Riga, Latvia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are long, cold, and snowy, while summers are mild to warm and relatively short. The city experiences moderate rainfall year-round, dramatic shifts in daylight hours, and high humidity, making it a dynamic destination for all seasons.
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.
Riga’s climate is shaped by its northern latitude and proximity to the Baltic Sea, resulting in pronounced seasonal contrasts. Winters (December–March) are long, cold, and snowy, with average highs around -2°C to 1°C and lows often dropping below -5°C. Snow cover is common from mid-December to mid-March, and the city is frequently overcast, with only 0.8–2 hours of sunshine per day in the darkest months. Winds are often brisk, especially near the coast, and humidity remains high, making the cold feel more intense. Despite the chill, Riga’s winter charm is enhanced by festive Christmas markets and a picturesque snowy landscape.
Summers (June–August) are mild to warm, with average highs of 20–23°C and lows around 12–14°C. July is the warmest month, but heatwaves above 30°C are rare. Summer brings the longest days, with up to 17 hours of daylight and 9–10 hours of sunshine per day in June. Rainfall is moderate but peaks in July and August (80–90 mm/month), often as brief showers or thunderstorms. The sea temperature rarely exceeds 18°C, so swimming is for the hardy. Spring and autumn are transitional, with rapidly changing temperatures, colourful foliage or blossoming gardens, and moderate rainfall. Annual precipitation is about 650–800 mm, and the city enjoys 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine per year. Humidity is high year-round, peaking in November (up to 90%).
Riga’s climate supports a vibrant outdoor lifestyle in summer, cosy traditions in winter, and a rich calendar of cultural and seasonal events. The city’s weather is highly variable, so visitors should pack for a range of conditions, especially if planning outdoor activities.
| Average climate data for Riga, Latvia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -1 | -1 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 23 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -5 | -4 | -2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 3 | -1 | -5 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 25 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 29 | 43 | 46 | 45 | 32 | 41 | 32 | 23 | 381 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 142 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 84 | 72 | 62 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 71 | 328 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 14 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 52 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 89 | 90 | 85 | 73 | 71 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 78 | 80 | 86 | 89 | 80 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 77 | 73 | 62 | 45 | 40 | 38 | 38 | 34 | 46 | 56 | 71 | 80 | 55 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Riga is from late May to early September, when temperatures are mild (16–23°C), days are long and sunny, and the city hosts many outdoor events and festivals. Spring and early autumn are also pleasant for sightseeing, with blossoming gardens or colourful foliage and fewer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Riga is from November to March, when cold temperatures, frequent snow or rain, short daylight hours, and limited sunshine can make travel and outdoor activities challenging. Winter is best suited for those seeking snowy landscapes and cosy indoor experiences.
Riga’s annual average temperature is about 7–8°C. January and February are the coldest months (highs -2°C, lows -6°C), while July is the warmest (highs 21–23°C, lows 13–14°C).
Riga receives about 650–800 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, peaking in July and August. Snow is common from December to March, with an average of 40–50 snow days per year.
Riga enjoys 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine annually. The sunniest months are June and July, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day. Winter months are much darker, with only 0.8–2 hours daily.
Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is best for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures, long days, and less frequent rain. Summer is busiest and most comfortable for hiking and sightseeing.
Riga itself is not a major winter sports destination, but nearby areas offer cross-country skiing and ice skating from December to March, when snow cover is reliable and temperatures are below freezing.
Swimming in the Baltic Sea near Riga is only comfortable in July and August, when water temperatures reach 17–18°C. Outside these months, the water is too cold for most swimmers.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and rain gear for summer, and insulated, windproof clothing and boots for winter. An umbrella or rain jacket is useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (22.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-1.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 10.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (14.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-4.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 4.8 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (16.9 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (1.1 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 7.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (46.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (18.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 381 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (16.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (6.1 days). Over the whole year there are 142.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (84.3 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 327.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (13.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 52.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (90.4 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (71.5 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 80.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (18.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is May (13 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (79.6 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (34.1 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 17.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 6.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 11.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 2 h). Over the whole year there are 6 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 and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.8.
