Climate of the Carpathians
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Warm, sunny summer day at 700 m above sea level |
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The Carpathians of Ukraine have a moderate moist temperate continental climate. Extreme heat (above 30° C, or 86° F) or cold (below -20° C, or -4° F) is uncommon. The mountains receive between 800 and 1600 mm (31 to 58 inches) of precipitation, making them fairly moist but not overly wet. During the summer thunderstorms with lightning are common at high altitudes (above 1000 m), where summer nights are also chilly. Below 1000 m temperatures actually quite closely match those of the rest of Ukraine, with just a few degrees' temperature difference.
If you are planning to ski in the winter months, expect daytime temperatures between -10 and 2° C (14 and 35° F) and colder temperatures at night. Snow generally reaches a maximum annual depth of around a meter at 800 m above sea level and two meters around 1500 m and above. It's usual in winter for many or even most days tp have intermittent light snowfall and partial cloudiness; storms with heavy snowfall — as well as bright and sunny days — are rarer. The higher up you are in elevation, the more overcast the skies are. For example, thick clouds and snow are much more frequent at 1200 m than at 800 m.
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Winter snowstorm at 800 m near Bukovel |
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The Carpathians are mildly windy mountains, but on ridges the wind can be fierce. A face mask may be a necessity if you are going to be skiing above 1100 m or so.
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