Dortmund, in North Rhine-Westphalia, features a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall distributed evenly throughout the year. The city experiences moderate humidity, variable sunshine, and frequent cloudy days, especially in winter. Seasonal changes are distinct, making Dortmund a dynamic destination for both outdoor activities and urban exploration.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Dortmund’s climate is shaped by its oceanic influences and inland location. Summers (June–August) are mild to warm, with average highs of 21–24°C and lows around 13–15°C. July is typically the warmest month, occasionally reaching 25°C, though heatwaves above 30°C are rare. Rainfall is moderate, with June and July being the wettest months (up to 80–96 mm), and showers are frequent but often brief. Sunshine peaks in May to August, with up to 7–8 hours per day, while humidity remains moderate, making summer comfortable for outdoor activities.
Winters (December–February) are cool and damp, with average highs of 5–7°C and lows near 0–2°C. January is the coldest month, and frost or light snow is possible, but significant snow cover is rare and usually short-lived. Rainfall is steady year-round, with December and January among the wetter months. Sunshine is limited in winter, with just 1–2 hours per day, and days are short. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with spring warming from 10°C in March to 19°C in May, and autumn cooling from 19°C in September to 9°C in November. Rain falls year-round, and wind is a regular companion, especially in autumn and winter. Dortmund receives about 800–1,000 mm of precipitation annually and enjoys 1,500–1,600 hours of sunshine per year, with daylight ranging from 8 to 16 hours depending on the season.
| Average climate data for Dortmund, Germany | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 4 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 24 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 56 | 54 | 56 | 31 | 46 | 50 | 61 | 56 | 35 | 46 | 47 | 71 | 609 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 199 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 71 | 57 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 62 | 225 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 26 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 81 | 79 | 72 | 75 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 75 | 80 | 85 | 86 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 65 | 61 | 53 | 43 | 46 | 47 | 44 | 41 | 43 | 50 | 58 | 66 | 51 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Dortmund is from May to September, when temperatures are mild to warm (17–24°C), days are long, and rainfall is moderate. These months offer the most comfortable weather for sightseeing, outdoor events, and enjoying the city’s parks and beer gardens.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Dortmund is coldest, wettest, and least sunny. Rain, wind, and short daylight hours can limit outdoor activities, though the city’s museums, Christmas markets, and cafés offer a cosy refuge from the weather.
Dortmund has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers (21–24°C), cool, damp winters (5–7°C), and rainfall spread throughout the year. Weather is changeable, with frequent clouds, wind, and occasional sunshine.
The best time to visit Dortmund is from May to September, when temperatures are mild, days are long, and rainfall is moderate—perfect for outdoor activities, festivals, and sightseeing.
Snow is possible in winter, especially in January and February, but it is usually light and doesn’t last long. Most winter precipitation falls as rain, and frost can occur on colder nights.
Dortmund receives about 800–1,000 mm of precipitation annually, with rain distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. June and July are typically the wettest months, while February and April are driest.
Dortmund enjoys about 1,500–1,600 hours of sunshine each year. May to August are the sunniest months, with up to 7–8 hours daily, while winter months are much gloomier.
Yes, Dortmund experiences moderate to strong winds year-round, especially in autumn and winter. Winds are generally stronger during storms, contributing to the city’s brisk, fresh atmosphere.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (23.6 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (14.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (0.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (70.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (31.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 608.6 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (20.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (14.4 days). Over the whole year there are 199.4 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (71 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 224.8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (7.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, June, July, August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 26.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (86.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (70.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (15.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (10.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 12.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (66 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (40.7 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 51.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3.1 h). Over the whole year there are 6.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
