AI-generatedKiel at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,680 h
- Rain a year
- 722 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 7 m
Climate in Kiel
Kiel has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 1,680 hours of sunshine a year, Kiel is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 7.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 9°
- Midday, 13:00: about 13°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
07:4618:25
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:23–08:35 · evening 17:35–18:47
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:10–07:23 · evening 18:47–19:00
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 Kiel in October?
In October, Kiel is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 39 min07:46 – 18:25
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 21 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 72 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Berlin
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %51 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %7 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %40 %
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
Sea temperature in Kiel
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 11.8 – 13.7 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Kiel ranges from 2.4 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From November to December the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.4 and 20.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 3.1° | 1.1° | 4.9° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 2.4° | 1.0° | 4.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 3.3° | 1.9° | 4.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 5.9° | 2.6° | 7.8° | cold |
| MayMay | 11.2° | 10.0° | 12.4° | cold |
| JuneJun | 15.4° | 14.2° | 16.5° | cold |
| JulyJul | 18.0° | 16.4° | 20.1° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.6° | 17.4° | 20.0° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 16.3° | 15.0° | 17.4° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 12.7° | 11.8° | 13.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 9.1° | 7.7° | 10.4° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 5.0° | 2.4° | 6.8° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Kiel
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 3.4 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Kiel, 32 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 6 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 Kiel
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 90 min
- Fair skin
- about 110 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 Kiel: 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, Kiel has about 12 rainy days with 67 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Kiel
How breezy and how cloudy Kiel 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 Kiel typically peaks at 21 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Oct – Apr.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 72 % of the sky over Kiel: mostly cloudy, with about 3.4 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.
Snow in Kiel
Snow is possible in Kiel, 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 Kiel.
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 Kiel
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 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (0°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in 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 | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 12 | 4° | 0° | 3.1° | 1.3 h | 12 | 60 |
| FebruaryFeb | 15 | 5° | 0° | 2.4° | 2.1 h | 11 | 52 |
| MarchMar | 19 | 7° | 1° | 3.3° | 3.7 h | 10 | 47 |
| AprilApr | 47 | 12° | 5° | 5.9° | 6.3 h | 10 | 46 |
| MayMay | 71 | 16° | 9° | 11.2° | 7.9 h | 11 | 63 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 19° | 12° | 15.4° | 7.6 h | 12 | 67 |
| JulyJul | 75 | 21° | 14° | 18.0° | 7.8 h | 14 | 79 |
| AugustAug | 74 | 21° | 15° | 18.6° | 7.0 h | 13 | 73 |
| SeptemberSep | 74 | 18° | 12° | 16.3° | 5.2 h | 10 | 54 |
| OctoberOct | 39 | 13° | 8° | 12.7° | 3.4 h | 12 | 67 |
| NovemberNov | 14 | 8° | 4° | 9.1° | 1.7 h | 12 | 54 |
| DecemberDec | 12 | 5° | 1° | 5.0° | 1.0 h | 13 | 61 |
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
54.32° N, 10.13° E · 7 m · Europe/Berlin
Best time to visit Kiel
The best time to visit Kiel is from May to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.6 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to June and in September. Rain is most frequent from July to August and in October and from December to January; the wettest month is July with 79 mm.
Kiel through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Kiel in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 7–16 °C by day
- Sea 7 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Kiel in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 19–21 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Kiel in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 8–18 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 3 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Kiel in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 4–5 °C by day
- Sea 4 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kiel for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Kiel
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 Kiel: score 79 against 39. In June, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C warmer in June. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 39 | 79better |
| Day high | 13° | 19° |
| Night low | 8° | 12° |
| Sea | 12.7° | 15.4° |
| Sunshine | 3.4 h | 7.6 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 12 | 12 |
| Rainfall | 67 mm | 67 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Oct, Dec – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Feb
Snow on 2 or more days
Kiel month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
12January4° · Sea 3° · 1 h
In January, Kiel is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 3.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 12 days, totalling 60 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in January15February5° · Sea 2° · 2 h
In February, Kiel is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. The sea averages 2.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 52 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in February19March7° · Sea 3° · 4 h
In March, Kiel is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 3.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 47 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in March47April12° · Sea 6° · 6 h
In April, Kiel is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 5.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 46 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in April71May16° · Sea 11° · 8 h
In May, Kiel is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 11.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 63 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in May79June19° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In June, Kiel is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in June75July21° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In July, Kiel is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 18.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 79 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in July74August21° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Kiel is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in August74September18° · Sea 16° · 5 h
In September, Kiel is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in September39October13° · Sea 13° · 3 h
In October, Kiel is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 12.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in October14November8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In November, Kiel is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in November12December5° · Sea 5° · 1 h
In December, Kiel is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 5.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 61 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kiel.
Kiel in DecemberKiel compared
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Kiel vs. Eckernförde
In October the holiday weather in Kiel and Eckernförde is about equally good (score 39 vs. 36). During the day it is about as warm in Eckernförde as in Kiel. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Kiel | Eckernförde |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 39 | 36 |
| Daytime high | 13° | 13° |
| Sea | 13° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 12 | 13 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Jul – Aug |
Through the year
Germany in October: the best places
In October, Kiel ranks 12 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Havelberg14°50
- 2Wolfsburg14°45
- 3Hanover14°45
- 4Lüneburg14°44
- 5Brunswick14°44
- 6Hamburg14°42
- 7Schwerin13°42
- 8Bremen14°42
- 12KielThis page13°13°39
Planning a trip to Kiel
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Kiel 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.
Kiel has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 12).
- 39
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 10 °C by day
- Sea 5 °C
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 73
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 17 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 74
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 39
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 3.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 12
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- Sea 4 °C
- 1.2 h of sun a day
- 12 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 25 min
- Distance
- 780 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 Kiel
When is the best time to visit Kiel?
The best time to visit Kiel is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Kiel?
The sea temperature in Kiel ranges from 2.4 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Kiel in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 12.7 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Kiel?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 4 °C.
When does it rain most in Kiel?
Rain is most frequent from July to August and in October and from December to January; the wettest month is July with 79 mm. The driest month is April with 46 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Kiel get?
Kiel gets around 1,680 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 7.9 hours a day; in December there are 1.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Kiel in?
Kiel uses the time zone Europe/Berlin: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Kiel?
A nonstop flight from London to Kiel takes about 1 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 780 km.
Which school holidays are best for Kiel?
Kiel has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 12). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 39, May half-term 73, Summer holidays 74, October half-term 39, Christmas holidays 12.
Near Kiel
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Kiel
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Kiel's – good alternatives.