High altitude and surrounding high mountains are main factors of Zakopane's mountain climate. The average yearly temperature is approximately +5(C. The hottest month is July - approx. +15(C, the coldest is January - approx. -6(C. The average winds are not too strong, they blow from the west and the south-west. In autumn, winter and early spring there is a local wind called "halny". It is a warm and dry wind, which blows from The Tatras - from the south. It often blows at 100 km/h, makes a lot of damage and causes snow layers to melt. Halny blows from a few hours to 3-4 days and makes some sensitive people feel terrible. The average rain- and snowfall amounts to 1000 mm yearly. The highest rainfall is in June and July - in these months there are often thunderstorms. Snowfall constitutes 40 percent. Snow appears in November and disappears in March - April. In the mountains it forms the thickest layers in late March - then in the spring sunshine there are the best conditions for skiing.
In September and October it is characteristic of Zakopane and The Tatras to have long periods of beautiful sunny weather. During such periods hiking along mountain trails is the most charming even despite ground frost. There is also often stable weather in winter - in January - February. You can frequently experience the inversion of temperature. With beautiful, quiet and sunny weather the temperature on the peaks of The Tatras is a few degrees higher than in the valleys.
Sportsmen and Explorers