Best time to visit by weather Tallinn

The month of January is one of the coldest periods in Tallinn, with daily mean temperatures hovering slightly below freezing. Even average high temperatures rarely crawl above the freezing point. You can expect about three weeks out of the month to be biting cold. Precipitation in Tallinn in mid-winter comes in the form of snow or rain. About 10 days promise to be rainy, and up to 20 days may bring snow to the Estonian capital. Days are short with less than 7 hours of daylight, and the sunshine is scarce, so, it might not be the best time of year for sightseeing. Bring warm clothes and plan some indoor activities to enjoy your time in Tallinn in January.

One of the coldest months of the year brings winter chill to the capital city of Estonia. Daily mean temperatures drop even lower than in January, with average lows reaching −7.1 °C (19.2 °F). Up to three weeks promise temperatures below freezing. Thus, packing a warm sweater and a proper winter coat is a must if you plan to engage in some outdoor activities. Days get longer with about 9 hours of daylight, when the sun rises at about 9 am and goes down at about 6 pm. The number of snowy and rainy days gradually decreases, but expect about 12 days of precipitation in February.

Spring in Tallinn starts out cold, with freezing daily mean temperatures being rather common in March. It gradually gets warmer by the end of the month. Average highs hover above freezing, so you might be lucky to explore the city on a slightly warmer day. Anyways, packing a warm sweater and a hat for your Tallinn trip is a good idea. Snowfall is prevalent at this time of year, but snowy days are less frequent than in the winter months. The number of rainy and snowy days almost evens out, with about 10-11 days of precipitation in April. Days grow longer with nearly 12 hours of daylight, so no need to get up early for sightseeing.

April is the month when real spring kicks off in Estonia. It is one of the most unpredictable months. Temperatures keep rising, and precipitation is not that intense. Daily mean temperatures creep up above freezing, and even average lows are higher than the freezing point. The number of rainy days is a little bit higher than in the previous month, but the number of snowy days drops to five. April is considered to be one of the driest months of the year. Yet, packing warm clothes when planning a trip to Tallinn is always a good idea. As days grow longer, there is more time to explore the city with some 14-15 hours of daylight.

May is officially the first warm month of the year in Tallinn. Daily mean temperatures hover roughly between 10–13 °C (50–55 °F), when average highs crawl up to 15 °C (59 °F). Only record low temperatures drop below freezing, but it’s a rare occasion. Besides being relatively warm, May is also known as one of the driest months in Tallinn with about 11 days of precipitation. Yet, a raincoat could be your best friend as thunderstorms are highly probable in May. Don’t let the late spring temperature rise trick you—be prepared for a spring breeze caused by the uneven warming of the inland areas and the sea. Thus, on a warm sunny day, the air can suddenly get chilly and windy in a matter of minutes with the breeze from the sea. Moreover, there could be overnight frosts in early May. Precarious Estonian climate might also bring heatwaves when temperatures reach 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F). Double-check weather forecast in Tallinn before heading there to know whether you should pack a sweater or a light jacket. Another perk of the season is the so-called white nights, when it never gets completely dark at night. Moreover, the days are long, with about 17 hours of daylight.

Summers in Estonia are generally mild due to the humid continental climate. Average temperatures keep crawling up. On a sunny day, you can enjoy 15–20 °C (59–68 °F). When it gets windy or rainy, temperatures tend to drop. Some years brought heat waves to Tallinn, while in June 2014, the city experienced wet snow. Alongside warm and usually pleasant weather, there is usually sea breeze. It can turn a warm morning into a cool and chilly afternoon accompanied with fog over the sea, which brings cold and humidity. Occasional thunderstorms and showers might make you consider packing an umbrella or a raincoat. Day length reaches its peak in June with more than 18 hours of daylight. White nights are another perk of the season, so it doesn’t get fully dark in Tallinn at night.

