Budapest, the capital of Hungary, sits on the River Danube near the centre of the country, in the eastern part of Central Europe roughly equidistant from the Atlantic and the interior of the continent, at approximately 47.50°N, 19.04°E. It has a temperate continental climate with Atlantic and Mediterranean influences — cold winters, warm-to-hot summers, and abrupt seasonal transitions — shaped by its inland position far from any moderating sea.

Summer, from June to August, is warm to hot and the wettest time of year, with July the warmest month — average highs around 27–28°C. Hot spells regularly push temperatures past 35°C, and the flat surroundings mean little relief, though the heat is drier and less oppressive than on a humid coast. Summer rain arrives mainly as afternoon thunderstorms, which can be sudden and heavy, and June is typically the rainiest month.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and often grey, with January the coldest month — average highs around freezing and lows a few degrees below. Snow falls fairly often and can lie on the ground for several weeks in colder spells, and bitterly cold easterly winds from Ukraine and Russia can drive temperatures well below -10°C; the Danube has historically frozen over in the harshest winters. Fog is common during settled winter weather.

Budapest is relatively dry, receiving only around 500–600 mm of precipitation a year — sheltered from the wettest Atlantic weather by hills and distance — with a clear summer maximum from thunderstorms and a drier stretch from winter into early spring. A share of the winter total falls as snow. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Budapest's continental character shows in its abrupt seasonal transitions: spring and autumn are short and changeable rather than the drawn-out seasons of western Europe, with sharp day-to-day temperature swings. The city enjoys a generous 2,000-plus hours of sunshine a year, and spring and early autumn — May, June and September — are widely considered the most pleasant times to visit.

To follow any single measurement in Budapest 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.