Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sits in a valley of the Dinaric Alps in the centre of the country, surrounded by mountains at around 500–550 metres above sea level, at approximately 43.86°N, 18.41°E. Its inland, mountain-ringed position gives it a continental climate with some transitional influences (Köppen Cfb/Dfb) — warm summers and cold, snowy winters — with rainfall spread through the year and a marked tendency to trap cold air and fog in the enclosed valley.

Summer, from June to August, is warm and moderately humid, with July and August the warmest months — average highs around 27–28°C — and occasional hot spells reaching the mid-30s, though the elevation keeps nights comfortably cool. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common, sometimes heavy, and the surrounding mountains give a large day-to-night temperature swing. It is among the sunnier, more settled times of year.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and snowy, with January the coldest month — average highs around 3°C and lows near or below freezing, and cold spells that can drop temperatures well below -10°C. Snow falls frequently and can lie deep for weeks, and the enclosed valley readily traps cold air and fog. Sarajevo's reliable snow and nearby mountains made it host of the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Sarajevo is fairly wet, receiving on the order of 900–950 mm of precipitation a year, spread through every month with autumn and late-spring emphasis and no true dry season; a good share of the winter total falls as snow, which accumulates in the cold valley. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Sarajevo's mountain-ringed valley is the key to its climate: it traps cold air and fog in winter, giving long, cold, snowy spells, while the surrounding peaks feed the reliable snowfall that supports the ski resorts on the city's doorstep. The enclosed basin also concentrates winter air pollution during still, cold, foggy periods, a recurring problem in the cold season.

To follow any single measurement in Sarajevo more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.