Weather in Chisinau

Stay informed about current weather conditions in Chisinau. In this section, you will find the latest data, forecasts, and useful charts to help you plan your time in the city.

Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, welcomes guests with a moderate continental climate that gives the city four clearly defined seasons. This means that depending on the time of your visit, you can enjoy the full variety of weather: from cool, and sometimes frosty winters, to truly warm and sunny summers.

Winter in Chisinau (December-February) is characterised by average temperatures around 0°C, with the possibility of night frosts when the temperature can drop to -3.5°C. Spring brings gradual warming, blossoming by May with quite warm days and an average temperature of about +15.7°C. Summer (June-August) is the hottest time of the year, when the thermometer often rises to +26°C - +29°C, while average temperatures hover around +21°C - +23°C. Autumn delights with mild warmth in September and a gradual cooling towards November. An important feature of the local climate is the comparatively small amount of precipitation (1-2 mm per month) throughout the year, although rainy or snowy days occur regularly (from 6 to 10 days per month), but precipitation is usually not heavy.

The climate of Chisinau is characterised by noticeable seasonal temperature fluctuations, allowing travellers to choose the most comfortable time to visit depending on their preferences. The annual temperature range is quite wide: from cool, and at times frosty, winter days to truly hot summers. The coldest month is traditionally January, when the average air temperature is about -0.4°C. During this period, night-time temperatures can drop to -3.5°C, and daytime highs rarely rise above +2.7°C. Conversely, the peak of summer heat falls in August, which is the warmest month with an average temperature of +23.4°C. On August days, the thermometer often reaches the +29.0°C mark, while nights remain quite warm, with minimum values around +17.9°C.

Summer months in Chisinau, covering the period from June to August, bring steady warmth. In June, the average temperature is +21.3°C, with daytime highs up to +26.4°C and night-time lows around +16.2°C. July continues this trend, with an average value of +23.0°C, daytime heat up to +28.1°C, and warm nights (+17.9°C). The winter period, especially December and January, is characterised by cool weather. In December, the average temperature holds at the level of +1.8°C (from -0.7°C at night to +4.4°C during the day). February brings some softening of winter conditions, with an average temperature of +2.2°C, minimum night-time values of -1.4°C, and maximum daytime values of +5.7°C, heralding the imminent arrival of spring.

A characteristic feature of the Chisinau climate is noticeable diurnal temperature fluctuations, especially pronounced in the warm season and transitional seasons. For example, in April, the difference between the average maximum (+16.2°C) and average minimum (+5.4°C) temperature is almost 11 degrees. A similar amplitude is observed in October (from +7.6°C to +16.7°C). In summer, this difference is also significant, reaching 10-11 degrees (for example, in August from +17.9°C to +29.0°C). In winter, diurnal fluctuations are less pronounced, amounting to about 5-7 degrees. This means that even on a warm day, the evening can be quite cool, which is worth considering when choosing clothes for walks.

In Chisinau, precipitation falls throughout the year, while its total amount remains low. Every month, the city receives an average of 1 to 2 mm of precipitation, indicating the absence of a clearly defined season of torrential rains. Rather, the local climate is characterised by frequent, but not heavy precipitation.

The nature of precipitation changes depending on the season. In winter, especially from December to February, when average temperatures often drop below zero (for example, in January the average temperature is -0.4°C, and the minimum can reach -3.5°C), precipitation usually falls in the form of snow. In spring, with gradual warming, snow gives way to rain, and by May it is exclusively rain. In summer, in the warmest months, precipitation also falls as rain; given the summer temperatures, these can be short-term showers, as the total volume remains small. In autumn, rains continue, and by November, with the drop in temperature, the first snowfalls are possible.

Regarding the amount of precipitation, a slight prevalence (2 mm per month) is observed in April, May, June, July, and September. In the remaining months – January, February, March, August, October, November, and December – an average of 1 mm falls. From the point of view of frequency, that is, the number of days with precipitation, the "wettest" month is June, when precipitation is recorded on average for 10 days. The lowest number of days with precipitation falls on August and October – just 6 days each. In the remaining months, the number of "wet" days fluctuates from 7 to 9, which indicates regular, but not too intense precipitation throughout the year.

When planning a trip to Chisinau, it is important to take into account the distinct change of seasons and the peculiarities of the local climate so that your wardrobe matches the weather. Regardless of the time of year, comfortable shoes for walking around the city will become your best companion, as Chisinau is conducive to exploration on foot. Since the weather can be changeable, and precipitation, although not heavy (1-2 mm per month), happens regularly (from 6 to 10 "wet" days per month), a small folding umbrella or a light waterproof jacket will be very handy. The principle of layering in clothing is a golden rule for Chisinau, allowing you to easily adapt to temperature changes throughout the day, especially in transitional seasons.

In summer (June-August), Chisinau is warm, and at times hot, with average temperatures of +21...+23°C and daytime highs up to +29°C. At this time, you will need light clothing made of natural fabrics, headwear, sunglasses, and sunscreen. In spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), the weather is cooler and more changeable. Average temperatures range from +4.6°C in March to +18°C in September. We recommend taking jeans or thick trousers, sweaters, cardigans, and a demi-season jacket or raincoat. In winter (December-February), Chisinau can be frosty, with average temperatures around 0°C and the possibility of night frosts down to -3.5°C. For a comfortable stay, be sure to pack a warm jacket or coat, a hat, a scarf, gloves, and possibly thermal underwear. Given the possibility of snow, do not forget about warm and preferably waterproof shoes.