Climate - Brussels (Belgium)

In Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, and seat of important European institutions, the climate is sub-oceanic, humid and rainy, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, so it has cold (but not freezing) winters and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The wind blows frequently, and can be intense, especially from November to March.
The average temperature ranges from 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) in January to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation is relatively abundant, about 825 millimeters (32.5 inches) per year, but above all, it is common and well distributed over the seasons. However, the rainiest seasons are summer and autumn, and the least rainy season is spring. Rainfall often occurs as short shower or drizzle. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold: daytime temperatures are on average a few degrees above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while at night, they are around freezing; wind and humidity often exacerbate the feeling of cold.
However, different weather situations can occur.
When the westerlies blow, temperatures can be quite mild, and can reach 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), however, there may be wind and rain.
On the other hand, when the city is reached by cold air masses from Russia, the temperature drops below freezing, for longer or shorter periods, even during the day. The temperature rarely drops below -10 °C (14 °F), however, it can do it on colder periods. The coldest record is -18.7 °C (-1.7 °F) and was set in January 1940.
Snowfalls in Brussels are quite frequent, though usually not abundant, and occur in the form of light snow, however, snow can sometimes accumulate on the ground, and last for many days, if it occurs during cold waves.

Spring, from March to May, is initially cold, with possible snowfalls still in March, and then it gradually becomes milder in April and May, although some cold days, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F), can occur even in May, especially in the first half of the month. However, April and May are, albeit slightly, the least rainy and cloudy months of the year.
Typically, by the second half of May, temperatures become permanently acceptable, and there can be the first pleasantly warm days, with highs around 25 °C (77 °F) or even above.

Summer, from June to August, is mild or pleasantly warm. The flow of Atlantic fronts does not cease even in this season; the wind blows constantly from the sea, and rainfall is quite frequent as well. However, there are pleasant periods, with daytime temperatures between 20 °C and 25 °C (68 °F and 77 °F), but also cooler periods, with temperatures remaining below 20 °C (68 °F) even during the day. At night, it can be a bit cold, in fact, the temperature can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) even in July and August.
From time to time, there may be hot periods of short duration, in which the temperature can reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F), which are becoming more frequent due to global warming. The highest record is 40 °C (104 °F), set during the short but exceptional heatwave of July 2019.

Autumn, from September to November, is initially pleasant, ie in the first half of September, then it gradually becomes more cold, dull, wet and windy. The first night frosts usually occur in November, but sometimes also in October.



Brussels does not get a lot of sun, especially from November to February, when the sun rarely shines. It goes a bit better in spring and in summer, when the weather is variable, and between one disturbance and another, the sun can come out. On average, there are around 1,600 hours of sunshine per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Brussels runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the mildest of the year. July and August are the warmest months. However, it's better to bring a sweatshirt or sweater, a light jacket and an umbrella, for cool and rainy days.

Brussels - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Brussels is usually cold. The average temperature is of 3.7 °C (39 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.1 °F) and a maximum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20 °F). However, it dropped to -14.7 °C (5.5 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it reached 15 °C (59 °F) in January 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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In February, the weather in Brussels is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.2 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.4 °F) and a maximum of 7.2 °C (44.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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In March, the weather in Brussels is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.0 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 3.1 °C (37.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.8 °C (51.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -12.6 °C (9.3 °F) in March 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) in March 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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In April, the weather in Brussels is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.3 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Brussels is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.4 °C (65.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (36 °F). However, it dropped to -0.7 °C (30.7 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80.5 °F). However, it reached 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Brussels is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.3 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.4 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in June 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Brussels is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.5 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In August, the weather in Brussels is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (74 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in August 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In September, the weather in Brussels is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.2 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In October, the weather in Brussels is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.8 °F) and a maximum of 15 °C (59 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.1 °C (22.8 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In November, the weather in Brussels is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (50.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1.5 °C (29 °F). However, it dropped to -7.3 °C (18.9 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in November 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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In December, the weather in Brussels is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.3 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of 1.8 °C (35.3 °F) and a maximum of 6.7 °C (44.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13 °C (8.6 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 19% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).