Munich, the capital of Bavaria, sits on an elevated plain in southeastern Germany at around 520 metres above sea level, close to the northern edge of the Alps, at approximately 48.14°N, 11.58°E. Its inland position and altitude give it a slightly continental climate that is colder and snowier than most of Germany — it is often the coldest of the country's big cities — with cold winters, warm summers and the strong influence of the nearby mountains.

Summer, from June to August, is pleasantly warm by day, with July and August the warmest — average highs around 23–24°C — but clear nights can turn surprisingly cool thanks to the altitude. Hot spells can reach 30–32°C, though they carry a real risk of intense afternoon thunderstorms, sometimes with hail, as moist air piles up against the Alps. This is the wettest time of year, with the mountains enhancing summer downpours.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, with January the coldest month — daytime temperatures only a few degrees above freezing and nights below it, and roughly a hundred days a year with sub-zero readings. Its position near the Alps makes it prone to cold snaps and to more frequent snowfall than northern Germany, so snow cover is more reliable. Anticyclonic spells can bring grey, foggy, sub-freezing days, though genuine deep cold below -15°C is occasional rather than routine.

Munich is one of the wettest major German cities, receiving around 950 mm of precipitation a year, with a pronounced summer peak — May to August each typically top 100 mm — driven by Alpine-enhanced thunderstorms. In winter and spring, north winds colliding with the mountains readily turn precipitation to snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Munich's signature weather feature is the Föhn, a warm, dry wind that descends from the Alps and can raise the temperature sharply while clearing the air so completely that the mountains to the south appear startlingly close. It blows most often in spring and autumn and can trigger rapid snowmelt. The Alpine proximity also makes Munich Germany's gateway to winter sports, with reliable mountain snow just a short journey away.

To follow any single measurement in Munich 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.