We will be visiting Germany next August (last two weeks), and were hoping to spend some time hiking in the Alps. I've been looking into some historical weather data, and it looks like for the past two years it has been rainy and/or foggy just about every day in August.

Is this true? How does the weather work in the alps? Is it a situation where it usually doesn't rain until late afternoon, so it would still be possible to hike in the morning?

How bad is the fog in August--does it tend to obscure the views--or does it just hang in the valleys?

Hi caligirl56----I'm not sure where in the bavarian Alps you are going. We've been there 3 times in August (2000, 2001, and 2002), and have had mostly nice sunny weather, but some days when it poured rain all day. Have never seen fog. This was in the mountains around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The hiking there is wonderful.

Last August the weather was nice, but with showers. I thought the temperature was very pleasant.

>Is this true?
No, it isn't
Sudden weather changes are quite normal, but if you're just hiking this won't be a problem at all. It can rain at any time of the day. Thunderstorms more likely in the afternoon or at night.

Predictions are impossible. No one here is a prophet. It may be warm and sunny, but there may as well be rain and storms, even snow high up. In the mountains the weather changes quickly, you never know at which hour. There are no general rules that apply to the weatehr in the Alps except one: There is no rule.

Essential: Bring a warm sweater/fleece, a wind- and rainproof jacket and good hiking boots AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU ON YOUR HIKING TOURS, no matter how nice the weather looks.

It's possible (although not actually pleasant)to hike in the rain, of course, as long as there are no thunderstorms.