weather

[vollov]

I'm thinking of backpacking through Europe from Feb to Mar, and I was wondering what I can expect for the weather in the places I'm thinking of going.

So far, I'm thinking of Netherland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, England, and Scotland. Mostly will be stops in the capitals as this is my first backpacking trip ever . What can I expect in terms of the lowest temp, and the amount of daylight I have to go sightseeing?

Thanks!!

[Kim]

Hi there,

Here are some average temperatures for you for Feb-March.
I just picked a main city for each country to give you an idea.

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb. Average High 42
Feb. Average Low 32
Average Percipitation 1.7 inches

March. Average High 47
March Average Low 36
Average Percipitation 3.5"

Brussels, Belgium
Feb. Average High 42
Feb. Average Low 33
Average Percipitation 2.0 inches

March. Average High 49
March Average Low 38
Average Percipitation 3.2"

Berlin, Germany
Feb. Average High 39
Feb. Average Low 27
Wet Days 18

March. Average High 47
March Average Low 33
Wet Days 20

Vienna, Austria
Feb. Average High 39
Feb. Average Low 28
Wet Days 17

March. Average High 49
March Average Low 35
Wet Days 19

Rome, Italy
Feb. Average High 56
Feb. Average Low 40
Average Percipitation 2.8

March. Average High 59
March Average Low 43
Average Percipitation 2.7

Paris, France
Feb. Average High 45
Feb. Average Low 34
Wet Days 16

March. Average High 51
March Average Low 38
Wet Days 18

London, England
Feb. Average High 45
Feb. Average Low 36
Average Percipitation 1.4

March. Average High 51
March Average Low 38
Average Percipitation 2.0

Edinburgh, Scotland
Feb. Average High 44
Feb. Average Low 34
Average Percipitation 1.4

March. Average High 47
March Average Low 36
Average Percipitation 1.9

Hope this helps!
Kim

[vollov]

Thanks!

I'm having people tell me that Feb - Mar is a bad time to try backpacking, and I was wondering what are your thoughts on that?

At thos temperature, I can probably deal with it, but if it goes way down, and I'm not in a good place for the night, it will turn very nasty.

[Kim]

We began our trip in March and let me tell you, the Netherlands and Belgium were very chilly! They get these cold winds...
That said, as long as you have a nice warm hostel to return to, it's still great. I would advise bringing a good water/windproof jacket and some gloves though.

Kim

[nitsansh]

You better start your trip in Italy, which is warmer than the rest of your destinations. Also, western Europe is less cold than cenral and eastern Europe (in your case: Germany and Austria). If you visit cities you can find "shelter" from bad weather in museums etc... so it's not that bad.
As far as daylight... expect sunset around 4.30-5PM in early February, an hour later in early March. In late March day-light saving time begins and sunset will be around 7PM.
Sunset is earlier in winter as you go northward, and later in the west within the same time zone (Paris is later than Vienna).

[snorkelman]

follow nitsansh's tips.  To me, the worst thing about vacationing when it is cold is the fact that it is not as fun to just walk around and eat lunch outside and sit on the ground and stuff.  For instance, when i was in Munich in Decenber it was so cold that, although i had been to that city many times before and had seen all of the sights, i was traveling with someone that had never been there before.  So we were walking around (our train arrived at 6am) and nothing was open.  That sucked because that means that the only place that you could enter to get warm was the McDonalds (which was selling McPork sandwiches).

Plan on starting your trip in the south first and working your way up north.  England and Scotland are usually crappy weather even in the summer, so just go in some pubs to warm up!

If you are not into the night life scene, then just get in when it gets dark and go to bed early and then you can get up early to be out there when it is light again.