Climate of Hungary
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (November 2023) |
The climate of Hungary is characterized by its position. Hungary is in the eastern part of Central Europe, roughly equidistant from the Equator and the North Pole, more than 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) from both and about 1,000 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean.
Its climate is the result of environmental changes during the
In 2007, Hungary was ranked sixth in an environmental protection index by Globalwatch and Climate Action Network.[3]
Influencing factors
The climate of Hungry is influenced by its distance from the Atlantic and the prevailing
The country's situation within the geographical region of the
Hungary's climate is influenced by two more or less permanent action centers of the temperate zone, the Icelandic Low and the Azores High. Depressions originating from the Iceland zone travel across the country, bringing cool weather and rain. When the Azores high gains ascendancy, the weather is bright and dry, both winter and summer. Besides the permanent ones, there is an important seasonal action center too, the Siberian High, which exerts its influence from time to time in winter, when the cold air masses over Siberia and Eastern Europe are driven across the Carpathian mountains and settle for some time over the Carpathian Basin.
Sunshine
From north to south, Hungary differs by only about 3 degrees of
The seasonal distribution of sunshine varies between 70 kcal/cm2 (290 kJ/cm2; 450 kcal/sq in)[clarification needed] in summer and 20 kcal/cm2 (84 kJ/cm2; 130 kcal/sq in)[clarification needed] in winter.
It varies a little by longitude, from 60 to 70 kcal/cm2 (250 to 290 kJ/cm2; 390 to 450 kcal/sq in)[clarification needed] in the west to 100 to 110 kcal/cm2 (420 to 460 kJ/cm2; 650 to 710 kcal/sq in)[clarification needed] in the south-east.
The average hours of sunshine vary between 1,700 and 2,100 a year (at Sopron, 1,700 hours, in Szeged, 2,068 hours). The maxima at both are in July.
The annual average of completely overcast days varies between 70 and 190. The actual hours of sunshine – that is, any sunshine on a day – reaches almost half of that possible – 46%. (London, by comparison, has about 33 percent a year).
Temperature
Even in Hungary, the temperature is warmer than, for example, neighboring Austria because of the south flow over the Alps of the Gulf Stream. This aberration or anomaly can be as much as 2.5 °C (4.5 °F). Towards the east, this gradually diminishes.
The average temperature in Hungary is 8 to 11 °C (46 to 52 °F). The difference between the north and the south is only 3 °C (5.4 °F) because of the relatively small distance between the south and north. For instance, the mean temperature in Southern England, Massif Central in France, and Switzerland is the same, but in Hungary, there are much greater extremes from summer to winter.
The highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Hungary was 41.9 °C (107.4 °F) at
Agronomy
The heat total during Hungary's
The soil surface fluctuates between even wider extremes, with potential to exceed 100 °C (212 °F) in its annual temperature range. 20 metres (66 ft) below the surface, this fluctuation ceases, and the temperature is constant at 11 °C (52 °F). The average depth of surface frosts is 25 to 35 centimetres (9.8 to 13.8 in).
Budapest lies on the boundary between hardiness zones 6 and 7.[5][6]
Wind
The wind exerts a strong influence on the other climatic elements by its velocity, direction, and ability to mobilize the air masses. At an altitude independent of the relief effect, about 4,000 m, westerly currents predominate over the country. Closer to the surface, over the greater part of the country, north-westerly winds predominate, but east of the Tisza River, northerly winds prevail. As regards wind velocity, the mean annual value varies between 1,5 and 2,5 on the Beaufort scale (2 and 3" 5 m/s)[clarification needed] over the whole country. The changes in atmospheric pressure are not very significant.
Precipitation
The average
As is characteristic of the continental climate, the most precipitation occurs in late spring and early summer. In the southwestern region, a second maximum occurs during October under influences of the Mediterranean climate.
The number of rainy days is over 100 in the southwestern borderland, as well as in the area of the Mátra and Bükk mountains, but less than 80 along the middle section of the Tisza . Low precipitation, heat, and strong evaporation make the Great Hungarian Plain very dusty in summer.
