Climate Kosovo
Despite its small size (the equivalent of two French departments), Kosovo has a climate with significant variations depending on the seasons, vegetation and geography. Generally speaking, the country is characterized by a humid continental climate: hot summers (up to 40 °C), cold winters (up to - 30 °C) and significant precipitation, including 26 days of snowfall per year on average. But there are three distinct zones. In the northeast, the Kosovo Plain has colder winters and less precipitation. In the southwest, the Metohia plain enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate, with more rain and less seasonal variation. The large mountain ranges (Albanian Alps, Šar Mountains and Kopaonik Mountains) have an alpine climate, with lower temperatures than in the plains and up to 100 days of snowfall.
Winter
From December to February, it is very cold in Kosovo (- 3 °C on average) with snow all over the country, 2 to 4 hours of sunshine per day and temperatures constantly below 0 °C at night. In the Metohija plain, from Prizren to Peja/Peć, however, average temperatures remain positive during the day, including in January, the coldest month. But in the plain of Kosovo, between Pristina and Mitrovica, the thermometer rarely exceeds 1 °C during the day throughout the winter. This part of the country is also the one where the air is the most polluted. As the phenomenon becomes more pronounced in winter, Pristina becomes one of the worst breathing cities in Europe. But the advantage of Kosovo in this season is that you can ski. In the Šar Mountains, the resort of Brezovica, located in the Serbian enclave of Štrpce, is open from December to April. At 2,500 meters above sea level, it is the largest in the country with 13 km of slopes. It is also one of the cheapest ski resorts on the continent.
Spring
From March to May, the landscapes are superb with snow-capped mountains dominating the green plains. But as March is still very chilly (5°C on average), it is only from April that we recommend visiting the country. If the good season lasts until September, April-May is the best period, since it is not yet too hot: 10-15 °C on average and up to 17 °C in Prizren. However, there is a lot of rain, especially in the western part (Albanian Alps) where it rains almost once a day in May. If you go at that time, you should bring a raincoat, winter clothes for the possible snowfalls (sometimes until April) and lighter clothes for walking in the sun. Also think about mountain boots to go and explore the splendid Rugova Valley, in the Peja/Peć region. It is the perfect time to discover it with its rivers swollen by the melting snow and its vegetation in full revival. Another advantage of spring is that there are very few tourists. Therefore, hotel rates are still low.
Summer
From June to August, it is hot and humid. The thermometer exceeds 30°C during the day. It frequently reaches 40°C in August, the hottest month. But it still rains a lot: eight days a month in Pristina or Prizren, more than twenty days a month in the mountain areas. The plains turn yellow and the city dwellers leave in search of coolness. The inhabitants of Pristina take refuge in large numbers at the artificial lake of Batlava, near Besiana/Podujevo, the city reputed to be the coldest in the country. The people of Prizren went south to the high valleys of the Gora, the stronghold of the Goran minority. Those who can afford it go on vacation to the sea in Albania. There, August is called the "month of the Kosovars". But in Kosovo, August is the "month of the Shaci", the children of the Albanian-speaking diaspora who return every summer from Germany and Switzerland. They represent the country's main source of tourism. As a result, restaurants and hotels are full and prices are skyrocketing
Fall
Between September and November, summer quickly gives way to winter. It can snow as early as October, and in November, the temperatures quickly become freezing. September remains, still mild and not very rainy with an average of 16°C in Pristina and almost 20°C in Prizren. This is the month of the grape harvest in the Rahovec/Orahovac valley, in the southwest of the country. The opportunity to discover the unknown and yet very old vineyard of Kosovo.
