Climate of Budapest
{{Short description|none}}
Budapest has a humid temperate climate (Köppen: Cfa, Trewartha: Doak) with warm to hot summers and chilly winters. The city's inclusion in this climate zone is a relatively new phenomenon; a humid continental (Köppen: Dfa, Trewartha: Dc) classification was applicable until, at the very least, the early 2010s.{{Cite journal |last=Beck |first=Hylke E. |last2=Zimmermann |first2=Niklaus E. |last3=McVicar |first3=Tim R. |last4=Vergopolan |first4=Noemi |last5=Berg |first5=Alexis |last6=Wood |first6=Eric F. |date=2018-10-30 |title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2018214 |journal=Scientific Data |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=180214 |doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214 |issn=2052-4463|hdl=20.500.11850/302311 |hdl-access=free |pmc=6207062 }}
Winter (November until February) is the coldest and cloudiest time of year. Snow falls occasionally. The spring months (March, April and May) see variable conditions, with a rapid increase in the average temperature. Budapest's summer, lasting from June until August, is the warmest time of year. Sudden heavy showers also occur, particularly in June, which can be a pleasant interruption of the prolonging heatwaves. The autumn in Budapest (September until the end of October) is characterized by less rain than in summer and long sunny days.
Seasons
=Spring=
Spring is characterized by abundant sunshine and scattered showers. The temperature starts to rise markedly in April, highs usually reach the 25 °C mark at the end of the month, though short cold spells with lows in the 0–5 °C zone and ground frost may strike even in mid-May.
=Summer=
In the summer, prolonged heat waves with highs between 32 and 35 °C interchange with short cooler and wet periods following cold fronts from the West with highs between 18 and 25 °C. Humidity is usually low in the summer, but may rise during more unsettled weather. In the residential suburbs nighttime temperatures are usually cool; in the asphalt jungle of Pest, however, temperatures above 25 °C at midnight are not uncommon. Thunderstorms, some of them violent with strong wind gusts and torrential rainfall, are not rare. The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.7 °C on July 20, 2007.{{cite web |title=Magyarországi időjárási rekordok - Hungarian |url=http://www.met.hu/omsz.php?almenu_id=climate&pid=climate_Hw&mpx=0&kps=1&pri=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621031618/http://www.met.hu/omsz.php?almenu_id=climate&pid=climate_Hw&mpx=0&kps=1&pri=4 |archive-date=2008-06-21 |access-date=2008-09-25}}
=Autumn=
Highs can stay above 20 °C until the end of October. Nights get colder and the first frost arrives usually in the second week of October. Short cool spells vary with the Indian summer that can last for several weeks. November brings abundant rain, sometimes snow and a drastic fall in temperature (a 10 °C fall throughout the month).
=Winter=
Winters are variable and unpredictable. Westerly winds bring mild oceanic air with highs between 5–10 °C, almost no frost and scattered rain or snow showers. Depressions moving in from the Mediterranean can bring snowstorms with 20–40 cm falling in a single day, followed by cold air from Russia. Atlantic depressions and south wind can bring unusually warm weather with highs reaching 15 °C even in January. The Siberian High brings most years a sunny but very cold period lasting for a week or two with lows in the −15–20 °C range. Anticyclones with centres above Western Europe produce cold inversion fog with no change in day and nighttime temperatures, they stay around or a bit under 0 °C. The fog can last for weeks. Mediterranean depressions moving above the inversion fog layer can bring a day or two of freezing rain.{{cite web |title=Az adatsorok éghajati elemzése - Hungarian |url=http://www.met.hu/pages/climate/bp/Navig/Index2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917072440/http://www.met.hu/pages/climate/bp/Navig/Index2.htm |archive-date=2008-09-17 |access-date=2008-09-25}}Weather; HarperCollinsPublishers, 2001; {{ISBN|0-00-220138-0}}The Rough Guide to Weather; Penguin Group; 2002; {{ISBN|1-85828-827-4}}
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Data
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = Yes
| location = Pestszentlőrinc, Budapest (WMO number: 12843) 1991-2020; elevation: 139m
| temperature colour =
| humidity colour =
| Jan high C = 3.0
| Feb high C = 5.8
| Mar high C = 11.3
| Apr high C = 17.9
