Why is the climate in the Harz region harsher than in other parts of Saxony-Anhalt?

The climate in the Harz region is harsher than in other parts of Saxony-Anhalt primarily due to its topography and elevation. As the first mountain range encountered by northerly winds after they cross the North German Plain, the Harz experiences a generally raw and damp climate, even during the summer months.1

While much of Saxony-Anhalt features a temperate climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the Harz acts as a significant physical barrier that disrupts these milder conditions. The higher sections of the range, known as the Oberharz, form a rolling plateau that reaches heights of up to 3,300 feet (1,000 metres), further contributing to the region's more rigorous weather patterns compared to the lower-lying, fertile regions of the state.21