AI-generatedEssen at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 23°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,600 h
- Rain a year
- 876 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 83 m
Climate in Essen
Essen has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 23 °C, while January is the coolest at 5 °C. With around 1,600 hours of sunshine a year, Essen is rather dull; July is the sunniest month with 6.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
07:5418:41
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:33–08:40 · evening 17:55–19:02
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:20–07:33 · evening 19:02–19:15
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Essen in October?
In October, Essen is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Essen.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 47 min07:54 – 18:41
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 19 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 71 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Berlin
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %64 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %8 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %38 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Essen
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.5 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Essen, 32 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 7 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Essen
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 70 min
- Fair skin
- about 85 min
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Essen: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Essen has about 13 rainy days with 77 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Essen
How breezy and how cloudy Essen is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Essen typically peaks at 19 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 71 % of the sky over Essen: mostly cloudy, with about 3.5 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Essen
How often the day gets hot in Essen (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Essen has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 14 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Essen
Snow is possible in Essen, but no month makes it likely: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Essen.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Essen
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (1°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 8 | 5° | 1° | 1.8 h | 14 | 79 |
| FebruaryFeb | 12 | 7° | 1° | 2.6 h | 13 | 71 |
| MarchMar | 26 | 10° | 3° | 4.1 h | 12 | 64 |
| AprilApr | 55 | 14° | 5° | 5.8 h | 11 | 53 |
| MayMay | 74 | 18° | 9° | 6.6 h | 12 | 68 |
| JuneJun | 75 | 21° | 13° | 6.6 h | 12 | 72 |
| JulyJul | 70 | 23° | 15° | 6.7 h | 14 | 89 |
| AugustAug | 72 | 23° | 15° | 6.2 h | 13 | 83 |
| SeptemberSep | 72 | 19° | 12° | 5.0 h | 11 | 67 |
| OctoberOct | 45 | 14° | 9° | 3.5 h | 13 | 77 |
| NovemberNov | 15 | 9° | 5° | 2.0 h | 13 | 72 |
| DecemberDec | 8 | 6° | 2° | 1.5 h | 14 | 82 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
51.46° N, 7.01° E · 83 m · Europe/Berlin
Best time to visit Essen
The best time to visit Essen is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June and in September. Rain is most frequent in May and from July to August and from October to March; the wettest month is July with 89 mm.
Essen through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Essen in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 10–18 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Essen in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 21–23 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Essen in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 9–19 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Essen in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 5–7 °C by day
- 2 h of sun a day
- 41 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Essen for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Essen
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Essen: score 75 against 45. In June, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. June has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 45 | 75better |
| Day high | 14° | 21° |
| Night low | 9° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 3.5 h | 6.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 77 mm | 72 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May, Jul – Aug, Oct – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Jan
Snow on 2 or more days
Essen month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
8January5° · 2 h
In January, Essen is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 79 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in January12February7° · 3 h
In February, Essen is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 71 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in February26March10° · 4 h
In March, Essen is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in March55April14° · 6 h
In April, Essen is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 53 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in April74May18° · 7 h
In May, Essen is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 68 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in May75June21° · 7 h
In June, Essen is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in June70July23° · 7 h
In July, Essen is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 89 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in July72August23° · 6 h
In August, Essen is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in August72September19° · 5 h
In September, Essen is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in September45October14° · 4 h
In October, Essen is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in October15November9° · 2 h
In November, Essen is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in November8December6° · 2 h
In December, Essen is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 82 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Essen.
Essen in DecemberEssen compared
Put Essen side by side with another destination.
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Essen vs. Gelsenkirchen
In October the holiday weather in Essen and Gelsenkirchen is about equally good (score 45 vs. 46). During the day Gelsenkirchen is 1 °C warmer than Essen.
| in October | Essen | Gelsenkirchen |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 45 | 46 |
| Daytime high | 14° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 13 |
| Best time | May – Sep | May – Sep |
Through the year
Germany in October: the best places
In October, Essen ranks 15 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Worms15°53
- 2Wiesbaden15°50
- 3Mainz15°50
- 4Darmstadt15°50
- 5Frankfurt15°49
- 6Duisburg15°48
- 7Düsseldorf15°47
- 8Cologne15°47
- 15EssenThis page14°45
Planning a trip to Essen
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Essen in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Essen has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8).
- 46
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 13 °C by day
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 74
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 19 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 71
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 23 °C by day
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 45
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- 3.5 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 8
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- 1.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 5 min
- Distance
- 520 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Essen
When is the best time to visit Essen?
The best time to visit Essen is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Essen?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 23 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 5 °C.
When does it rain most in Essen?
Rain is most frequent in May and from July to August and from October to March; the wettest month is July with 89 mm. The driest month is April with 53 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Essen get?
Essen gets around 1,600 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 6.7 hours a day; in December there are 1.5 hours a day.
What time zone is Essen in?
Essen uses the time zone Europe/Berlin: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Essen?
A nonstop flight from London to Essen takes about 1 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 520 km.
Which school holidays are best for Essen?
Essen has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 8). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 46, May half-term 74, Summer holidays 71, October half-term 45, Christmas holidays 8.
Near Essen
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Essen
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Essen's – good alternatives.