As everyone knows, anticipation is the best kind of joy – the same goes for getting ready for a holiday.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning a day trip or a longer stay in the Harz. The weather always plays an important role when packing.
On this page, you’ll find the current weather forecast for most places in the Harz. You’ll also find useful information about the climatic conditions of the Harz region.
Well informed, you can start your holiday well prepared!
The weather in
per year, the Brocken is more or less shrouded in fog
is the average annual temperature on the Brocken (average 1981–2010). It’s always a good idea to take a jacket with you!
severe snowdrifts can occur in winter
was the highest recorded wind speed on the Brocken summit in November 1984
The Harz has a lot to offer in all weathers and at any time of the year.
In spring, the animals here slowly wake up from their winter sleep, and on exciting hikes through nature you can discover plants everywhere that are slowly pushing their way through the dark soil into the daylight.
During the summer months, there are many warm days when nature can be explored through a variety of outdoor activities. Historic towns invite you to stroll around and enjoy their sights, and cultural events make for cosy summer evenings. Autumn attracts visitors with colourful foliage and misty coniferous forests, while in winter the Harz turns into a beautiful snowy landscape, making it a popular region for winter sports.
Just as diverse as the activities are the climatic conditions in the Harz. The variety of plants and wildlife is due to Atlantic influences in the west and continental influences in the east.
The Upper Harz is characterised by an annual average temperature of 5 °C to 6 °C and annual precipitation of 1,000 mm to 1,400 mm – at the summits even up to 1,800 mm in the form of rain or snow. The climate in the high altitudes of the Harz National Park is extreme in every respect. In January, the temperatures in the Upper Harz are similar to those in northern Iceland, and in July to those in the northern Arctic Ocean.
The Lower Harz (Eastern Harz) lies in the rain shadow of the Upper Harz due to the Brocken’s barrier effect and therefore has a mild and dry climate influenced by the eastern European mainland. The temperatures are only 1 °C to 2 °C lower than those of the foothills, and annual precipitation decreases towards the east to as little as 650 mm.
… and now off to the Harz!