Climate of Albania

With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas in the Mediterranean sea, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, however it has a high number of climatic regions for such a small area.

Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

When this air mass goes above the Mediterranean Sea, it fills up with moisture and makes rainy and warm conditions in Albania and in other places in Southern Europe.

Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average precipitation is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the Mediterranean Sea and the continental air mass.

Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

Due to climate change Albania's average annual temperature is projected to rise by between 1.3°C and 2.2°C by 2050, with more frequent extreme heat events.