Weather & Climate In Salzburg

Salzburg is classified in the temperate zone. Depending on the isotherm for winter means chosen, the Köppen climatic classification notes the climate as either oceanic (Cfb) or humid continental (Dfb). Should the coldest month be 3 °C (27 °F, Salzburg would have a four-season marine climate with rather significant seasonal temperature variations.

Its position on the northern rim of the Alps guarantees a lot of precipitation, especially in the summer. In the local tongue, the unusual drizzle is called Schnürlregen. Typical winter and spring are strong foehn winds. Usually, the position in the Salzburg Basin results in temperature reversal and fog development.

Cold air flows from the surrounding area and nighttime radiation causes cold air lakes to develop in the Salzburg basin, producing inversion weather conditions. Air exchange will be rather limited during this time. The low-lying air becomes ever more contaminated during this time. Usually occurring between October and March, temperature inversions are rather frequent.

Weather in Salzburg By Months

In Salzburg, January marks the peak of winter and envelops the city in a frigid embrace. Usually, temperatures swing from a bracing-negative 4°C (24.8°F) to a somewhat milder 3.2°C (37.8°F). averaging 10.1 days of precipitation, the city gets up to 60mm (2.36 inches). Furthermore January brings snowfall; over 15.4 days, an average accumulation of 240mm (9.45 inches). With an average of 8 hours and 55 minutes, daylight hours are rather fleeting and allow barely 2.2 hours of sunshine.

With temperatures ranging between -2.9°C (26.8°F) and 5.6°C (42.1°F), February boasts the coldest month Salzburg has ever seen. Although the average zenith temperature stays the same as January, the city gets somewhat less precipitation—9.5 days totaling 55mm (2.17 inches). Though with less frequency—11.7 days—Snowfall continues with an accumulation of 239mm (9.41 inches). Daylight hours slowly rise to 10 hours and 16 minutes, offering a satisfying 3.3 hours of sunshine.

March marks the arrival of spring, so bringing about a rejuvenating change of Salzburg’s climate. From the gelid nadirs of February to a more amenable spectrum of 0.7°C (33.3°F) to 10.4°C (50.7°F), tempers rise. With 11.9 days of rain totaling 79mm (3.11 inches), precipitation still matches February. Though its frequency is declining—6.1 days—Snowfall persists with an accumulation of 217mm (8.54 inches). Daylight hours stretch far—up to 11 hours and 56 minutes—bestowing upon the city 4.2 hours of sunshine.

Salzburg’s April is typified by mild temperatures ranging from 3.8°C (38.8°F) to a pleasant 14.3°C (57.7°F). With 11.8 days of rain totaling 83mm (3.27 inches), the city shows a fractional decrease in rainfall from March. Snowfall is getting more erratic; it lasts just 1.4 days and accumulates 29mm (1.14 inches). Daylight hours run 13 hours and 40 minutes, averaging 5.1 hours of sunlight.

Salzburg gains a delicious tepidity from temperatures ranging between 8.4°C (47.1°F) and 19.9°C (67.8°F). Over 12.1 days, rainfall increases barely to 115mm (4.53 inches). May marks the last month of regular snowfall, with just 1mm (0.04 inches) of nominal accumulation. Daylight hours run from 15 hours and 10 minutes, giving an amazing 6.3 hours of sunshine.

With temperatures between 11.5°C (52.7°F) and 22.2°C (72°F), June brings in the estival season in Salzburg. Over 15 days, rainfall increases quite dramatically to 155mm (6.1 inches). With daylight hours at their zenith, averaging 15 hours and 57 minutes, there is lots of time to enjoy the 6.5 hours of daily sunshine.

July is the hottest month in Salzburg; temperatures range from 13.5°C (56.3°F) to 24.4°C (75.9°F). With an average of 158mm (6.22 inches) distributed over 14.4 days, July boasts the highest rainfall. The city has an amazing average of 7.1 hours of sunshine even though its daylight hours are only 15 hours and 34 minutes.

The heat of July persists in August; temperatures remain regularly between 13.5°C (56.3°F) and 24.2°C (75.6°F). Over 13.2 days, the total rainfall drops somewhat to 151mm (5.9 inches). While the average amount of sunshine stays at a pleasant 6.5 hours, the length of daylight is now dropping to 14 hours and 14 minutes.

