The contrasts in the land (topography) are related to climate. While the Mediterranean climate prevails at the seaside, in the closest hinterland, only few air-distance kilometers away, the dominant climate is continental. The Dinaric range of mountains (Orjen, Lovcen and Rumija) rises steep above the coast, and just like a gigantic backdrop largely prevents the penetration of the Mediterranean climate into the inland. At the seaside region the average July temperatures are between 23.4ºC and 25.6ºC. Summers are usually long and dry, winters short and mild. Along the valley of the Bojana River, over the basin of Lake Skadar and upstream the Moraca, waves of intense heat penetrate to Podgorica, making it the warmest city in Montenegro, and one of the warmest in the Balkans.

In central Montenegro, in the regions of Zetska and Bjelopavlicka plains, July temperatures are 26.4ºC (in Podgorica), and 25.4ºC (in Danilovgrad). The absolute maximum can sometimes reach 40ºC. The average January temperatures are around 5ºC, with the absolute minimum of -10ºC.

In the region of high limestone mountains, the climate is typically sub alpine - with cold, snow-abundant winters and moderate summers. While along the Montenegrin seaside and in the basin of Lake Skadar snow is a rarity, on Mt. Durmitor it can fall up to five meters. In the northern parts of Montenegro, and particularly in the high mountains, due to low evaporation, the snow remains for several months and sometimes even over the whole year.