Weather in Shkoder & Albanian Alps

Shkoder and the Albanian Alps has warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Even in the summer nights can be cool and you should be prepared for colder weather. Snow can fall from November until March and mountain towns are very cold at this time of year. For outdoor activities in the mountains, waterproof gear and warm layers should be carried at all times of year.

The best months to visit Shkoder and the Albanian Alps are either side of the summer peak season, ideally May or September, when the days are long and sunny and the temperature pleasant.

The climate in Albania varies a lot from its coastal regions to its mountains. The geographical position of the country is such that it falls between two climatic zones - the Mediterranean Climate Zone and the Continental, Central European Zone.

In the coastal regions the summers are hot and dry, and the days are bright and sunny. The winters are mild with some rainfall and snow in the higher regions. The average temperature in summer is around 28 °C, which goes down to about 10 °C in winter.

The mountainous region of the Albanian Alps is characterised by cold winters and chilly summers. The winters are very severe and the snow cover can last for a long period of time. The summer temperature averages around 19 °C, while in winter the mercury dips as low as minus 2 °C. There are frequent cyclones during winter, which makes the weather very unstable.

The land above 800 m has a continental climate: winters are mild with an average temperature of 7 °Cwhile the summer temperature is about 24 °C.

The annual precipitation is greater in the north than in the south. In the north, the Albanian Alps get an annual precipitation of 1,800 to 2,200 mm. In the plains the rainfall varies from 1,000 mm to 1,500 mm, while the coastal region gets around 600 mm of rain annually. Throughout Albania it rains in the winter months, with more than 70 percent of the rains happening during this time. The Albanian Alps get more than 100 days of snow.

Though April to September is the best time for travelling, for the ‘white sports' enthusiasts, the abundant winter snow is a welcome sight and the best period to enjoy this region is from mid-November onwards.