Climate in Cologne — Annual Weather Overview
Cologne has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is August (average high 24.8°C) and the coolest is January (6.6°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 18.2°C swing between August highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 940mm. July is the wettest month at 110.9mm, while May averages just 52.4mm. Average daily sunshine is 7.8 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 14.8°C, 184mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 24.3°C, 259mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 16.3°C, 233mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 7.7°C, 264mm rain.
Cologne — Monthly Temperatures
Cologne — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Cologne stays reasonable all year.
Cologne weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.6°C | 1.9°C | 86.6mm | 3.3h | 14 | 10/10 |
| February | 9.2°C | 2.8°C | 77.1mm | 5.2h | 15 | 10/10 |
| March | 11.4°C | 2.8°C | 77.0mm | 7.6h | 13 | 10/10 |
| April | 14.2°C | 4.4°C | 54.9mm | 9.6h | 9 | 10/10 |
| May | 18.7°C | 8.7°C | 52.4mm | 11.3h | 12 | 10/10 |
| June | 24.2°C | 14.3°C | 81.0mm | 11.8h | 10 | 10/10 |
| July | 23.8°C | 14.8°C | 110.9mm | 11.1h | 13 | 9/10 |
| August | 24.8°C | 15.6°C | 66.7mm | 10.7h | 12 | 10/10 |
| September | 21.6°C | 12.5°C | 80.3mm | 9.3h | 9 | 10/10 |
| October | 16.6°C | 9.4°C | 73.0mm | 6.1h | 14 | 10/10 |
| November | 10.6°C | 5.1°C | 80.1mm | 4.8h | 13 | 10/10 |
| December | 7.2°C | 2.7°C | 100.3mm | 2.6h | 17 | 9/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Cologne. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Sorted on weather — now sort the packing
Our sister site has a ready-made checklist for this exact trip.
Cologne packing list →More about Germany — currency, language and key facts at 247CountryInfo →
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Cologne have?
Cologne has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from 6.6°C in January to 24.8°C in August.
What is the hottest month in Cologne?
August is the hottest month in Cologne, with average highs of 24.8°C and lows of 15.6°C.
What is the coldest month in Cologne?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 6.6°C and lows of 1.9°C.
What is the wettest month in Cologne?
July is the wettest month, averaging 110.9mm of rainfall over around 13 rainy days.
How much rain does Cologne get per year?
Cologne receives around 940mm of rain per year. The driest month is May (52.4mm).
When is the best time to visit Cologne?
The best time to visit Cologne is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
Compare Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt and 800+ rental companies — book now, pay at pickup.
Compare car hire prices → Affiliate link — we earn a commission at no extra cost to youAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Cologne packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the Germany guide at 247CountryInfo.
Trip essentials for Cologne
Universal travel adapter
Worldwide plug coverage with USB-C — one adapter for every leg of the trip.
Check Price →Check clothing sizes in Germany at 247Sizing before you shop for the trip.
More Cologne travel essentials
Book UK airport parking
Flying out to Cologne from the UK? Compare Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Compare Airport Parking →Travel first aid kit
Compact, TSA-friendly — covers the basics wherever you travel.
Check Price →Last updated:
Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.