Climate in Helsinki — Annual Weather Overview
Helsinki has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is July (average high 20.8°C) and the coolest is December (-0.5°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 21.3°C swing between July highs and December lows. Annual rainfall totals around 830mm. August is the wettest month at 104.2mm, while April averages just 36.3mm. Average daily sunshine is 7.7 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 7.4°C, 151mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 20.3°C, 235mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 9.7°C, 224mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs -0.1°C, 220mm rain.
Helsinki — Monthly Temperatures
Helsinki — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
January and March to November
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Helsinki stays reasonable all year.
Helsinki weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.4°C | -3.8°C | 84.4mm | 1.4h | 16 | 8/10 |
| February | -0.1°C | -5.2°C | 67.8mm | 3.4h | 11 | 6/10 |
| March | 2.2°C | -3.6°C | 51.7mm | 7.2h | 10 | 8/10 |
| April | 7.3°C | -0.1°C | 36.3mm | 10.9h | 8 | 10/10 |
| May | 12.7°C | 4.9°C | 62.7mm | 12.3h | 10 | 10/10 |
| June | 20.2°C | 12.3°C | 52.6mm | 15.6h | 8 | 10/10 |
| July | 20.8°C | 14.1°C | 78.5mm | 14.1h | 13 | 10/10 |
| August | 19.9°C | 13.8°C | 104.2mm | 10.7h | 14 | 9/10 |
| September | 14.9°C | 9.6°C | 58.7mm | 8.4h | 10 | 10/10 |
| October | 9.8°C | 5.5°C | 91.5mm | 5.0h | 14 | 10/10 |
| November | 4.4°C | 0.8°C | 73.6mm | 1.9h | 14 | 8/10 |
| December | -0.5°C | -4.6°C | 68.0mm | 1.0h | 14 | 6/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Helsinki. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Helsinki have?
Helsinki has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from -0.5°C in December to 20.8°C in July.
What is the hottest month in Helsinki?
July is the hottest month in Helsinki, with average highs of 20.8°C and lows of 14.1°C.
What is the coldest month in Helsinki?
December is the coolest month, with average highs of -0.5°C and lows of -5.2°C.
What is the wettest month in Helsinki?
August is the wettest month, averaging 104.2mm of rainfall over around 14 rainy days.
How much rain does Helsinki get per year?
Helsinki receives around 830mm of rain per year. The driest month is April (36.3mm).
When is the best time to visit Helsinki?
The best time to visit Helsinki is January and March to November. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Helsinki
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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.