Hamburg's Climate and Seasons

Hamburg is not renowned for being overly dry! Normally, the prevailing westerly winds bring moist sea air from the North Sea, which spares us from most climatic extremes, but does account for the resplendent growth of Hamburg's extensive population of trees. This has made Hamburg a very green city, such that, seen from the air, much of it appears to be just forest!

It is often windy, as the wind blows relatively unhindered from North Sea over the narrow land area into the Baltic. The overall effect is that the air has a refreshing effect and is rarely unpleasant (as long as you have suitable clothing!)

Once in a while a continental high pressure area will wander in from the east, bringing dry weather, in the summer coupled with warm temperatures of up to 30 degC and in winter an icy chill of between -10 to -25 degC. These periods tend to be quite stable and can last for a few weeks.

These are the times in the winter, when the Elbe begins to freeze despite its salt content and tidal movement and of course the Alster lakes in the city centre of Hamburg freeze enough for most of the city's population to be out ice skating.

Winter often starts with a little snow in early December, followed only in early January by a real chance of proper winter. Snow is usually very light as our maritime climate means it is normally wet and warmish or (now and then) dry and cold.

Best is the dry and cold with sun, which although low in the sky does brings some light - we need every hour we can get! Otherwise, without a reflective covering of snow, winter is very dark.

Ice-rain is not quite so unusual and often occurs at the end of a long dry and cold spell, as the wet and warmish weather blows in from the west over the well frozen ground. Now that is real fun!!

The Winter 1999/2000 has really been a non-event with moderate temperatures (I guess an average of 4 degC), little or no snow and no real icy spells. Good for the heating bills!

The official start of spring, is determined by the blossoming of the Forsythia beside the Alster.

Spring is one of Hamburg's most beautiful seasons following on from the dark and dreary winter, the trees are suddenly clothed in bright green leaves and we suddenly realise again just how many trees there are here.

As a season, it can last several months until the summer has finally decided to start.

This year (2000), despite the moderate Winter, we seem to be waiting forever for Spring and have only now (Easter) just had a few really warm days. The trees have thus now started to throw their leaves and the city is taking on its mantle of green.

Hamburg's summers can be very mixed, such that given the opportunity, a very large proportion of the population travel away to foreign places for some sun and warmth. For those remaining, Hamburg is wonderful and empty. Journeys that took an hour, can now be completed in less than 30 minutes. A very good time to pay Hamburg a visit!

In the year 1998, Hamburg's summer was wet and awful! But in 1999 it was warm, sunny and long - the best for years! A few more of those, please!

Often, a dark and stormy season, marked by heaps and heaps of fallen leaves. Not often do we really get a good coloration of the leaves; usually before that happens the autumnal storms have ripped them from the branches.

Th autumn of 1999 was very late starting and most of the leaves were still green well into October.