Thunderstorms and gales are common, particularly in the summer months. In winter, from the end of November to the beginning of March, precipitation falls partly in the form of snow. The snow cover varies considerably. The thinnest snow cover is found in the eastern region of the Great Plain (with the annual average being 4 centimetres (1.6 in)). Often,
Humidity
In Hungary, the air
Terrain
The surface of the country and the
The
Examples
Climate data for Budapest, 1991–2020 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
25.4 (77.7) |
30.2 (86.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
39.5 (103.1) |
40.7 (105.3) |
39.4 (102.9) |
35.2 (95.4) |
30.8 (87.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.3 (66.7) |
40.7 (105.3) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.1 (39.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
11.8 (53.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
22.9 (73.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.6 (83.5) |
22.8 (73.0) |
16.8 (62.2) |
10.1 (50.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
7.7 (45.9) |
13.3 (55.9) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.2 (73.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
12.7 (54.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
12.6 (54.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.2 (29.8) |
0.1 (32.2) |
3.6 (38.5) |
8.3 (46.9) |
12.6 (54.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
8.6 (47.5) |
4.3 (39.7) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | −25.6 (−14.1) |
−23.4 (−10.1) |
−15.1 (4.8) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
5.9 (42.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−16.4 (2.5) |
−20.8 (−5.4) |
−25.6 (−14.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 37 (1.5) |
29 (1.1) |
30 (1.2) |
42 (1.7) |
62 (2.4) |
63 (2.5) |
45 (1.8) |
49 (1.9) |
40 (1.6) |
39 (1.5) |
53 (2.1) |
43 (1.7) |
532 (20.9) |
Average precipitation days | 7.3 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 84 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
79 | 74 | 66 | 59 | 61 | 61 | 59 | 61 | 67 | 72 | 78 | 80 | 68.1 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 62 | 93 | 137 | 177 | 234 | 250 | 271 | 255 | 187 | 141 | 69 | 52 | 1,988 |
Average ultraviolet index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Source: Average temperatures 1991-2020: OMSZ - Hungarian Meteorological Service.[7] |
Climate data for Debrecen, 1991–2020 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 15.4 (59.7) |
19.0 (66.2) |
26.4 (79.5) |
33.6 (92.5) |
33.4 (92.1) |
37.4 (99.3) |
38.5 (101.3) |
39.2 (102.6) |
36.4 (97.5) |
29.5 (85.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
17.4 (63.3) |
39.2 (102.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.0 (78.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.1 (82.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
9.8 (49.6) |
3.2 (37.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.9 (53.4) |
16.8 (62.2) |
20.3 (68.5) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
16.5 (61.7) |
11.0 (51.8) |
5.5 (41.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
11.0 (51.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.2 (52.2) |
6.2 (43.2) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
6.3 (43.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −30.2 (−22.4) |
−26.0 (−14.8) |
−17.8 (0.0) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−14.9 (5.2) |
−19.0 (−2.2) |
−28.0 (−18.4) |
−30.2 (−22.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24.3 (0.96) |
32.2 (1.27) |
30.0 (1.18) |
45.1 (1.78) |
59.3 (2.33) |
66.8 (2.63) |
67.7 (2.67) |
46.4 (1.83) |
47.3 (1.86) |
41.1 (1.62) |
40.5 (1.59) |
42.0 (1.65) |
542.7 (21.37) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.1 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 82.6 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
84.4 | 78.8 | 68.6 | 62.2 | 65.1 | 66.5 | 65.9 | 64.2 | 69.7 | 77.0 | 83.7 | 85.5 | 72.6 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 57.6 | 85.0 | 146.8 | 190.3 | 251.4 | 266.4 | 295.3 | 274.3 | 201.7 | 155.1 | 72.2 | 47.0 | 2,043.1 |
Source: HMS[10][11][12] |
Climate data for Szeged (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
16.9 (62.4) |
22.4 (72.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4.1 (39.4) |
16.1 (61.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
5.9 (42.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
16.3 (61.3) |
19.2 (66.6) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
4.7 (40.5) |
0.9 (33.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.8 (25.2) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
0.5 (32.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
13.0 (55.4) |
14.3 (57.7) |
14.0 (57.2) |
10.3 (50.5) |
5.6 (42.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 24 (0.9) |
23 (0.9) |
25 (1.0) |
40 (1.6) |
51 (2.0) |
68 (2.7) |
53 (2.1) |
56 (2.2) |
37 (1.5) |
35 (1.4) |
38 (1.5) |
39 (1.5) |
489 (19.3) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59 | 94 | 143 | 173 | 234 | 252 | 278 | 263 | 199 | 153 | 77 | 53 | 1,978 |
Source: Hungarian Meteorological Service[13] |
Climate data for Miskolc (1961-1990 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
3.7 (38.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
16.7 (62.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
24.5 (76.1) |
26.5 (79.7) |
25.9 (78.6) |
22.0 (71.6) |
15.8 (60.4) |
7.4 (45.3) |
1.9 (35.4) |
14.7 (58.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.4 (39.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.1 (66.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
9.2 (48.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.3 (20.7) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.0 (48.2) |
12.3 (54.1) |
13.6 (56.5) |
