Moldova Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Chișinău, Tiraspol, Bălți, Bender, and Rîbnița
Summary
Moldova experienced a warm mid-summer period, with temperatures remaining elevated above historical averages following extreme summer heat that prompted emergency shelters and water distribution across Chișinău. The period formed part of an exceptionally warm global pattern, with warmer than typical conditions expected to linger across Eastern Europe through late summer and into autumn.
This month in numbers
During July 2026, Moldova registered an average temperature of 21.78°C, standing 1.3°C above the 1961-1990 baseline and ranking 38th warmest in 87 years of observational records. The global picture was far more severe, as the planet recorded an average land temperature of 15.8°C, making it the 3rd warmest July on record worldwide.
What changed
The May-July period averaged 19.61°C across the country, marking the 28th warmest such three-month span on record at 1.2°C above baseline. Globally, the May-July window was the 2nd warmest on record, averaging 14.34°C. These summer months build on a broader warming pattern in Moldova, where the long-term temperature average has risen by 2.25°C, and 2025 finished as the 7th warmest year on record at 11.59°C.
What’s driving change?
Regional heat across Eastern Europe was amplified by atmospheric that trapped warm air masses over the continent. This trend aligns with the broader reality that surfaces, accelerating temperature rises across inland territory. Stagnant atmospheric patterns linked to also prevented cooler marine air from easing the high thermal load during peak heat events.
Looking ahead
Seasonal outlooks suggest a strong likelihood that above-average temperatures will persist across Eastern Europe over the next 1-3 months, keeping conditions warmer than baseline norms into autumn.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – Global
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance (countries & continents) · Met Office (UK) · US states & climate regions. Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Moldova
Köppen Dfa · ContinentalMoldova has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.2°C, while January is the coldest at -0.6°C. Annual precipitation averages around 556mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Moldova
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Heatwave Days – Moldova
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Moldova
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Monthly Temperature – Moldova
Latest month is provisional and may be revised by the data provider in the next update cycle.
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Records – Moldova
Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfb · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Moldova. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.2°C, from 1940–1969); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 26.3°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jan (+4.2°C).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (precipitation: GPCC (DWD); frost: World Bank CCKP).
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Moldova
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Country-level temperature anomaly, sourced from Copernicus ERA5 and Hadley HadCRUT5.
Annual country and global CO₂ emissions, from the Global Carbon Project.
Monthly rainfall - Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD) preferred, World Bank CCKP/CRU TS fallback where GPCC lacks direct coverage.
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Moldova changing?
Moldova is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Moldova?
Moldova has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa: Humid continental - hot summer), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 23.2°C, while January is the coldest at -0.6°C. Annual precipitation averages around 556mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Moldova come from?
Climate data for Moldova comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Moldova climate data cover?
The Moldova climate profile covers Chișinău, Tiraspol, Bălți, Bender and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Moldova
How often is the Moldova climate update refreshed?
The Moldova climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Moldova climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Moldova climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.