Climate

A number of factors influence the climate of BiH: its geographic position, its relief which is predominantly mountainous, the proximity fo the warm Mediterranean, and the continental masses, mainly the Euro-Asian land mass. This transitional region where Mediterranean and Alpine influences meet creates a mosaic of climate types for such a relatively small area.

In laymans terms the south enjoys warm, sunny and dry weather with very mild winters. In the more continental areas in Bosnia the weather is similar to central Europe - hot summers, cool springs and autumn, and cold winters with considerable snowfall. However, the mountains create a climate of their own and where the Mediterranean and continental climates meet some of the most unique eco-systems in Europe can be found. The alpine climate rules the highest mountain terrains of the high Dinarics above 1700 meters. The winters are very cold and rough with the negative temperature values which last longer than six months. The snow covers the terrain until summer, the winds occur often and sometimes possess hurricane strength. Representative of such a climate is Bjelasnica Mountain (2067 m) on which in 1894 the first weather observatory in the Balkans was built.