13.0 (55.4) |
9.5 (49.1) |
4.5 (40.1) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27 (1.1) |
28 (1.1) |
32 (1.3) |
40 (1.6) |
65 (2.6) |
83 (3.3) |
60 (2.4) |
65 (2.6) |
41 (1.6) |
34 (1.3) |
43 (1.7) |
36 (1.4) |
554 (22) |
Average precipitation days | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 81 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
87 | 83 | 75 | 68 | 71 | 71 | 70 | 73 | 76 | 80 | 86 | 88 | 77 |
Average dew point °C (°F) | −5.3 (22.5) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
4.1 (39.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
12.5 (54.5) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
10.5 (50.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
5.0 (40.9) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 40.8 | 69.5 | 128.3 | 177.2 | 224 | 224.2 | 254.5 | 236.4 | 180.8 | 141.6 | 53.2 | 36 | 1,766.5 |
Source: NCEI[14]
|
Climate data for Győr (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
5.3 (41.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
16.0 (60.8) |
21.5 (70.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
26.6 (79.9) |
26.3 (79.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
15.6 (60.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
3.9 (39.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
5.5 (41.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.9 (67.8) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.1 (34.0) |
10.2 (50.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
1.6 (34.9) |
5.4 (41.7) |
10.1 (50.2) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 32 (1.3) |
33 (1.3) |
28 (1.1) |
38 (1.5) |
55 (2.2) |
64 (2.5) |
53 (2.1) |
65 (2.6) |
38 (1.5) |
35 (1.4) |
53 (2.1) |
38 (1.5) |
532 (21.1) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 84 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 60 | 97 | 138 | 189 | 247 | 250 | 268 | 259 | 188 | 143 | 73 | 51 | 1,963 |
Source 1: Meteorological Service of Hungary[15] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: HKO (precipitation, 1961–1990) |
Climate data for Pécs (1961-1990 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) |
4.8 (40.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
24.0 (75.2) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.9 (78.6) |
22.3 (72.1) |
16.6 (61.9) |
8.8 (47.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
15.1 (59.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.4 (29.5) |
1.3 (34.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.5 (59.9) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
16.6 (61.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
0.6 (33.1) |
10.4 (50.7) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
1.6 (34.9) |
6.0 (42.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.6 (56.5) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
11.7 (53.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
6.2 (43.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 39 (1.5) |
32 (1.3) |
38 (1.5) |
55 (2.2) |
63 (2.5) |
84 (3.3) |
61 (2.4) |
63 (2.5) |
47 (1.9) |
37 (1.5) |
56 (2.2) |
44 (1.7) |
619 (24.5) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 89 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
84 | 79 | 72 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 65 | 67 | 70 | 74 | 82 | 85 | 73 |
Average dew point °C (°F) | −3.9 (25.0) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
0.5 (32.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
9.0 (48.2) |
12.1 (53.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
6.5 (43.7) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
5.3 (41.6) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 67.9 | 91.2 | 146.2 | 187.2 | 237 | 258.9 | 293.3 | 267.6 | 206.2 | 165 | 81.7 | 59.2 | 2,061.4 |
Source: NCEI[16]
|
Sources
- ^ "Hungary climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Hungary weather averages". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ Andrew Speedy. "Hungary". Fao.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "Hungary ranked sixth in world for environmental protection". Caboodle.hu. 10 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Website of the Hungarian Meteorological Service: Heat Record". Met.hu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Hardiness zone – Gardenology.org – Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening wiki". Gardenology.org. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Europa Hardiness zone map". Backyardgardener.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Havi adatok - Adatok - met.hu". 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Budapest, Hungary (based on data from 1970 to 2010)". Hungarian Meteorological Service. 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Budapest, Hungary – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Yu Media Group. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Climate data for Debrecen 1901-2000". Hungarian Meteorological Service. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ "12882: Debrecen (Hungary)". ogimet.com. OGIMET. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-09-21. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Papa Climate Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-09-21. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Szeged 1971–2000". met.hu.
- ^ "Miskolc climate normals for 1961-1990(WMO station number: 12772)". ncei.noaa.gov. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Győr éghajlati jellemzői" (in Hungarian). Meteorological Service of Hungary. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Pecs-Repuloter climate normals for 1961-1990(WMO station number: 12942)". ncei.noaa.gov. National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- Ferenc Erdei, ed. (1968), Information Hungary, Pergamon Press, pp. 12–14