Weather in St. Jakob im Defereggental, 1,389 m

Located in the heart of the Alps, Tirol lies within the temperate climate zone.

The temperature conditions are characterised by moderate warming during the daytime and clearly defined seasons. Altitude has a large influence on the temperature. As a rule, the higher the altitude the lower the temperature. However, in winter it is sometimes the case that cold air settles in the valley while warm air rises to higher altitudes.

In Tirol's alpine environment there are two factors which influence the number of hours of sunshine.

Firstly, local topography determines if a specific location lies in the shade of a mountain or not. Secondly, cloud cover and fog also play a major role, though in Tirol fog tends to burn off quickly. As a rule, mountain peaks and south-facing slopes get the most hours of sunshine.

Precipitation falls across the region in the form of rain and snow.

This is the result of weather fronts which form at the point where warm and cold air meets. The Alps represent a barrier stopping air from flowing, so the highest levels of precipitation tend to be on the northern and southern edges of the Alps. Basins and valleys within the Alps, such as the Inn Valley, receive less precipitation. During the summer months precipitation falls generally in the form of short but heavy local showers.