Latvia
Latvia has a temperate climate that has been described in various sources as either humid continental (Köppen Dfb) or oceanic/maritime (Köppen Cfb.)
Coastal regions, especially the western coast of Courland Peninsula, possess a more maritime climate with cooler summers and milder winters, while eastern parts exhibit a more continental climate with warmer summers and harsher winters. Daugavpils in southeastern Latvia has been the site for both the lowest and highest temperatures ever recorded.
Latvia has four pronounced seasons of near-equal length. Winters, starting in mid-December and lasting till mid-March, have average temperatures of around – 6°C and are characterized by stable snow cover, bright sunshine and short days. Severe spells of winter weather with cold winds, extreme temperatures of around – 30° and heavy snowfalls are common. Summers, starting in June and lasting till August, are usually warm and sunny with cool evenings and nights. Summers have average temperatures of around +19°C with extremes of +35°C. The weather in spring and autumn is fairly mild.
Average temperatures in Latvia in 2011 | ||||||||||||
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Average temperatures (°C) | -3.0 | -8.9 | -0.5 | +6.8 | +11.2 | +17.3 | +19.8 | +16.8 | +13.4 | +7.8 | +4.4 | +2.1 |
Weather record | Value | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Highest t° | 36.4 °C | Daugavpils | August 28, 1943 |
Lowest t° | −43.2 °C | Daugavpils | February 8, 1956 |
Last spring frost | – | large parts of territory | June 24, 1982 |
First fall frost | – | Cenas parish | August 15, 1975 |
Highest yearly precipitation | 1007 mm | Priekuļi parish | 1928 |
Lowest yearly precipitation | 384 mm | Ainaži | 1939 |
Highest daily precipitation | 160 mm | Ventspils | July 9, 1973 |
Highest monthly precipitation | 330 mm | Nīca parish | August 1972 |
Lowest monthly precipitation | 0 mm | large parts of territory | May 1938 and May 1941 |
Thickest snow cover | 126 cm | Gaiziņkalns | March 1931 |
Month with the most days with blizzards | 19 days | Liepāja | February 1956 |
The most days with fog in a year | 143 days | Gaiziņkalns area | 1946 |
Longest lasting fog | 93 hours | Alūksne | 1958 |
Highest atmospheric pressure | 799.5 mm Hg | Liepāja | January 1907 |
Lowest atmospheric pressure | 699.7 mm Hg | Vidzeme Upland | February 13, 1962 |
The most days with thunderstorms in a year | 52 days | Vidzeme Upland | 1954 |
Strongest wind | 34 m/s, up to 48 m/s | not specified | November 2, 1969 |
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