Hungary weather forecast: freezing rain gives way to milder conditions

Although freezing rain is still causing disruptions across Hungary, meteorologists say the current conditions are actually a sign that a thaw is approaching.

According to Időkép, a warm front reached Hungary from the west on Monday evening, triggering a shift in atmospheric circulation. From Tuesday onward, significantly milder air masses are moving into the region in higher layers of the atmosphere on westerly and south-westerly airflow.

Our latest updated article: Extreme winter weather in Hungary: strains emergency services, transport, and utilities across the country

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What weather conditions can be expected in the next hours?

Forecasts from HungaroMet show that winds will remain mostly weak to moderate, with occasional stronger gusts possible mainly in south-western Hungary, where southerly winds may temporarily freshen.

Night-time temperatures will vary significantly:

• Minimum temperatures will generally range between –12°C and –2°C
• Even colder values are possible in the north-east
• In south-western regions, nights may be much milder, with frost-free conditions possible in some areas

When will precipitation ease?

From Tuesday afternoon, cloud cover is expected to break up in many areas, except in eastern Hungary.

• Persistent snowfall is forecast in the north-eastern and eastern third of the country
• In north-western, central, and south-eastern regions, precipitation may fall as freezing rain or sleet, locally turning into rain
• From the west, precipitation is expected to weaken rapidly, with south-western and western Hungary becoming dry first

By Tuesday evening, the main precipitation zone is forecast to move east and south-east out of Hungary, although isolated freezing drizzle and light snow flurries may still occur, especially in the north-east.

What can we expect on Wednesday?

On Wednesday, skies will remain mostly overcast, although cloud cover may thin temporarily in south-western Hungary.

• Persistent snowfall is expected across the north-eastern and eastern half of the country
• In western and south-western Hungary, precipitation will change from freezing rain to rain, then quickly ease
• First-level weather warnings due to freezing rain are currently in force for Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties
• Southerly winds will pick up slightly in southern regions

Daytime temperatures on Wednesday will range between –8°C and +7°C, with values decreasing from south-west to north-east.

How will the weather develop on Thursday?

On Thursday, conditions will remain mostly cloudy, humid, and locally foggy, with only south-western areas seeing some thinning of the cloud cover.

• In the north-eastern counties, freezing rain or snowfall may still occur until morning
• Elsewhere, freezing drizzle, light drizzle, or occasional snow flurries are possible
• Winds will stay mostly weak to moderate

Temperatures will continue to moderate:

• Night-time lows: between –6°C and +2°C
• Daytime highs: generally –2°C to +4°C, but significantly milder weather is possible again in the south-west

Friday-Saturday

On Friday, 16 January 2026, Hungary is expected to see mostly cloudy to overcast skies, with locally humid air and patches of fog forming in some areas. Isolated light mixed precipitation may occur. Easterly to south-easterly winds could become locally brisk. Morning temperatures are forecast to range between –7°C and 0°C, rising to –3°C to +4°C by early afternoon.

By Saturday, 17 January 2026, fog and mist may develop overnight, while cloud cover is expected to break up during the day. No significant precipitation is likely. South-easterly winds may again strengthen locally. Temperatures are expected to be slightly milder, with early morning lows between –6°C and 0°C, and afternoon highs ranging from –2°C to as high as +9°C.

Bottom line

While icy conditions are still causing short-term difficulties, Hungary is clearly entering a milder phase. From west to east, precipitation will gradually ease, and temperatures will trend upward, bringing noticeable relief after days of extreme winter weather.