The Climate of
Luxembourg
Vallée de la Paix, Asselborn
What is the climate of Luxembourg like?
Luxembourg is only about as large as an average British or American county. The north of the country consists of part of the forested Ardennes hills and has a similar climate to the neighbouring area of Belgium. Southern Luxembourg borders France on the southwest and Germany on the east. The south is the most populous area and contains the capital of the same name. In the extreme southeast is part of the sheltered Moselle valley, where summers and autumns are warm enough for vines to be cultivated for wine-making.
Luxembourg has a temperate climate, with cool summers, mild winters, and plentiful rain. The city of Luxembourg, in the south-central part of the country, has average temperatures of 1°C (33°F) in January and 18°C (65°F) in July. The south of the country is drier and sunnier than the north. In the Oesling region to the north, temperature averages for both seasons are somewhat lower. The Moselle River Valley in the east has an especially pleasant climate, which has led to its nickname of "Little Riviera."
The high peaks of the Ardennes in the north shelter the country from rigorous north winds, and the prevailing northwesterly winds have a cooling effect. However, its inland position and the shelter of the Ardennes also restrict the milder influence of the sea. On occasions winters can be quite severe, with snow cover lasting for some weeks.
Rainfall, which varies from about 750 millimeters (30 inches) to 1250 millimeters (50 inches) annually, is generally heavier in the north.
| Climate data for Luxembourg City (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) | 5.2 (41.4) | 9.8 (49.6) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.4 (65.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 7.7 (45.9) | 4.5 (40.1) | 13.8 (56.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) | 2.2 (36.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | 9.6 (49.3) | 13.5 (56.3) | 16.7 (62.1) | 18.7 (65.7) | 18.4 (65.1) | 14.3 (57.7) | 9.9 (49.8) | 5.2 (41.4) | 2.3 (36.1) | 9.8 (49.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.0 (30.2) | −0.7 (30.7) | 2.0 (35.6) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.8 (53.2) | 13.8 (56.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 6.6 (43.9) | 2.8 (37.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 6.1 (43.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 72.0 (2.83) | 59.0 (2.32) | 57.0 (2.24) | 49.0 (1.93) | 71.2 (2.80) | 75.6 (2.98) | 71.5 (2.81) | 71.9 (2.83) | 66.2 (2.61) | 76.6 (3.02) | 72.1 (2.84) | 89.4 (3.52) | 831.5 (32.74) |
| Source: Meteolux | |||||||||||||
When is the best time to visit Luxembourg?
The climate of Luxembourg is temperate without extremes. July and August are the hottest months; May and June are the sunniest months.
References
- E. A. Pearce, Charles Gordon Smith, (1990) The Hutchinson World Weather Guide, John Murray Press. ISBN 1859863426
- Timothy L. Gall, (ed.), (2003), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Eleventh Edition, Thomson Gale
- Hugh Chisholm, (ed.), (1911), Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh edition, Cambridge University Press
The Climate of
Luxembourg
In summary:
Luxembourg's climate is temperate and mild. Summers are generally cool, with a mean temperature of about 18°C (65°F); winters average temperature being about 1°C (33°F). Rainfall occurs all year round, averaging about 750 mm (30 in) annually.