Slovakia Weather by Month: What to Expect

Average temperatures and rain by city

These are monthly averages for three places that cover most trips: Bratislava in the south-west, Poprad at the foot of the Tatras and Košice in the east.

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 average high and low: Bratislava 15.9 / 6.5 °C, Poprad 12.5 / 1.7 °C, Košice 14.7 / 5.2 °C.

What to expect each month

• January: Coldest month in the east and mountains. Poprad averages a low of −8.0 and Košice −4.8. Snow is likely at height, and the Danube lowlands are cold but milder.
• February: Still winter. Bratislava highs average only 5.8, so pack for cold. Peak ski conditions, see skiing in Slovakia.
• March: The big swing month. Bratislava highs reach 11.1 but Poprad lows stay below freezing at −3.3. Mountain trails remain wintry.
• April: Lowland cities warm to a 17.5 high in Bratislava. Poprad is 13.5 by day and just above freezing at night. Showers start to increase.
• May: Rain rises noticeably, with Bratislava at 58.6 mm and Poprad at 75.5 mm. Lowland days are pleasant, high trails can still hold snow.
• June: Warm in the cities, 25.6 high in Bratislava. Poprad averages 84.0 mm of rain, so keep a waterproof handy.
• July: Warmest month in Bratislava (28.0 high) and wettest in Poprad (101.5 mm), a reminder that mountain storms are common in summer.
• August: Very similar to July. Bratislava 27.9 high, Košice 26.8. Poprad drops to 79.2 mm.
• September: Highs fall to 21.9 in Bratislava and 18.3 in Poprad. Rain eases in the east but nights start to cool.
• October: Bratislava 15.6 high and 6.3 low. Poprad lows approach freezing at 2.2. Layers are essential.
• November: Bratislava 9.3 high, Poprad 6.6. Grey and cool; Poprad has 36.6 mm, Bratislava 46.2 mm.
• December: Highs near 3.7 in Bratislava and 1.2 in Poprad, with lows below freezing in all three cities. See Bratislava in December.

How the regions differ

Bratislava sits in the warm Danube lowlands and has the highest summer temperatures and the lowest rainfall of the three cities (574.3 mm a year against 636.6 mm in Poprad). Košice is slightly cooler and has colder winter nights. Poprad is the coldest by a clear margin in winter, and the mountains above it are colder again. For the mountains see High Tatras weather by month and for the capital see Bratislava weather by month.

What to pack by season

Spring and autumn: layers, a light waterproof jacket and closed shoes. Summer: light clothes, sun protection and a rain layer for mountain trips. Winter: a warm coat, hat, gloves and boots with grip. If you plan to hike, read hiking in Slovakia for beginners. For a season by season plan, see Slovakia in winter and Slovakia in summer.

Using averages sensibly

An average high of 21.7 °C in May does not mean every May day is mild. Mountain weather in particular can change within hours, and a warm valley can sit under cloud while the ridge is clear. Use the table to choose a month, then check a forecast a few days before you travel and again on the morning of any hike.