Gothenburg (Göteborg), Sweden's second city and its principal port, sits on the west coast at the mouth of the Göta River, facing the Kattegat sea at approximately 57.71°N, 11.97°E. Its coastal position gives it a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — mild, cloudy, windy and wet — far milder and rainier than inland or northern Sweden.

Summer, from June to August, is mild rather than hot, with July the warmest month — average highs around 21–22°C and cool nights. Genuinely hot days are rare, though warm spells can reach 30°C. It is among the sunniest, most agreeable times of year, with very long northern daylight, though Atlantic showers can arrive at any moment.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and grey rather than severe, kept mild for the latitude by the sea, with January and February the coolest — average highs around 2–3°C and lows near -3°C. Snow falls but often melts quickly, and the season is dominated by short daylight, persistent cloud, drizzle and brisk Atlantic winds.

Gothenburg is one of the wettest cities in Sweden, receiving around 850–900 mm of precipitation a year, spread through every month with a clear autumn maximum, as Atlantic depressions sweep in off the Kattegat; snow makes up a modest share of the winter total. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Gothenburg's exposed west-coast position, open to Atlantic weather systems, makes it noticeably milder, windier and considerably wetter than Stockholm on the sheltered Baltic side of the country — a contrast Swedes are keenly aware of. Its winters are correspondingly grey and thaw-prone rather than reliably frozen.

To follow any single measurement in Gothenburg 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.