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- Strbske Pleso, warmest
- August, high 19.2 C
- Lomnicky stit, annual rain
- 1,902.4 mm
- Strbske Pleso, annual rain
- 1,107 mm
- Wettest month there
- July, 146.1 mm
Weather in the High Tatras depends heavily on height: on average the valley town of Poprad is far warmer than Štrbské Pleso, and Lomnický štít at 2,634 m stays around freezing or below all year. Because of the mountain risks, get a quote from EKTA for travel insurance before you hike or ski, and check that the policy covers your activity and altitude.
The tables below use published long-term averages for three points on the same range. They show the pattern, not a forecast. For hikes see best hikes in the High Tatras, and for snow season see High Tatras in winter.
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Top picks at a glance
Key takeaways
- Average highs at the Štrbské Pleso weather station (1,319 m) never pass 19.2 C, even in August.
- Lomnický štít has average highs below freezing from October to April or so, and under 10 C all year.
- July is the wettest month at Štrbské Pleso, at 146.1 mm on average.
- Plan for 10 C or more difference between the valley and the ridge.
Booking for mountain weather, ranked
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Our top pick1
Mountain-aware travel insurance with EKTA
Best overallBest for: Hikers and skiers
EKTA offers travel insurance. Mountain rescue and cancelled trips are the usual weather costs, so check cover for hiking and winter sports and for any altitude limit before you buy.
Get a quote from EKTA- Covers weather disruption
- Quote online
- Read activity exclusions
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2
Flexible activities on Klook
Best for bad-weather daysBest for: Changeable weather
Klook lists activities in Slovakia. Choose products with free cancellation, and check the listing for what is available around the Tatras.
See tours on Klook- Rebook if cloud sits on peaks
- Confirm local availability
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3
Private transfer with Kiwitaxi
Best in snowBest for: Winter arrivals
Kiwitaxi offers private transfers between cities. A transfer avoids driving on icy roads.
Book a transfer on Kiwitaxi- No winter driving
- Cost
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4
Rental car via Auto Europe
Best for summerBest for: Summer trips
Auto Europe compares cars. A car helps you link trailheads in summer, but in winter confirm tyres.
Compare cars on Auto Europe- Flexible
- Parking at trailheads
-
5
Official mountain info
Best free forecastBest for: Daily checks
SHMU publishes forecasts. Check the Tatras national park site and the mountain rescue service for trail and avalanche information.
Official website- Official
- Mainly Slovak
Climate tables: valley, lake and summit
Poprad is the valley town, Štrbské Pleso is a popular lakeside resort at about 1,350 m and Lomnický štít is a 2,634 m summit.
| Month | Poprad high / low (°C) | Poprad rain (mm) | Štrbské Pleso high / low (°C) | Štrbské Pleso rain (mm) | Lomnický štít high / low (°C) | Lomnický štít rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.5 / −8.0 | 25.0 | −0.8 / −8.3 | 81.0 | −7.3 / −12.9 | 176.9 |
| Feb | 2.7 / −6.9 | 27.4 | 0.0 / −8.3 | 68.1 | −7.7 / −13.4 | 170.3 |
| Mar | 7.1 / −3.3 | 30.3 | 3.0 / −5.5 | 78.7 | −5.8 / −11.8 | 182.1 |
| Apr | 13.5 / 1.2 | 43.2 | 8.9 / −0.4 | 73.4 | −1.7 / −7.5 | 165.3 |
| May | 18.1 / 5.9 | 75.5 | 13.4 / 4.4 | 111.1 | 2.9 / −2.9 | 149.1 |
| Jun | 21.7 / 9.3 | 84.0 | 17.1 / 7.7 | 120.8 | 6.9 / 0.6 | 156.5 |
| Jul | 23.4 / 10.9 | 101.5 | 18.9 / 9.5 | 146.1 | 8.7 / 2.4 | 193.7 |
| Aug | 23.7 / 10.5 | 79.2 | 19.2 / 9.4 | 110.2 | 9.0 / 2.9 | 140.8 |
| Sep | 18.3 / 6.4 | 56.0 | 14.0 / 5.1 | 85.7 | 4.5 / −0.9 | 120.3 |
| Oct | 12.9 / 2.2 | 51.1 | 9.2 / 1.1 | 82.6 | 1.1 / −4.1 | 126.3 |
| Nov | 6.6 / −1.6 | 36.6 | 4.2 / −2.4 | 76.4 | −2.7 / −7.8 | 154.0 |
| Dec | 1.2 / −6.5 | 26.9 | 0.2 / −7.0 | 72.8 | −6.2 / −11.5 | 167.1 |
Long-term averages (Wikipedia climate tables, 1991 to 2020 normals). Bratislava (airport station) and Košice list WMO and SHMÚ as source; Poprad, Štrbské Pleso and Lomnický štít list NOAA. Averages are not a forecast: any single day can be far from them.
