Kraków sits in southern Poland on the Vistula River at approximately 50.06°N, 19.95°E, close to the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. It has a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons — cold, snowy winters and warm summers — and its valley setting can trap cold air and fog more readily than the open plains further north.

Summer, from June to August, is warm and the wettest part of the year. July averages daytime highs around 24–25°C with cooler nights, and hot spells can push temperatures above 30°C. Long daylight hours make it the most popular time to visit, though afternoon thunderstorms are frequent and can be heavy.

Winter is cold and grey, with temperatures often below freezing from December to February. January, the coldest month, brings daytime highs around 0°C and nights several degrees below. Snow is common and can lie for extended periods, and the nearby mountains see far more — enough for winter sports within easy reach. Cold outbreaks from the east can bring sharp frosts.

Kraków receives moderate precipitation of roughly 650–700 mm a year, with a clear summer maximum when rain arrives as heavy, often thundery downpours. Winters are drier in total but a large share of the precipitation falls as snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Kraków's low-lying valley position beside the Vistula makes it prone to fog and to winter temperature inversions that can trap cold, damp air — and, historically, smog — in the basin. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant transitional seasons, with autumn often bringing crisp, colourful, settled spells before winter sets in.

To follow any single measurement in Krakow 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.