| May high C = 22.6
| Jun high C = 26.2
| Jul high C = 28.1
| Aug high C = 28.0
| Sep high C = 22.5
| Oct high C = 16.4
| Nov high C = 9.4
| Dec high C = 3.5
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 0.0
| Feb mean C = 2.0
| Mar mean C = 6.6
| Apr mean C = 12.4
| May mean C = 16.9
| Jun mean C = 20.7
| Jul mean C = 22.5
| Aug mean C = 22.3
| Sep mean C = 16.9
| Oct mean C = 11.3
| Nov mean C = 5.9
| Dec mean C = 0.8
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = -2.5
| Feb low C = -1.3
| Mar low C = 2.3
| Apr low C = 7.1
| May low C = 11.6
| Jun low C = 15.2
| Jul low C = 16.7
| Aug low C = 16.6
| Sep low C = 12.2
| Oct low C = 7.2
| Nov low C = 3.1
| Dec low C = -1.4
| precipitation colour = green
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation mm = 31.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 31.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 31.5
| Apr precipitation mm = 34.6
| May precipitation mm = 64.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 65.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 74.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 58.7
| Sep precipitation mm = 51.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 44.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 46.8
| Dec precipitation mm = 38.5
| year precipitation mm =
| precip days colour =
| Jan precipitation days = 6.1
| Feb precipitation days = 5.6
| Mar precipitation days = 5.9
| Apr precipitation days = 5.7
| May precipitation days = 8.4
| Jun precipitation days = 6.6
| Jul precipitation days = 7.6
| Aug precipitation days = 5.3
| Sep precipitation days = 5.5
| Oct precipitation days = 6.2
| Nov precipitation days = 7.0
| Dec precipitation days = 7.1
| year precipitation days =
| Jan humidity = 84
| Feb humidity = 77
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 59.2
| May humidity = 63.4
| Jun humidity = 63.9
| Jul humidity = 62
| Aug humidity = 62.9
| Sep humidity = 69.2
| Oct humidity = 76.8
| Nov humidity = 83
| Dec humidity = 84.7
| year humidity =
| Jan dew point C = -4.0
| Feb dew point C = -2.2
| Mar dew point C = 0.4
| Apr dew point C = 3.7
| May dew point C = 8.8
| Jun dew point C = 11.9
| Jul dew point C = 12.8
| Aug dew point C = 12.8
| Sep dew point C = 10.3
| Oct dew point C = 6.3
| Nov dew point C = 2.1
| Dec dew point C = -1.7
| Jan sun = 55.4
| Feb sun = 83.8
| Mar sun = 137.3
| Apr sun = 182.1
| May sun = 230.3
| Jun sun = 248.1
| Jul sun = 274.2
| Aug sun = 254.6
| Sep sun = 197.3
| Oct sun = 156.4
| Nov sun = 67.4
| Dec sun = 47.5
| year sun =
| source = NOAA{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Hungary/CSV/BudapestPestszentlorinc_12843.csv |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Budapest-Pestszentlőrinc |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=NOAA |format=CSV}} (Dew point and sun 1961-1990){{Cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/HU/12843.TXT |title=Station Name: BUDAPEST-LORINC WMO Station Number: 12843 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=NOAA}}
| source 2 =
}}{{Weather box
| location = Budapest (WMO station number:12840), 1991–2020
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 4.7
| Feb high C = 7.1
| Mar high C = 12.3
| Apr high C = 18.8
| May high C = 23.1
| Jun high C = 26.8
| Jul high C = 28.8
| Aug high C = 28.9
| Sep high C = 23.1
| Oct high C = 17.2
| Nov high C = 10.6
| Dec high C = 5.1
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 1.3
| Feb mean C = 3.1
| Mar mean C = 7.5
| Apr mean C = 13.3
| May mean C = 17.6
| Jun mean C = 21.5
| Jul mean C = 23.3
| Aug mean C = 22.9
| Sep mean C = 17.8
| Oct mean C = 12.3
| Nov mean C = 7.2
| Dec mean C = 2.1
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = -1.2
| Feb low C = 0.1
| Mar low C = 3.9
| Apr low C = 9.1
| May low C = 12.8
| Jun low C = 16.3
| Jul low C = 18.0
| Aug low C = 17.7
| Sep low C = 13.3
| Oct low C = 8.7
| Nov low C = 4.3
| Dec low C = -0.2
| year low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 33
| Feb precipitation mm = 30.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 31.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 32.5
| May precipitation mm = 57.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 60.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 53.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 54.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 46.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 44.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 46.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 37.7
