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Its location on the Mediterranean coast and in the central part of the temperate zone (45 21 northern latitude and 14 26 eastern longitude) provides for a pleasant Mediterranean climate with exceptional, warm summers and relatively mild winters. The average temperature in July, the warmest month (based on 20-year studies) is 23 C and the average for the coldest month, January, is 5,2 C. The annual mean is 13,8 C. The mountainous environment overlooking the Kvarner Bay, from Ucka over the hills of Gorski Kotar to Velebit, creates an impressive natural setting, which is especially thrilling to see when approaching Rijeka from the sea. Occasionally during the year and especially in winter, cold bouts of the "bura" wind blow from the mountains, causing sudden drops in temperature and clearing the air above Rijeka. That is why we can truly say that the "bura" wind "brings good health". Because of the cold winds which occasionally penetrate from the hinterland, the Kvarner coast is where the Mediterranean and Sub-Mediterranean climates meet, effecting the plant life as well as temperature highs and lows, ranging between -6 C and 37 C. However, the most common are winters with temperature lows not more that 2-3 below zero.
In addition to the "bura" which brings cold and clear weather, the "jugo" wind bringing cloudy and rainy weather is also common in winter. In summer, a frequent wind is the north-westerly "maestral", which brings a breath of cool air to the stifling heat of summer and which is extremely suitable for sailing. The average annual amount of rainfall is about 1600 mm. Average cloudiness is 5,3 days per month, while the number of sunshine hours per year is about 2100, making Rijeka a part of the sun-kissed Mediterranean. On the average, there are about 3,8 days of snow per year, although the snow cover hardly ever lasts that long. In some winters, there is not even a trace of snow.
High summer air temperatures effect the temperature of the sea, which can reach a high of 25 C, giving an annual average of 16 C.
The Rjecina, a karst river, plays an important role in the life of Rijeka, supplying the town with potable water year round. The river source is located in the near-by hinterland, while the mouth of the river into the sea is 17 km away in the town itself. In the past, the mouth made for the only natural shelter for sailing ships and this was the location of the first harbour of the town of Rijeka. In the middle of the last century, a new river bed was dug out at the very mouth of the Rjecina, leaving the old river bed - known as the Dead Channel - completely severed from the course of the river and today it is used as a berth for small boats. In this way, the mouth of the
Rjecina River was actually the beginning of the large Rijeka harbour, built in the last century.
The geographical position and ground configuration have influenced the characteristics of the climate, which can be seen in the variety of plant life including both Mediterranean (evergreens) and Sub-Mediterranean (deciduous) species. The sea is abundant in fish and crayfish, scampi being the best-known.
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