Bolnisi Weather
Bolnisi weather is a touch cooler than the hot plain around Marneuli and much warmer than the uplands to the west. The old German colony town lies at about 530 m in the Mashavera valley, with August afternoons around 31 °C (88 °F), January highs near 7 °C (45 °F) and about 510 mm of rain a year. September is the pick for loops to Bolnisi Sioni, Dmanisi and the canyon fortress of Samshvilde.
Bolnisi weather: 7-day forecast
Forecast for 41.449° N, 44.537° E, 530 m, updated through the day: data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). The monthly averages below are long-term climate, not a forecast.
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain | Rain days | Cloud cover | Daylight | Sunrise–sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | −2° | 18 mm | 4 | 34% | 9.5 h | 08:26–17:55 |
| February | 8° | −1° | 24 mm | 5 | 39% | 10.6 h | 07:58–18:34 |
| March | 13° | 3° | 41 mm | 6 | 43% | 11.9 h | 07:16–19:07 |
| April | 18° | 7° | 69 mm | 10 | 43% | 13.3 h | 06:24–19:41 |
| May | 23° | 12° | 75 mm | 12 | 39% | 14.5 h | 05:44–20:12 |
| June | 28° | 16° | 66 mm | 9 | 28% | 15.2 h | 05:27–20:36 |
| July | 31° | 19° | 38 mm | 6 | 21% | 14.9 h | 05:40–20:35 |
| August | 31° | 19° | 32 mm | 5 | 22% | 13.9 h | 06:10–20:03 |
| September | 26° | 15° | 40 mm | 6 | 27% | 12.5 h | 06:41–19:13 |
| October | 19° | 10° | 50 mm | 7 | 37% | 11.2 h | 07:12–18:23 |
| November | 12° | 4° | 36 mm | 6 | 37% | 9.9 h | 07:50–17:44 |
| December | 8° | 0° | 21 mm | 4 | 35% | 9.2 h | 08:21–17:33 |
| Year | 19° | 9° | 510 mm | 80 | 34% |
Temperatures, rain and rain days are the official 1991–2020 averages of the Bolnisi weather station (World Meteorological Organization climate normals, published by NOAA). Cloud cover: CHELSA 1981–2010. Daylight and sunrise are for the 15th of each month (Georgia keeps UTC+4 all year). A rain day has at least 1 mm.
Bolnisi weather through the year
SpringMar–May
Spring is the wettest stretch. April brings about 69 mm on 10 days and May about 75 mm on 12, the most of the year, while highs rise steadily from roughly 13 °C in March to about 23 °C by May. The hills around Bolnisi Sioni and Pitareti Monastery turn a vivid green. Plan church visits around the showers and expect muddy, slippery paths at Samshvilde and Birtvisi Fortress.
Highs 13° to 23° · lows 3° to 12° · 185 mm rain
SummerJun–Aug
June is warm at about 28 °C, and July and August settle at about 31 °C by day and 19 °C at night. Rain eases to five or six days a month. The valley floor heats up by early afternoon, so stroll the colonist streets of old Katharinenfeld in the morning. Higher sites such as Dmanisi feel fresher, and evenings everywhere are mild enough for dinner outside.
Highs 28° to 31° · lows 16° to 19° · 136 mm rain
AutumnSep–Nov
Autumn is grape season in a town with two centuries of winemaking behind it. September averages about 26 °C under clear skies, and October cools to about 19 °C, though it is a little wetter, about 50 mm on seven days. November brings highs near 12 °C and lows around 4 °C, and morning frost becomes possible towards the end of the month.
Highs 12° to 26° · lows 4° to 15° · 126 mm rain
WinterDec–Feb
On the Bolnisi weather by month chart, winter looks cool rather than harsh. Highs stay around 7 to 8 °C from December to February, January nights dip to about -1 to -2 °C, and precipitation falls to 18 to 24 mm a month. Snow reaches the town most winters but does not stay all season. The uplands differ: Dmanisi and the roads towards Tsalka can be white and icy while Bolnisi is merely grey.
Highs 7° to 8° · lows −2° to 0° · 63 mm rain
Best time to visit Bolnisi
The best time to visit Bolnisi is September, when warm, clear days and harvest work in the vineyards make the most of a day out from Tbilisi. May and June are good too, greener, with highs of about 23 to 28 °C, although May has the most rain. In July and August, start early and save the hottest hours for the cool interior of Bolnisi Sioni, one of the oldest dated churches in Georgia. Winter suits the town itself; check conditions before driving up to Dmanisi.
Bolnisi sits where the Mashavera leaves the hills for the plain, so a short drive changes the weather in Bolnisi's surroundings completely. Down towards Marneuli the summers get hotter and drier. Up on the plateau, Tsalka (~1,500 m) usually stays under snow from December to February, while snow in town melts within weeks at most. On a winter loop, carry chains or use a driver who knows the upland roads, even if the morning in Bolnisi feels mild.
What to pack for Bolnisi
- A rain jacket for showery April and May
- Shoes with grip for the rough paths at Samshvilde
- A sun hat for the open excavations at Dmanisi
- A warm layer for higher sites in spring and autumn
- Snow chains or winter tyres for upland roads
Bolnisi weather: FAQ
Is Dmanisi colder than Bolnisi?
Usually, yes. Dmanisi lies higher, on the plateau edge to the south-west, so it is normally a few degrees cooler than Bolnisi at about 530 m. On a summer day when the town reaches about 31 °C (88 °F), the excavations feel fresher, and in winter the road up can be icy when Bolnisi has no snow.
How rainy is Bolnisi in spring?
Spring is the wettest season. May tops the year at about 75 mm, falling on some 12 days, with April close behind at 69 mm. Showers are often short, so a sightseeing day is still possible, but paths to hilltop sites such as Samshvilde get slippery. By July rain falls on only about six days a month.
Is Bolnisi a good day trip from Tbilisi in summer?
Yes, if you start early. Afternoons in July and August average about 31 °C (88 °F), similar to the capital, while nights cool to about 19 °C (66 °F). Visit the churches and the German quarter before noon, then drive up towards Dmanisi, where the higher ground takes the edge off the heat.
Does Bolnisi get frost in winter?
Often, on clear nights. January is the coldest month, with highs around 7 °C (45 °F) and lows about -2 °C (28 °F), and it is also the driest, at about 18 mm. Expect frosty mornings and grey, still afternoons; snow falls in most winters, though it melts away again rather than staying all season.
Weather nearby
July and January average highs, nearest first.
Places with this weather
Sights and villages close to Bolnisi and at a similar height.
Not sure the weather will suit your plans?
We check the forecast for Bolnisi every week. Message us your dates and we will tell you what to expect and what to pack.
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