The climate of a small and surprisingly wet country

Luxembourg looks peaceful and tidy. The climate, however, enjoys surprising people. The country has a mild climate with cool winters and warm summers. Nothing extreme. Nothing dramatic. Just a steady supply of clouds that seem to have a long term rental agreement over the country.

A country where rain is a regular guest

Luxembourg has around 183 days of precipitation per year. That means it rains or snows on about half the days of the year. If you ever feel that you are always carrying an umbrella, you are not imagining it. The weather simply likes to keep you on your toes.

Some months are wetter than others. December is the champion with about 17 rainy days. Even April, which is supposed to be cheerful and springlike, manages around 15 rainy days. Sunshine is more of a polite visitor than a permanent resident.

How Luxembourg compares with Brussels

Brussels is famous for rain. People joke that it rains there even when the forecast says sunshine. Yet Luxembourg still manages to compete. Brussels has a similar climate but Luxembourg tends to get more rainy days on average. It is a small comfort to know that someone else in Europe is also getting soaked.

And then there is London

London has a global reputation for rain. Tourists arrive expecting to see umbrellas everywhere. The funny part is that London actually has fewer rainy days than Luxembourg. London averages about 10 rainy days per month which is roughly 122 per year. Luxembourg beats that number with ease.

London also receives less rainfall in millimetres. Luxembourg gets more than twice as much rain as London on average. So the next time someone jokes about London being wet, you can gently remind them that Luxembourg is quietly winning the rain competition.

Living with the Luxembourg weather

The climate in Luxembourg is not harsh. It is simply moist. People learn to accept it. They buy good coats. They keep umbrellas in their cars. They develop a sixth sense for sudden showers. The rain becomes part of daily life. It is almost a national hobby.

The upside is that the country stays green. Forests look fresh. Fields look healthy. The landscape always seems well hydrated. It is the weather’s way of apologising for all the wet shoes.