AI-generatedOstend at a glance
- Best time
- Aug
- Warmest month
- Aug · 21°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 18.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,840 h
- Rain a year
- 878 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 6 m
Climate in Ostend
Ostend has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year, Ostend is moderately sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: August
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 11°
- Midday, 13:00: about 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 12°
08:1018:58
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:49–08:55 · evening 18:12–19:18
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:36–07:49 · evening 19:18–19:31
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Ostend in October?
In October, Ostend is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 97 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 48 min08:10 – 18:58
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 30 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 70 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+2Europe/Brussels
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %15 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %21 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Sea temperature in Ostend
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 14.4 – 16.1 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Ostend ranges from 6.5 °C in February to 18.9 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
From October to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.9 and 20.2 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 7.4° | 5.8° | 8.8° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 6.5° | 4.9° | 8.2° | cold |
| MarchMar | 7.0° | 5.1° | 8.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | 9.1° | 8.1° | 10.4° | cold |
| MayMay | 12.1° | 10.9° | 13.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 15.2° | 14.2° | 16.1° | cold |
| JulyJul | 17.6° | 16.4° | 19.1° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.9° | 17.9° | 20.2° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 17.8° | 16.6° | 18.8° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 15.1° | 14.4° | 16.1° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 12.1° | 11.1° | 13.0° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 9.1° | 7.9° | 10.4° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Ostend
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.9 of 10.8 hours of daylight in Ostend, 36 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 3 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Ostend
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 70 min
- Fair skin
- about 85 min
- Light brown skin
- about 120 min
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Ostend: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Ostend has about 15 rainy days with 97 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Ostend
How breezy and how cloudy Ostend is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Ostend typically peaks at 30 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 70 % of the sky over Ostend: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Ostend
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 11°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in August (16°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 6 | 7° | 3° | 7.4° | 2.1 h | 14 | 75 |
| FebruaryFeb | 9 | 7° | 4° | 6.5° | 3.1 h | 12 | 63 |
| MarchMar | 15 | 9° | 5° | 7.0° | 4.6 h | 12 | 57 |
| AprilApr | 24 | 12° | 7° | 9.1° | 6.8 h | 10 | 45 |
| MayMay | 24 | 15° | 10° | 12.1° | 7.4 h | 11 | 60 |
| JuneJun | 27 | 18° | 13° | 15.2° | 7.8 h | 10 | 59 |
| JulyJul | 33 | 20° | 15° | 17.6° | 7.7 h | 13 | 72 |
| AugustAug | 39 | 21° | 16° | 18.9° | 7.2 h | 12 | 81 |
| SeptemberSep | 21 | 19° | 14° | 17.8° | 5.7 h | 11 | 76 |
| OctoberOct | 7 | 15° | 11° | 15.1° | 3.9 h | 15 | 97 |
| NovemberNov | 2 | 11° | 7° | 12.1° | 2.2 h | 16 | 101 |
| DecemberDec | 4 | 8° | 5° | 9.1° | 1.7 h | 15 | 93 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
51.22° N, 2.93° E · 6 m · Europe/Brussels
Best time to visit Ostend
The best time to visit Ostend is in August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.9 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to June and in September. Rain is most frequent from July to August and from October to February; the wettest month is November with 101 mm.
Ostend through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Ostend in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 9–15 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 33 rainy days in all
Ostend in summer
Jun – Aug
Poor
- 18–21 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Ostend in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 11–19 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Ostend in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 7–8 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 41 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Ostend for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Ostend
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Ostend: score 39 against 7. In August, days are 6 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 4 °C warmer in August. August has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 39better |
| Day high | 15° | 21° |
| Night low | 11° | 16° |
| Sea | 15.1° | 18.9° |
| Sunshine | 3.9 h | 7.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 15 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 97 mm | 81 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 2 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Oct – Feb
12 or more rainy days
Ostend month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
6January7° · Sea 7° · 2 h
In January, Ostend is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 7.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 75 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in January9February7° · Sea 7° · 3 h
In February, Ostend is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 63 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in February15March9° · Sea 7° · 5 h
In March, Ostend is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 7.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 57 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in March24April12° · Sea 9° · 7 h
In April, Ostend is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 45 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in April24May15° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In May, Ostend is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in May27June18° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In June, Ostend is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 15.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 59 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in June33July20° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In July, Ostend is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in July39August21° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In August, Ostend is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 18.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 81 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in August21September19° · Sea 18° · 6 h
In September, Ostend is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.8 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in September7October15° · Sea 15° · 4 h
In October, Ostend is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 97 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in October2November11° · Sea 12° · 2 h
In November, Ostend is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 12.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 101 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in November4December8° · Sea 9° · 2 h
In December, Ostend is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 93 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Ostend.
Ostend in DecemberOstend compared
Put Ostend side by side with another destination.
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Ostend vs. De Haan
In October the holiday weather in Ostend and De Haan is about equally good (score 7 vs. 8). During the day it is about as warm in De Haan as in Ostend.
| in October | Ostend | De Haan |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 7 | 8 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sea | 15° | – |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 15 | 15 |
| Best time | Aug | May – Sep |
Through the year
Belgium in October: the best places
In October, Ostend ranks 22 of 22 destinations in this country.
- Ypres15°53
- 2Mechelen15°53
- 3Dinant15°53
- 4Ghent15°52
- 5Tournai15°52
- 6Brussels15°52
- 7Mons15°51
- 8Leuven15°51
- 22OstendThis page15°15°7
Planning a trip to Ostend
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Ostend in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Ostend has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 5).
- 21
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 11 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 25
May half-term
May – Jun
Poor
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 7.5 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 37
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
PoorBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 7
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 3.9 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 5
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 8 °C
- 1.9 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- Short trip – train or car is often quicker
- Distance
- 240 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Ostend
When is the best time to visit Ostend?
The best time to visit Ostend is in August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Ostend?
The sea temperature in Ostend ranges from 6.5 °C in February to 18.9 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Ostend in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 15.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Ostend?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 16 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.
When does it rain most in Ostend?
Rain is most frequent from July to August and from October to February; the wettest month is November with 101 mm. The driest month is April with 45 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Ostend get?
Ostend gets around 1,840 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.8 hours a day; in December there are 1.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Ostend in?
Ostend uses the time zone Europe/Brussels: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Ostend?
Ostend has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 37) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 5). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 21, May half-term 25, Summer holidays 37, October half-term 7, Christmas holidays 5.
Near Ostend
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Ostend
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Ostend's – good alternatives.