Austria has a temperate, continental climate, with a wide range of temperatures due to variations in altitude as well as time of year. In general, the weather is changeable and largely unpredictable year-round.

Winters are often sunny but cold, with frequent rain and snow, especially in the mountains. Summers are warm with occasional showers and cool nights. On average, summer temperatures range between 20 degrees C and 35 degrees C, while winter temperatures range between 1 degree C and 4 degrees C. Some Alpine areas, including the city of Salzburg, experience much higher rainfall, and winter temperatures which fall below freezing.

There are frequent strong south-easterly winds in the Vienna region, while some Alpine valleys experience warm, dry foehn winds in autumn and spring which raise their temperatures significantly. The southern part of the currently is considerably warmer and sunnier, being influenced by a Mediterranean climate.