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Climate in Belgium


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Belgium

Map - Belgium

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The climate of Belgium is cool and wet, being influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, especially on the coast and the plain. In the south-eastern regions (Ardennes), which are located at higher altitudes as well as at a greater distance from the sea, the climate is more continental, and also more unstable in summer.
Precipitation is frequent, but not particularly abundant,at least in the plains, where 800/850 millimeters (31/33 inches) of rain fall per year, while about 1,100 mm (43 in) fall in the Ardennes.

The climate in detail


  • The seasons
  • The cities - Ostend, Brussels, Saint-Hubert
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The seasons



Winter is cold on the coast, but not freezing. The average temperature in February (which is, albeit slightly, the coldest month on the coast) is about 4 °C (39 °F). Sunshine is rare and the rains are frequent.
Proceeding towards the interior, the temperature gradually decreases. The rains are frequent here as well.
In the Ardennes, the winter is colder, both because of the altitude and because of the greater distance from the sea. In Bastogne, Spa and Saint-Hubert, approximately 500 meters (1,600 feet) above sea level, the average January temperature drops to about 0 °C (32 °F), and snow often falls instead of rain.
Apart from the average temperatures, in winter, the weather in Belgium varies depending on meteorological condition.
The coldest days occur when the normal flow of Atlantic currents is arrested and is replaced by cold air masses from Eastern Europe: in these cases, the temperature drops below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), and snow can fall throughout the country. During the coldest winters, the temperature can drop to around -15 °C (5 °F).
On the contrary, when the westerlies get stronger, the temperature can become mild even in winter, above 10 °C (50 °F), but sometimes, there can be strong winds and even storm surges.
At other times, when a high pressure system moves over the country, a phenomenon quite rare but not impossible, the weather becomes cold and gray, and fog and low clouds can form.

Dinant

Summer is pretty cool on the coast, with maximum temperatures reaching 21/22 °C (68/72 °F) in July and August. Cloudy and rainy days, brought by Atlantic fronts, can occur in Belgium even in this season.
In inland areas, the weather in summer is slightly warmer: in Brussels, the daily average in July is about 18.5 °C (65.5 °F), with highs about 23.5 °C (74 °F), but here too, hot days are rare. The rains are more frequent because of the higher chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
As we said, the temperatures in the Ardennes are slightly lower than in the plains. Afternoon thunderstorms are even more frequent.
Sometimes, Belgium can be reached by hot air masses, which can raise the temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F). These hot spells are becoming more frequent due to global warming. In July 2019, the temperature reached 37 °C (98.5 °F) in Spa, 39 °C (102 °F) in Ostend and 40 °C (104 °F) in Brussels.
Spring and autumn are cool and cloudy seasons. It can be still cold in March and in the first half of April, and sometimes even in early May, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F). Spring, however, is not as rainy as autumn, and it's the (relatively) driest season of the year. Autumn can be windy and gray, especially on the coast.

The cities


Ostend

Climate chart - Ostend
In Ostend, which is located on the coast, in the mildest and least rainy area, the average temperature ranges from 4 °C (39 °F) in January to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in July and August.
On average, just over 800 mm (31.5 in) of rain fall per year. The rainiest period is from October to December, the least rainy from February to April.
The sun in Belgium is rarely seen from November to February, but it does not shine very often even in summer, however, the coast is the sunniest area of the country. In Ostend, there are 1,840 hours of sunshine per year, and from April to August the average exceeds 7 hours a day.
Even in mid-summer (July-August), the sea in Belgium is cold: the water temperature is around 16 °C (61 °F) in July and 18 °C (64 °F).

Brussels

Climate chart - Brussels
In Brussels, the capital, the average temperature ranges from 3.5 °C (38 °F) in January to 18.5 °C (65.5 °F) in July and August.
The rains are about the same as in Ostend, though they are distributed a little differently, in fact, they are more abundant in summer and less in autumn.
In Brussels, the sun shines a little less than on the coast, for a total of 1,600 hours per year. However, from May to August, there are slightly more than 6 hours of sunshine per day on average.

Saint-Hubert

Climate chart - Saint Hubert
As mentioned, temperatures in the Ardennes are lower throughout the year. In Saint-Hubert, at 565 meters (1,855 ft) above sea level, the average temperature ranges from 0.5 °C (33 °F) in January to 16 °C (61 °F) in July and August.
Precipitation is more abundant than in the plains, and in winter, it occurs quite often in the form of snow. In Saint-Hubert, it amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year.

When to go



The best time to visit Belgium is from mid-May to mid-September: the temperatures are mild, the sky is often cloudy, but the percentage of sunshine is not so low. The mid-summer period (July-August) is relatively warm, but it's also the rainiest because of afternoon thunderstorms that can form especially in inland areas.
As regards to the other seasons, while it is true that weather extremes in Belgium are rare, late autumn (November) is dark and rainy, while in winter, it can sometimes be very cold or windy.

What to pack



In winter: bring warm clothing, a sweater, a coat, a wind jacket, an umbrella, and possibly a warm hat and gloves for colder periods.
In summer: bring light clothes, but also some clothes for spring and autumn: a shirt, a jacket, a sweatshirt or sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella.

Climate data - Belgium


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Antwerp
Antwerp, location on the map
Antwerp, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1135912141411842
Max temp.781115192124242015107
Precip.705550456075858570658090
Prec. days1211109101010109101213
Humidity83%80%75%69%69%70%70%72%76%81%84%85%
Day length851001201391561651601451261068980
Sun hours234677775422

Arlon (400 meters)
Arlon, location on the map
Arlon, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-21371012128620
Max temp.45101418212323191385
Precip.1209580657580808580100105145
Prec. days141312101110111010121416
Day length871021201381541621581431251079082
Sun hours234777875321

Brussels
Brussels, location on the map
Brussels, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1135811131311842
Max temp.671115182124232015107
Precip.756560456565809060657585
Prec. days13121191010101010101213
Humidity84%81%76%70%71%72%72%73%77%82%86%86%
Day length851011201391561641601441261068980
Sun hours234667765422

Charleroi
Charleroi, location on the map
Charleroi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1125811131310741
Max temp.671115182124232015106
Precip.8070655065757585656575100
Prec. days13121191010101010111214
Day length861011201391551641591441251069081
Sun hours234677775422

Liège
Liège, location on the map
Liège, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1136912141411842
Max temp.671115192224242015107
Precip.706560557080808570657090
Prec. days131212101111111110111315
Day length861011201391561641591441251068981
Sun hours234677775422

Ostend
Ostend, location on the map
Ostend, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.1135912131311852
Max temp.781014171922221915107
Precip.605545405560708575809085
Prec. days12101089991010121414
Day length851001201391561651601451261068980
Sun hours235778876422
Sea temp87791114161817151210

Saint Hubert (565 meters)
Saint Hubert, location on the map
Saint Hubert, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-2-2037101212862-1
Max temp.3481216192120171274
Precip.105908565808590100809095125
Prec. days151314101211121211131517
Day length871021201391551631581431251079081
Sun hours234667775321

Spa (480 meters)
Spa, location on the map
Spa, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.-1-11481013129630
Max temp.4591317202221181384
Precip.100908565809095100908595120
Prec. days151313101212121211121417
Day length861011201391561641591441251068981
Sun hours234667765321



See also the temperatures month by month

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