Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, sits in the west of the country on flat, low-lying land near the IJsselmeer and the North Sea coast, much of it at or below sea level, at approximately 52.37°N, 4.90°E. It has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — cool, cloudy, breezy and changeable, moderated by the nearby sea — with mild winters, cool summers and rain spread through the year.

Summer, from June to August, is mild rather than hot, with July and August the warmest months — average highs around 22°C and cool nights. Genuinely hot days are uncommon, though warm spells occasionally push temperatures into the low 30s. Atlantic and North Sea air keeps summers changeable, with showers possible at any time, but it is among the sunnier, drier and most pleasant times of year, with long daylight hours.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and damp rather than severe, kept mild for the latitude by the sea, with January and February the coolest — average highs around 6°C and lows near 1–2°C. Frost is common on clear nights, but hard freezes and lasting snow are relatively infrequent, so winters are more often grey, wet and windy than icy. Short daylight and persistent cloud define the season.

Amsterdam receives around 800–850 mm of precipitation a year, falling on many days and spread through every month with an autumn maximum around October to December; rain is usually light drizzle or brief showers rather than heavy downpours. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Amsterdam's weather is defined by wind and cloud as much as by temperature: sitting on the flat, exposed coastal lowlands, it is frequently breezy, and Atlantic depressions bring changeable, often overcast conditions year-round. Its low-lying position — much of the city below sea level behind dikes — makes it acutely aware of the sea and of the storm surges that autumn and winter gales can drive up the coast.

To follow any single measurement in Amsterdam 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.