Climate Insights for Köln

The climate in Köln is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 825mm of precipitation falls per year. Köln receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Köln is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, June. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to 2°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Temperatures in Köln vary considerably across the year, with a 23°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. August is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 25°C with a mean of 20°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 2°C and an average of 4°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 8°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Köln is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 825mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 69mm per month. The wettest month is December, averaging 83mm of rainfall. January and October also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 47mm. That's 36mm less than December, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 15cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 7cm.

Köln is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 18km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is February, averaging 21km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 15km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 6km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 20km/h in winter, 18km/h in spring, 16km/h in summer, 17km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Köln, which began on March 20, 2026. Köln is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 25°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 2°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Köln is during June, July, August and September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 66mm per month. By contrast, January can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 2°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Köln based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.