Cologne, Germany Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Cologne
Cologne records 158 wet days and 7.7 hours of daily sunshine in an average year. Temperatures follow an oceanic pattern, running 43°F (6°C) in January up to 76°F (25°C) in August.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 76°F (25°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 43°F (6°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · 15°F (-10°C) low
- Wettest month: January (16 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: oceanic
- Annual swing: 16°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 6 days a year
- Average humidity: 76%
Temperatures through the year
Snow falls on roughly 6 days a year, mostly December through March. January bottoms out at 43°F (6°C) in daylight, 34°F (1°C) after dark. August is the warm end of the year, averaging 76°F (25°C) by day and 60°F (16°C) overnight. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 102°F (39°C) and bottoms at 15°F (-10°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. January is the wettest month at 3.5 inches (88 mm) over 16 days; April is the driest.
Rain, sun and snow
June is the brightest month at 11.3 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 7.7 - duller than about 89% of the cities we track.
How Cologne compares
- 28% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more evenly spread than almost every other city we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43° | 34° | 16 | 3.5 in | 3.7 h/day | 85% |
| February | 47° | 35° | 13 | 2.8 in | 5.5 h/day | 79% |
| March | 52° | 37° | 14 | 3.1 in | 7.2 h/day | 76% |
| April | 58° | 41° | 12 | 2.2 in | 9.5 h/day | 71% |
| May | 66° | 49° | 12 | 2.6 in | 11.0 h/day | 71% |
| June | 74° | 57° | 12 | 3.2 in | 11.3 h/day | 69% |
| July | 76° | 59° | 12 | 3.5 in | 11.3 h/day | 68% |
| August | 76° | 60° | 12 | 2.8 in | 10.6 h/day | 70% |
| September | 69° | 54° | 10 | 3.0 in | 9.2 h/day | 74% |
| October | 60° | 48° | 13 | 2.7 in | 5.9 h/day | 81% |
| November | 50° | 41° | 15 | 3.3 in | 4.5 h/day | 85% |
| December | 46° | 37° | 17 | 3.4 in | 3.1 h/day | 86% |
Cologne month by month
Cologne weather in January
January brings highs around 43°F (6°C), lows near 34°F (1°C), about 16 wet days and roughly 2 snowy days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Cologne.
Cologne weather in February
February brings highs around 47°F (8°C), lows near 35°F (2°C), about 13 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.
Cologne weather in March
March brings highs around 52°F (11°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 14 wet days.
Cologne weather in April
April brings highs around 58°F (15°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 12 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Cologne.
Cologne weather in May
May brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 49°F (9°C), about 12 wet days.
Cologne weather in June
June brings highs around 74°F (23°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 12 wet days - typically the sunniest month of the year in Cologne.
Cologne weather in July
July brings highs around 76°F (24°C), lows near 59°F (15°C), about 12 wet days.
Cologne weather in August
August brings highs around 76°F (25°C), lows near 60°F (16°C), about 12 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Cologne.
Cologne weather in September
September brings highs around 69°F (21°C), lows near 54°F (12°C), about 10 wet days.
Cologne weather in October
October brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 13 wet days.
Cologne weather in November
November brings highs around 50°F (10°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 15 wet days.
Cologne weather in December
December brings highs around 46°F (8°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 17 wet days and roughly 1 snowy days.
Seasons in Cologne
Spring (March through May)
Spring stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 59°F (15°C), nights near 42°F (6°C), and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Cologne is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 75°F (24°C) and nights around 59°F (15°C); rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.1 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Cologne stays on the cool side of mild: 60°F (16°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Cologne is brisk and cold: 45°F (7°C) by day, 36°F (2°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 46 of the 90 days, plus about 4 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How humid does Cologne get?
What should I pack for Cologne?
How many rainy days does Cologne get in a year?
How sunny is Cologne?
Best time to visit Cologne
April to September is the sweet spot for Cologne - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 70°F (21°C) in the afternoon and around 12 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Cologne with a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. August nights average 60°F (16°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Cologne temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.