Brussels, the capital of Belgium and seat of the European institutions, sits near the centre of the country at around 100 metres elevation and approximately 50.85°N, 4.35°E. It has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb), heavily influenced by the nearby Atlantic and North Sea, giving it cool damp winters, mild summers, changeable skies and rain spread throughout the year. The wind blows frequently, and overcast days are common.

Summer, from June to August, is mild to pleasantly warm rather than hot, with July and August the warmest months — average highs around 22–23°C and lows near 14°C. Atlantic fronts keep the weather unsettled even in summer, so sunshine alternates with cloud and showers, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July. Heatwaves have become more frequent, occasionally pushing temperatures past 30°C, when the humid air can make the city feel sticky.

Winter, from December to February, is cold but rarely freezing, damp and often grey. January, the coldest month, averages highs around 6°C and lows near 1°C, with frequent fog and strong winds. Snow falls fairly often but is usually light and short-lived, though it can settle for several days during cold snaps. Short daylight — the sun setting by about 4:30pm in midwinter — is as defining as the temperature.

Brussels is quite rainy, receiving around 820–850 mm a year, but the rain is notable more for its frequency than its intensity — it falls on a large share of days, typically as light drizzle or brief showers rather than heavy downpours, and is spread evenly across the seasons. Summer and autumn are marginally the wettest, and April tends to be the driest and brightest month. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

The defining feature of Brussels' weather is not extreme temperature or heavy rain but persistent cloud: overcast skies dominate much of the year, and the city averages only around 1,600 hours of sunshine annually. Spring, particularly April and May, offers the most blue-sky days before the summer tourist season, while the higher, more inland Ardennes to the southeast are markedly colder, wetter and snowier than the capital.

To follow any single measurement in Brussels more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.