Country Guide

Slovakia is rather more hilly than the neighbouring Czech Republic and includes part of the western Carpathian mountains, whose higher peaks reach over 2,000 m/6,600 ft.

The chief differences of weather and climate within the country occur as a result of height; the Carpathians are wetter and more snowy than southern Slovakia. Otherwise there is little difference of weather from one area to another and everywhere it can be changeable at all times of the year.

The longest spells of settled weather occur during calm but cold days in winter; snow may lie from 40 to 100 days, depending on altitude and the nature of a particular winter. The most unpleasant weather occurs in winter when easterly winds from Russia may bring very low temperatures for several days on end.

Spring and summer are the wettest seasons. Summers are moderately warm but fine weather is often broken by thunderstorms; extreme heat is rare. Spells of disturbed summer weather are often brought by disturbances originating over the northern Mediterranean.

The number of wet days is rather less than in western Europe and the number of hours of sunshine rather more. Summer sunshine averages as much as eight hours per day.

The tables for Kosice and Bratislava are representative of Slovakia.