Weather in Racha

In Racha the seasons run: about +7° by day in winter, +16° in spring, +27° in summer, +19° in autumn. The warmest month is August (up to +29° by day), the coolest is January (+6°). Most rainfall is in May. Detailed monthly normals are in the table below.

In summer it's up to +27° by day and about +18° at night: light clothes for the day, a jumper for the evening. In winter it's +7° by day and down to -2° at night — bring a warm coat. The driest month is August — the clearest time for walks and wide-open views. Racha-Lechkhumi sits at 1000 m above sea level, so the evenings are noticeably cooler here than on the plains.

The mountain season in Racha is June to September: about +27° by day, with open trails, passes and glacier views. In winter (+7° by day) roads are snowed in and some routes close. The best months are September, June, August. The mountain route is Racha tour.

Racha is a quiet mountain region with a mild summer and a beautiful golden autumn. The roads here are winding, and I plan trips only for dry days: after rain the dirt sections toward Lake Shaori and Nikortsminda monastery wash out, and the views are lost in cloud.

Racha is a mountain region north of Kutaisi, and its weather depends heavily on altitude. Ambrolauri (about 550 m) has warm summers, while Lake Shaori (about 1,100 m) and Shovi are noticeably cooler — even in July you need a sweater in the evening. Lower Racha is the home of Khvanchkara wine, and in October the slopes around Ambrolauri turn gold, one of the most beautiful months to visit.

Spring brings frequent rain to the mountains, and the winding roads can see rockfalls and washed-out sections, so in March–April I build extra time into the route. In winter upper Racha is snowed in, so winter trips go only to the lower valley — Ambrolauri and Nikortsminda Cathedral.