AI-generatedSaint Petersburg at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Aug
- Warmest month
- Jul · 22°
- Warmest sea
- Jul · 19.3°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,600 h
- Rain a year
- 645 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- Elevation
- 11 m
Climate in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 22 °C, while January is the coolest at −4 °C. With around 1,600 hours of sunshine a year, Saint Petersburg is rather dull; July is the sunniest month with 8.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: June – August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 4°
- Midday, 13:00: about 7°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 7°
- Evening, 20:00: about 6°
- Night, 23:00: about 5°
07:3517:53
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 07:09–08:34 · evening 16:55–18:19
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:53–07:09 · evening 18:19–18:35
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 Saint Petersburg in October?
In October, Saint Petersburg is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 18 min07:35 – 17:53
- UV index
- 1 · 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
- 78 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 1 day1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+3Europe/Moscow
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %37 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Saint Petersburg
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 8.7 – 10.9 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Saint Petersburg ranges from −0.2 °C in February to 19.3 °C in July. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From September to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in July, eight out of ten years were between 17.9 and 21.5 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 0.4° | −0.3° | 1.0° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | −0.2° | −0.6° | 0.5° | cold |
| MarchMar | 0.1° | −0.3° | 0.5° | cold |
| AprilApr | 1.9° | 0.7° | 3.4° | cold |
| MayMay | 8.5° | 5.3° | 10.7° | cold |
| JuneJun | 15.1° | 11.9° | 17.7° | cold |
| JulyJul | 19.3° | 17.9° | 21.5° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.8° | 17.4° | 20.4° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 15.0° | 13.7° | 16.1° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 9.8° | 8.7° | 10.9° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 5.7° | 4.5° | 6.9° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 2.4° | 1.2° | 3.6° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Saint Petersburg
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 2.0 of 10.3 hours of daylight in Saint Petersburg, 19 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 3 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 Saint Petersburg
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 6).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- over 2 h
- Fair skin
- over 2 h
- 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 Saint Petersburg: 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, Saint Petersburg has about 13 rainy days with 65 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Saint Petersburg
How breezy and how cloudy Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg 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: Sep – Mar.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 78 % of the sky over Saint Petersburg: mostly cloudy, with about 2.0 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 Saint Petersburg
When Saint Petersburg is likely to be white: 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, Saint Petersburg has about 1 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 4 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 15 out of 100: hardly any.
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 Saint Petersburg
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
ColdOctober: nights around 4°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in February (−8°), the warmest in July (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in July. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, 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 | 13 | −4° | −8° | 0.4° | 0.6 h | 12 | 42 |
| FebruaryFeb | 18 | −4° | −8° | −0.2° | 1.6 h | 10 | 34 |
| MarchMar | 22 | 0° | −5° | 0.1° | 3.9 h | 9 | 35 |
| AprilApr | 29 | 7° | 0° | 1.9° | 5.9 h | 9 | 38 |
| MayMay | 66 | 14° | 6° | 8.5° | 8.2 h | 10 | 51 |
| JuneJun | 82 | 19° | 12° | 15.1° | 8.5 h | 12 | 67 |
| JulyJul | 82 | 22° | 15° | 19.3° | 8.6 h | 12 | 69 |
| AugustAug | 78 | 20° | 14° | 18.8° | 7.4 h | 12 | 80 |
| SeptemberSep | 54 | 15° | 9° | 15.0° | 4.5 h | 11 | 54 |
| OctoberOct | 11 | 8° | 4° | 9.8° | 2.0 h | 13 | 65 |
| NovemberNov | 12 | 2° | −1° | 5.7° | 0.8 h | 13 | 59 |
| DecemberDec | 11 | −2° | −5° | 2.4° | 0.3 h | 13 | 52 |
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
59.94° N, 30.31° E · 11 m · Europe/Moscow
Best time to visit Saint Petersburg
The best time to visit Saint Petersburg is from June to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in July it only reaches 19.3 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from June to August. Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is August with 80 mm.
Saint Petersburg through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Saint Petersburg in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 0–14 °C by day
- Sea 4 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Saint Petersburg in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 19–22 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Saint Petersburg in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 2–15 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 36 rainy days in all
Saint Petersburg in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- -4–-2 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 1 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Saint Petersburg for you.
