Tirol lies within the Central European climatic zone and is characterized by a very humid climate. The summers are short and relatively cool, the intensity of the sun increases with altitude. Hikers and mountaineers should always be prepared for sudden changes in weather.
The upper Inntal valley has the lowest precipitation (in some places less than 600 mm of rainfall/year). With 1940 hours per year, Hochserfaus gets the most sunshine. In autumn and winter the mountain regions receive more sunshine and clear air than the valleys, which are often covered by a layer of fog for days.
A special feature of the Alpine climate is the "foehn", a hot and dry wind which sweeps down from the mountains, mainly in early spring and autumn. Innsbruck is infamous for its average of 64 foehn days per year.