Yearly: Poprad high 12.5 and low 1.7 °C with 636.6 mm; Štrbské Pleso 8.9 and 0.4 with 1,107 mm; Lomnický štít 0.1 and −5.6 with 1,902.4 mm.
Month by month in the mountains
- January: Cold at every height: Poprad low −8.0, Štrbské Pleso high −0.8, Lomnický štít high −7.3. Ski season.
- February: Štrbské Pleso is the driest month there at 68.1 mm, with highs around 0.0.
- March: Still winter at height: Štrbské Pleso high 3.0, Lomnický štít high −5.8.
- April: Štrbské Pleso high 8.9, low −0.4. Thaw and mud on lower trails.
- May: Štrbské Pleso high 13.4 with 111.1 mm of rain. Higher trails are likely to be snowy. Lomnický štít is still below freezing at 2.9 high.
- June: Štrbské Pleso high 17.1, low 7.7, 120.8 mm. Summer opens, but check trail status.
- July: Warmest and wettest at Štrbské Pleso: high 18.9 and 146.1 mm. Expect showers and storms.
- August: Štrbské Pleso high 19.2, the warmest average of the year, and 110.2 mm.
- September: Cooler: Štrbské Pleso high 14.0, low 5.1, 85.7 mm. Nights chill quickly.
- October: Štrbské Pleso high 9.2, low 1.1. Lomnický štít is near 1.1 by day and below zero at night.
- November: Štrbské Pleso high 4.2, low −2.4. Snow arrives and many things go quiet.
- December: Štrbské Pleso high 0.2, low −7.0. See High Tatras in December.
Summer hiking and storms
July and August are the main hiking months but also bring the most rain. Start early, carry a waterproof layer and turn back if clouds build. Even in August the average high at the lake is under 20 °C and the summit is below 10 °C. Read best hikes in the High Tatras and hiking insurance.
Winter and the shoulder months
Average highs stay near or below freezing from December to March at the lake. Spring and late autumn are transition seasons with mud, snow patches and reduced services. See High Tatras in winter and skiing in Slovakia for snow season. Some mountain trails and lifts close for part of the year, so confirm before you go.
Reaching the peaks
The cable car to Lomnický štít operates only in suitable weather, so cloud and wind can close it. A warm day in Poprad tells you little about the summit. Base camps include Štrbské Pleso and Tatranská Lomnica.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for the High Tatras weather?
July and August are the warmest, with an average high of 18.9 and 19.2 C at Štrbské Pleso. They are also wet and busy.
How cold is Lomnický štít?
Average highs are below freezing from about October to April, and the yearly average temperature is around -2.9 C.
When does the snow melt?
It varies by year and height. Higher trails can hold snow into early summer, so check current trail conditions.
How wet is the High Tatras?
Štrbské Pleso averages 1,107 mm a year and Lomnický štít 1,902.4 mm, far more than Poprad at 636.6 mm.
How much colder is the lake than Poprad?
In July the average high is 18.9 C at Štrbské Pleso against 23.4 C in Poprad, and in January -0.8 against 0.5.
Photo: High Tatras · Unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0