Your best months: July
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Saint Petersburg
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 Saint Petersburg: score 82 against 11. In June, days are 11 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 5 °C warmer in June. June has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 7 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 11 | 82better |
| Day high | 8° | 19° |
| Night low | 4° | 12° |
| Sea | 9.8° | 15.1° |
| Sunshine | 2.0 h | 8.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 65 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
Jun – Aug
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Oct – Dec
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Nov – Apr
Snow on 2 or more days
Saint Petersburg month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
13January-4° · Sea 0° · 1 h
In January, Saint Petersburg is freezing cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−8 °C). The sea averages 0.4 °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 42 mm. Snow falls on about 9 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in January18February-4° · Sea 0° · 2 h
In February, Saint Petersburg is freezing cold: daytime highs average −4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−8 °C). The sea averages −0.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 34 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in February22March0° · Sea 0° · 4 h
In March, Saint Petersburg is freezing cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages 0.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 35 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in March29April7° · Sea 2° · 6 h
In April, Saint Petersburg is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sea averages 1.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 38 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in April66May14° · Sea 9° · 8 h
In May, Saint Petersburg is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 8.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 51 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in May82June19° · Sea 15° · 9 h
In June, Saint Petersburg is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in June82July22° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In July, Saint Petersburg is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 19.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in July78August20° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Saint Petersburg is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 18.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 80 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in August54September15° · Sea 15° · 5 h
In September, Saint Petersburg is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in September11October8° · Sea 10° · 2 h
In October, Saint Petersburg is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in October12November2° · Sea 6° · 1 h
In November, Saint Petersburg is freezing cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 5.7 °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 13 days, totalling 59 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in November11December-2° · Sea 2° · 0 h
In December, Saint Petersburg is freezing cold: daytime highs average −2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sea averages 2.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 0 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 13 days, totalling 52 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg in DecemberSaint Petersburg compared
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Saint Petersburg vs. Kronstadt
In October the holiday weather in Saint Petersburg and Kronstadt is about equally good (score 11 vs. 11). During the day Kronstadt is 1 °C cooler than Saint Petersburg. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Saint Petersburg | Kronstadt |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 11 | 11 |
| Daytime high | 8° | 7° |
| Sea | 10° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 2 h | 2 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 13 |
| Best time | Jun – Aug | Jul |
Through the year
Russia in October: the best places
In October, Saint Petersburg ranks 25 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Novorossiysk18°20°77
- 2Krasnodar18°76
- 3Rostov-on-Don15°63
- 4Taganrog13°14°56
- 5Volgograd14°54
- 6Orenburg10°38
- 7Saratov11°36
- 8Kaliningrad12°35
- 25Saint PetersburgThis page8°10°11
Planning a trip to Saint Petersburg
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Saint Petersburg 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.
Saint Petersburg has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 79) and its weakest during October half-term (score 11).
- 27
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 69
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 79
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 11
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 2.0 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 12
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- −3 °C by day
- Sea 1 °C
- 0.5 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 3 h 5 min
- Distance
- 2,120 km
- Time zone
- UTC+3
- 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 Saint Petersburg
When is the best time to visit Saint Petersburg?
The best time to visit Saint Petersburg is from June to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Saint Petersburg?
The sea temperature in Saint Petersburg ranges from −0.2 °C in February to 19.3 °C in July. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Saint Petersburg in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 9.8 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Saint Petersburg?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at −4 °C.
When does it rain most in Saint Petersburg?
Rain is most frequent from October to December; the wettest month is August with 80 mm. The driest month is February with 34 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Saint Petersburg get?
Saint Petersburg gets around 1,600 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.6 hours a day; in December there are 0.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Saint Petersburg in?
Saint Petersburg uses the time zone Europe/Moscow, at UTC+3 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Saint Petersburg?
A nonstop flight from London to Saint Petersburg takes about 3 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 2,120 km.
Which school holidays are best for Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 79) and its weakest during October half-term (score 11). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 27, May half-term 69, Summer holidays 79, October half-term 11, Christmas holidays 12.
Near Saint Petersburg
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Saint Petersburg
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Saint Petersburg's – good alternatives.