30, 2019. b) Observed average 500 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere from November 16 – 30, 2019.   c) Observed average 10 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere for December 16- 31, 2019. d) Observed average 500 hPa geopotential heights (dam; contours) and geopotential height anomalies (m; shading) across the Northern Hemisphere from December 16 – 31, 2019.

From Figure 9a, it does look like the PV is vulnerable to further weakening and the potential does exist for an SSW and not just stretching, especially given that the WAFz remained active for the last three weeks of December (see Figure 4).  And looking back on my blog posts in late November I was discussing the possibility of an SSW in late December (see blog from 29 Nov 2019).  In winter 2018/19 the PV transitioned from a stretched PV to a mature SSW while in 2019/20 the PV transitioned from a stretched PV to an absolute beast and what accounts for the difference, I don’t really know.   It is possible that the QBO was easterly in 2018/19 but westerly in 2019/20.  Another difference (but with little support in the literature) is that the IOD was strongly positive in fall 2019 but not in fall 2018.

Figure 10. a) Observed average surface temperature anomalies (°C; shading) for a) November 16 – 30, 2019 and b) December 16-31, 2019.