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Best destination in April (for weather) Best destination in April (for weather)
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  #1  
Old 12 Feb 2010
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Best destination in April (for weather)
Best destination in April (for weather)

Hi, I would like to know from people who pay close attention to weather, which region is best for the month of April (April 10-May1)

1) Switzerland (focusing on hiking, clear mountain views, or blue sky)
2) Austria (focusing on Western Austria, hiking, clear mountain views, or blue sky)\
3) Southeastern Germany (Munich, and the German alps)
4) Brussels (cycling, blue sky)
5) Amsterdam (cycling, blue sky, landscape photography)

Perhaps, a better question is which destination has the least rain in April, or the higher number of sunshine hours?

Thanks

p.s. If April is not a good time for either destination, can you recommend the month that's better for each place? (Not July/August of course, since it's too touristic, and not winter either, since I don't ski), but the dry, shoulder season with clear visibility, and blue sky (focusing on landscape photography, and outdoors).

Just don't say May, because I am going to Iceland (supposed to be the best time).

Thanks again very much
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Old 12 Feb 2010
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I'd suggest April isn't that good in any of the mountain areas you mentioned. As the ski season doesn't finish until the end of April in most resorts you can imagine what the mountains are like.

I know you said that you're in Iceland in May but that is my least favourite month in the Alps. The snow is starting to melt exposing brown flattened grass that hasn't seen the sun for six months. For me September just about wins. Still warm but most of the tourists have gone.
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Old 12 Feb 2010
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I can only advise you on 1) to 3). Normally April offer mixed wheather conditions with rain/sleet/sun (sometimes), but the climate seems to change. The last two years we had a warm and dry April - better even than May. But basically this month is still early spring... The higher mountains will still be covered with a lot of snow, but the lower ranges may be clear already. Most of the alpine huts will still be closed.

Pleasant temperatures can only be guaranteed in south-eastern Italy
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Old 12 Feb 2010
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Second that. April in Switzerland, Austria, or southern Germany can be anything between warm and sunny and cold with snow. The last two years April in Munich was pretty warm and dry, but this is what it looked like in Munich in late March / early April 2006:



So you never know what's gonna hit you.
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Old 13 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mj View Post
Second that. April in Switzerland, Austria, or southern Germany can be anything between warm and sunny and cold with snow. The last two years April in Munich was pretty warm and dry, but this is what it looked like in Munich in late March / early April 2006:



So you never know what's gonna hit you.
Thanks goodness I left Europe in Feb 2006 for months & months of sunshine and comfortable riding temps Africa & OZ were very much to my liking ;-)


@Saren: May in Iceland seems to be very early In July/August temperatures seldomly climb much higher than 10°...
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