Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, sits on the west coast where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic, spread across a series of hills at approximately 38.72°N, 9.14°W. It has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) with a strong Atlantic influence — hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters — and, as one of the sunniest capitals in Europe with around 2,800–3,000 hours of sunshine a year, it enjoys warm, luminous weather for much of the year.

Summer, from June to September, is warm to hot, dry and reliably sunny, with July and August the warmest months — average highs around 28–29°C — tempered on the coast by the refreshing 'nortada', a northwesterly Atlantic breeze that blows on summer afternoons. Rain is scarce, but occasional heat waves driven by hot air from Africa can push temperatures past 35–40°C and carry Saharan dust. The sea stays cool for swimming thanks to Atlantic upwelling.

Winter, from December to February, is mild and the wettest season, with January the coolest month — average highs around 15°C and lows near 8°C, rarely approaching freezing thanks to the moderating ocean. Sunny spells alternate with periods of Atlantic rain and wind, and snow is essentially unheard of — a light dusting in 2006 was the first in half a century. The gentle winters make the city comfortable to visit year-round.

Lisbon receives around 700–800 mm of rain a year, following the Mediterranean pattern of a wet cool season and a dry summer: the rain is concentrated from October to March, with a November peak, while July and August are almost completely dry. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Lisbon's weather owes its balance to the meeting of Mediterranean and Atlantic: the ocean keeps its summers from becoming as fierce as inland Iberia and its winters mild, while the reliable summer 'nortada' breeze cools the afternoons. Its main disruptive weather is the occasional African heat wave, which can bring brief spells of intense heat and Saharan dust and, in the surrounding hills, raises the risk of summer wildfires.

To follow any single measurement in Lisbon 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.