| year precipitation mm =
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 6
| Feb precipitation days = 6
| Mar precipitation days = 5.7
| Apr precipitation days = 5.7
| May precipitation days = 8
| Jun precipitation days = 6.6
| Jul precipitation days = 6.4
| Aug precipitation days = 5.6
| Sep precipitation days = 5.6
| Oct precipitation days = 6.7
| Nov precipitation days = 7.1
| Dec precipitation days = 6.8
| Jan sun = 53.8
| Feb sun = 83.4
| Mar sun = 133.4
| Apr sun = 179.5
| May sun = 233.8
| Jun sun = 250.6
| Jul sun = 279.4
| Aug sun = 253.8
| Sep sun = 195.7
| Oct sun = 150.7
| Nov sun = 65.1
| Dec sun = 49.2
| year sun =
| Jan humidity = 74.3
| Feb humidity = 68.6
| Mar humidity = 59.6
| Apr humidity = 53.8
| May humidity = 57.3
| Jun humidity = 58
| Jul humidity = 56.1
| Aug humidity = 56.7
| Sep humidity = 63.3
| Oct humidity = 69.5
| Nov humidity = 74.5
| Dec humidity = 76.5
| year humidity =
| Jan dew point C = -3.9
| Feb dew point C = -2.3
| Mar dew point C = 0.0
| Apr dew point C = 3.4
| May dew point C = 8.3
| Jun dew point C = 11.4
| Jul dew point C = 12.4
| Aug dew point C = 12.4
| Sep dew point C = 10.2
| Oct dew point C = 6.2
| Nov dew point C = 1.9
| Dec dew point C = -1.8
| Jan uv = 2
| Feb uv = 3
| Mar uv = 3
| Apr uv = 5
| May uv = 5
| Jun uv = 6
| Jul uv = 6
| Aug uv = 6
| Sep uv = 4
| Oct uv = 3
| Nov uv = 2
| Dec uv = 2
| source = NCEI{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Hungary/CSV/BudapestBelterulet_12840.csv |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Budapest-Belterulet |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration |no-pp=y |format=CSV |postscript=.}}(dew point and sun 1961-1990 {{Cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/HU/12840.TXT |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1961-1990: Budapest-KMI |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration |no-pp=y |format=TXT |postscript=.}})
| collapsed = y
}}{{Weather box |collapsed =yes
| location = Budapest (1901-2010, extremes 1870-present)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 18.1
| Feb record high C = 20.6
| Mar record high C = 26.1
| Apr record high C = 32.0
| May record high C = 34.0
| Jun record high C = 39.5
| Jul record high C = 40.7
| Aug record high C = 40.0
| Sep record high C = 37.6
| Oct record high C = 30.8
| Nov record high C = 23.4
| Dec record high C = 19.3
| year record high C = 40.7
| Jan high C = 1.2
| Feb high C = 4.5
| Mar high C = 10.2
| Apr high C = 16.3
| May high C = 21.4
| Jun high C = 24.4
| Jul high C = 26.5
| Aug high C = 26.0
| Sep high C = 22.1
| Oct high C = 16.1
| Nov high C = 8.1
| Dec high C = 3.1
| year high C = 15.0
| Jan mean C = -1.6
| Feb mean C = 1.1
| Mar mean C = 5.6
| Apr mean C = 11.1
| May mean C = 15.9
| Jun mean C = 19.0
| Jul mean C = 22.3
| Aug mean C = 20.2
| Sep mean C = 16.4
| Oct mean C = 11.0
| Nov mean C = 4.8
| Dec mean C = 0.4
| year mean C = 10.4
| Jan low C = -4.0
| Feb low C = -1.7
| Mar low C = 1.7
| Apr low C = 6.3
| May low C = 10.8
| Jun low C = 13.9
| Jul low C = 15.4
| Aug low C = 14.9
| Sep low C = 11.5
| Oct low C = 6.7
| Nov low C = 2.1
| Dec low C = -1.8
| year low C = 6.3
| Jan record low C = -27.1
| Feb record low C = -25.0
| Mar record low C = -15.5
| Apr record low C = -7.2
| May record low C = -3.3
| Jun record low C = 0.5
| Jul record low C = 4.0
| Aug record low C = 5.0
| Sep record low C = -3.1
| Oct record low C = -9.5
| Nov record low C = -16.4
| Dec record low C = -22.0
| year record low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 38
| Feb precipitation mm = 37
| Mar precipitation mm = 37
| Apr precipitation mm = 47
| May precipitation mm = 64
| Jun precipitation mm = 70
| Jul precipitation mm = 50
| Aug precipitation mm = 50
| Sep precipitation mm = 43
| Oct precipitation mm = 47
| Nov precipitation mm = 60
| Dec precipitation mm = 49
| Jan sun = 55
| Feb sun = 84
| Mar sun = 137
| Apr sun = 182
| May sun = 230
| Jun sun = 248
| Jul sun = 274
| Aug sun = 255
| Sep sun = 197
| Oct sun = 156
| Nov sun = 67
| Dec sun = 48
| year sun = 1933
| source 1 = www.met.hu{{cite web
|title=Monthly Averages for Budapest, Hungary (based on data from 1901-2000)
|publisher=Hungarian Meteorological Service
|url=http://www.met.hu/pages/climate/bp/index.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220094213/http://www.met.hu/pages/climate/bp/index.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=February 20, 2007
|access-date=2008-09-26
| date = August 2010
}}