July holds the title of the warmest month in Tallinn, yet, one of the rainiest. Due to the humid continental climate, it usually doesn’t get too hot here in mid-summer, so it rarely reaches above 30 °C (86 °F). Daily mean temperatures hover around 15–17 °C (59–62 °F), but day temperatures tend to be T-shirt friendly. Precipitation increases comparing to June, even though the number of rainy days is about 13 in both months. July experiences more thunderstorms, especially if the summer is hot; when the summer is relatively cool, thunderstorms tend to wait until August. The sea breeze can bring unexpected coolness to the city, and occasional fog might be spotted over the sealine. Days remain long with about 18 hours of daylight, when the sun rises between 4 and 5 am and goes down after 10 pm. What a perfect season to go sightseeing and explore the nature around Tallinn.

Late summer sees a slight decrease in temperatures, but the days are still warm and pleasant. Average temperatures hover around 16–20 °C (61–68 °F). The breeze, which unexpectedly makes the weather chilly, is fairly common in August, especially on a hot calm day. Another thing that might ruin your outdoor exploration is the infamous summer thunderstorms. They are more frequent if the summer is cooler. T-storms usually occur in the afternoon, sometimes accompanied by hail or ice pellets. Well, August is one of the wettest months in Tallinn. Thus, make sure to bring waterproof clothes and shoes, and plan some indoor activities in case of a prolonged rainy afternoon. With the average number of daylight hours of about 15, there is plenty of time to go sightseeing and take pictures of the Old Town.

As autumn takes over Estonia, temperatures keep decreasing, but you might be lucky to catch some good weather. In some years, September in Tallinn brings Indian summer with warm weather and sunny days. In this case, daily temperatures might reach 17 °C (62 °F). In colder years, the city might experience foggy mornings with overnight frost in late September. The number of precipitation days increases to about 17, but the showers are less intense. There could be occasional thunderstorms on the seashore due to warmer and humid air comparing to the inland areas. Grabbing an umbrella or wearing a raincoat might be a good idea. Days become shorter as it gets closer to the autumn equinox in late September. Still, about 13 hours of daylight will give you enough time to explore the city.

Autumn in Tallinn is usually cloudy and windy. The dull periods with steady rain, which can last for days, are rather common. Temperatures keep dropping throughout the season but remain well above freezing. Pack layers as warm days might be quickly replaced by biting cold ones when you need a warm sweater and a hat. The suburbs experience overnight frosts, but the city center remains warmer. Even though thunderstorms in Estonia are mostly associated with the summer months, there is a chance of a thunderstorm in October. This is especially true for areas closer to the sea due to relatively warm and humid air. The first snowfall occurs in October, but it is a rare occasion at this time of year. Days get shorter, with about 10 hours of daylight, when it usually gets dark at about 5 pm.

Late autumn in Tallinn is no beach vacation. Temperatures gradually decrease closer to the freezing point, and average lows are below freezing. Snowfall is more frequent, especially in late November. That is when the wintry days arrive in the city. Days with precipitation, either rain or snow, happen in about one-third of the month. To make things worse, gale, kind of wind stronger than a breeze, less than a storm, is frequent in the city. So, dress accordingly and plan some indoor activities to stay warm. In this dull and chilly season, you can cheer up with some local food and drinks at the local Christmas Market. Days are gloomy and short, with about 7 to 8 hours of daylight.

In most years, December is when the true wintry weather settles in Tallinn. Yet, in some years, it could be relatively warm until the end of the month. Daily mean temperatures hover slightly below the freezing point, but record highs feel more like autumn. In cold years, snow arrives in October and November, so by December, snow cover is thick. Precipitation comes both as rain and snow, thus, packing clothes for any kind of weather would make your trip more comfortable. There is a phenomenon known as lake-effect snow. It is when a cold air mass moves from the northeast towards the southwest over ice-free waters of the Gulf of Finland and brings blizzard-like conditions to the inland areas. All this snow-and-rain dance is spiced up with biting winds. Days are short and gloomy, with about 6 hours of daylight.