September brings autumn in Salzburg, with temperatures dropping progressively to a range of 10.1°C (50.2°F) to 20.1°C (68.2°F). Over ten and a half days, the rainfall drops to 101mm (3.98 inches). With an average of 5.6 hours of sunshine, daylight now lasts only 12 hours and 34 minutes.

As we enter the late autumn, the temperature drops in November; it ranges from 0.6°C (33.1°F) to 7.8°C (46°F). While snowfall returns and accumulates an average of 121mm (4.76 inches) over a period of 5.1 days, September’s rainfall is still constant. Daylight’s length drops to 9 hours and 18 minutes, so allowing only 2.7 hours of sunlight.

Winter returns to Salzburg in December with a notable temperature range from -2.5°C (27.5°F) to 4°C (39.2°F). With 11.8 days of precipitation totaling 73mm (2.87 inches), the city shows a minor rise in rainfall when compared to November. Snowfall’s intensity rises, and over 13.1 days, an average accumulation of 278mm (10.94 inches) results. With an average of 8 hours and 29 minutes, the length of daylight is now at its lowest point; only 2 hours of sunshine result.

Temperature and hours of sunshine

The long-term annual mean air temperature was 9.0 °C between 1971 and 2000. While it is 1.3° higher in Vienna, the federal capital, the annual mean temperature in Graz and Klagenfurt as well as in towns in Salzburg south of the state capital is lower.

For Central Europe, Munich, Zurich, and Prague’s temperatures are rather similar.Whereas the lowest temperature recorded is 29.0 °C, the highest temperature noted is 38.6 °C.These values are not applicable to Langwied, under the shadow of the Salzburg city mountains, and in thermally deficient areas of the city including those in the Untersberg.Often the Langwied area of the city is the coldest in the winter.

There are 60.2 average snow-covered days; global warming is causing a long-term declining trend. There are 1701.1 on average annual total hours of sunlight.Near the edge of the basin and in the city hills to the east, south, and north, this number is occasionally rather smaller.It is lowest in the city north of the Kapuzinerberg.

Precipitation

Salzburg’s precipitation levels are rather high when compared to the lowlands generally.They are roughly two times higher than in the federal capital, Vienna.With 141.2, the count of days with precipitation is also rather high.

Larger amounts of precipitation are recorded, especially in the southern part of the city, than in the neighboring Alpine foothills to the north-west due to the damming effect of the Limestone Alps; also, in a sizable portion of the state of Salzburg’s inner-Alpine districts.

Foehn is rather common because of its northern Alpine border.This partially explains the rather high mean temperatures of the city.One of the climatic features is also the stronger inclination to reverse the temperature.

Wind

In comparison to the lowlands, the city boasts strong local breezes.Generally speaking, air movement requires two directions: horizontal and vertical.Working together, vertical and horizontal air exchange helps to lower the urban heat island and promote a healthy renewal of the dirty air of the city.Mostly directed to north-south currents in the city’s south and along the Salzach, the large-scale west-east windsThe airport still gets NW-SE winds.On the slopes of the valley, mountain and valley winds predominate; likewise set north-south and follow a regular daily pattern.The city thus gets fresh air from the north to the north-west and from the south to the southeast. The main flow axis of the winds runs west from Anif and Maxglan across the airport to Bergheim.Eastward in the Salzburg Basin, weak and local winds rule Hallwang, Parsch, Aigen.

Well ventilated are the western half of the city, including the Salzach area, the Leopoldskroner Moos, a good share of Maxglan and Liefering, and the Salzach area.Also well-ventilated areas are parts of Gnigl and Schallmoos.The area near Kasern and Itzling as well as the southern part of the city—including Rainberg, Mönchsberg, and Kapuzinerberg—have only meager ventilation.Among poorly ventilated areas are Langwied, Riedenburg, Aigen near the Gaisberg, the area north and south of the Kapuzinerberg along the slopes.Among the city’s worst ventilated sites are sections of the old town and the areas along the slopes of the Mönchberg and the Rainberg as well as a good amount of the Nonntal.

In Salzburg, the normal wind speed is 2.3 meters per second.It is less than in the foothills of the Alps since easterly winds, in particular, seldom ever reach the Salzburg Basin gently.Still, wind speeds in most other Austrian cities in inner-Alpine basin areas, including Klagenfurt (1.4 m/s), Graz (1.5 m/s), are lower than here.Along the fresh air corridor in the Untersberg and at higher altitudes of the Gaisberg, strong gusts above 40 km/h are most typical.