The Climate of
Liechtenstein
Eschen in the north of Liechtenstein
What is the climate of Liechtenstein like?
Liechtenstein is situated in the central Alps between Switzerland and Austria. This tiny independent principality contains part of the upper Rhine valley and mountains rising to 2,600 meters (8,500 feet). It has a similar climate to that of the Swiss and Austrian Alps.
Liechtenstein has a continental climate, but climatic conditions are less severe than might be expected from its elevated terrain and inland situation. The mitigating factor is a warm south wind called the föhn. Even at the upper Alpine elevations, winter temperatures rarely drop below -15°C (5°F), and lowland temperatures average 0°C (32°F) in January. Summer highs are generally between 20°C (68°F) and 28°C (82°F). Late frost and prolonged dry periods are rare.
Average annual precipitation is around 1,000 millimeters (40 inches). The higher Alpine peaks are snowcapped year-round.
| Climate data for Vaduz (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) | 6.8 (44.2) | 11.8 (53.2) | 16.0 (60.8) | 20.1 (68.2) | 23.2 (73.8) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.3 (75.7) | 20.0 (68.0) | 15.7 (60.3) | 9.5 (49.1) | 5.5 (41.9) | 15.2 (59.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.7 (36.9) | 6.8 (44.2) | 10.7 (51.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.1 (66.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 11.1 (52.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | 2.2 (36.0) | 10.6 (51.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) | −1.1 (30.0) | 2.3 (36.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 13.0 (55.4) | 14.6 (58.3) | 14.6 (58.3) | 10.8 (51.4) | 6.9 (44.4) | 2.2 (36.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | 6.3 (43.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 41 (1.6) | 34 (1.3) | 54 (2.1) | 57 (2.2) | 90 (3.5) | 116 (4.6) | 130 (5.1) | 144 (5.7) | 96 (3.8) | 68 (2.7) | 56 (2.2) | 54 (2.1) | 940 (37.0) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 14.2 (5.6) | 14.4 (5.7) | 6.4 (2.5) | 0.4 (0.2) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 4.7 (1.9) | 11.9 (4.7) | 52.0 (20.5) |
| Source: MeteoSwiss | |||||||||||||
When is the best time to visit Liechtenstein?
The climate of Liechtenstein is similar to Switzerland, hence snow in winter, pleasantly warm in summer.
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Liechtenstein
In summary:
Liechtenstein has a continental climate tempered by a warm south wind called the föhn. The annual lowland temperature varies between 0°C (32°F) in January and 20°C (68°F) in July. Average annual precipitation is around 1000 millimeters (40 inches).