Climate Bosnia And Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, summers are very hot and winters cold and long. But there are strong disparities according to the geography. In the south, Mostar, Herzegovina and part of Tropolje enjoy a Mediterranean climate. In the north, Sarajevo, the mountainous areas and the Pannonian plain are subject to continental and alpine climates. There are also changes due to global warming, with an increase in average temperatures of about 2°C over the last century. But one constant remains: humidity. This is due to the many rivers and the heavy rainfall throughout the year, with an average of nine days of rain in July, which is the driest month. We recommend summer for a "classic" tour, autumn for fishing enthusiasts, winter to enjoy the ski resorts and spring for rafting on big rapids.
Summer
Between June and August, it is very hot everywhere in the country: 28/30 °C on average during the day in Banja Luka and in the Panonnie plain in the north, and peaks of up to 45 °C (34 °C on average) in the triangle between Mostar, Posušje and Ravno. In the southernmost region, around Trebinje, temperatures are milder (28°C) due to the proximity of the Croatian coastline and the high mountains of Montenegro. But this area is now plagued by major fires due to the drought caused by global warming. Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent (which loves this country of rivers), a bathing suit for swimming in the sea (in Neum) or in the many open-air pools, and a little wool, as the evenings can be chilly. For example, in Sarajevo, during the Film Festival (mid-August), it is on average 28°C during the day, but 14°C at night.
Fall
Temperatures fall very quickly. From September to November, they go from 24 to 13 °C on average during the day in Banja Luka, from 23 to 11 °C in Sarajevo and from 27 to 16 °C in Mostar. While September allows to prolong the summer without too much heat, in October the sky is often gray, but the forests are then covered with beautiful colors. Finally, in November, one must beware of the precipitations (12 days on average during the month) which tend to turn into snow as soon as one leaves Herzegovina for the mountainous regions of Bosnia. Be careful when crossing the pass by car on busy highways and on small, poorly maintained roads.
Winter
This is the favorite season for many locals. From the beginning of December to the beginning of April, they enjoy skiing throughout most of the country, from the single slope of Rujište, near Mostar, to Jahorina, the second largest resort in the former Yugoslavia, near Sarajevo. The snow that starts to fall in November becomes thick thanks to constant precipitation. It holds up well with consistently sub-zero temperatures in the mountain areas, above 1,000 m, between December and February (-10 °C every night). The country is used to such conditions: snow-cleared roads, ski equipment, fireplaces and mulled wine in hotels, public skating rinks in the squares of large cities. However, the climate is much milder in the plains and valleys of Herzegovina: here, there is no snow and temperatures range from 3°C at night to 11°C during the day in Mostar between December and February. Unfortunately, winter is also the season when the levels of fine particles are highest in Sarajevo, the most polluted capital in Europe.
Spring
The season is very short, lasting only from April to May. If snow still remains in the high valleys and mountain tops, the landscape is green and the temperatures become milder. During these two months, the temperature in Mostar rises from 21 to 25 °C during the day. The capital of Herzegovina records "only" 8-9 days of rain per month. But for the whole country, May is the rainiest month of the year with more than every second day of rainfall on average. Combined with the melting snow, these conditions are conducive to sporty rafting or kayaking on the powerful rapids of the Una (near Bihać), Neretva (near Konjic), Vrbas (near Banja Luka) and Tara (near Foča). The current of the rivers then calms down, allowing for more peaceful descents in summer.
