Weather

Climate: To put it in just one word, St. Petersburg weather is variable. n this Northern city the weather is the topmost source of surprises. That is why even in the heat of summer many wise locals still carry their umbrellas with them. It does not rain all the time, but you never know when it will. It might get quite windy too. At any rate, weather forecasts on TV and radio always get the highest ratings. St. Petersburg's climate is mild compared to that of the more inland areas of Russia. The city is on the Baltic Sea, which makes winters relatively mild, but summers are not particularly hot either. It is humid all year round. Much milder than its extreme northern latitude would suggest. January temperatures average -8�C (17�F); a really cold day will get down to -15�C (5�F). It's a windy city with windchill so take a good warm hat and scarf. Summer is cool - snow in late April is not uncommon - and in June and August temperatures reach 20�C (68�F). During these months the city is packed with foreign and Russian tourists.

Winters are long as in most areas of Russia. Temperatures as low as -10 Co are normal, and - 20 Co is not unusual. The average winter temperature is - 6.9 Co. The Neva River freezes between November 25 and December 5 and the ice is gone only by mid-April. Springs can be quite long. From early April temperatures are above freezing and by April 15 all the snow normally melts. One should be prepared for some chilly rainy days, but it can get rather warm mid-May onwards.

Summers vary from year to year, but generally temperatures are somewhere near +20-25 Co. You ought to have some clear days to enjoy the White Nights. Hot sunny days are not rare, but you never know when it is going to rain. July is the hottest month of the year. It usually starts getting a bit cooler in mid- August. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was +33.6 Co.

Autumns (feel free to call it Falls) start with reasonably warm days in mid-September, but by mid- October it is often chilly. The average September temperature is 10.8 Co, and the average October temperature is 4.9 Co . In November it might start to snow, but sometimes it does not snow until mid- December.

Clothes. What should I take with me to be prepared for any weather?

Whatever the season, it is wise to bring your umbrella and a windproof raincoat or jacket. You will do a lot of walking in St. Petersburg, so think carefully about footwear. Depending on the time of year, you will need warm boots with a non-slip sole, waterproof boots/shoes, comfortable sandals. In Winter it can get very cold outside, but hotels and homes are reasonably well heated, which makes it a good idea to dress in layers. In Spring it might be chilly at times, but in mid-May it gets warmer. You can wear shorts in Summer, though shorts might prevent you from entering churches. Bring a sweater or light jacket for those chilly evenings. It is in Autumn that you are most likely to use your umbrella and waterproof boots, though a Russian version of an Indian Summer (around mid-September) can be mild and fairly dry.