How do temperatures differ between Albania’s coast and its eastern mountains?

Albania’s climate varies significantly between its western coast and eastern mountains due to the influence of different air masses.

The western coast, influenced by warm maritime air from the Adriatic and Ionian seas, experiences more moderate temperatures. For instance, in Sarandë, average daily temperatures are in the mid-70s F (about 24 °C) in July and the upper 40s F (about 9 °C) in January.1

In contrast, the eastern part of the country is influenced by continental air. While summer temperatures in the eastern mountains are similar to the coast—averaging in the mid-70s F in July due to high elevations—winters are notably colder. In the eastern mountain town of Peshkopi, average January temperatures drop to the lower 30s F (about −1 °C).1