Weather locations in France

France has a remarkably diverse climate, shaped by its wide geography, a long Atlantic coastline, a continental interior, a Mediterranean shoreline and major mountain ranges. Although most of the country lies in the temperate zone and benefits from the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, conditions change noticeably from coast to interior and from lowland to peak, so each region keeps its own character.

Main climate types

Western and northwestern France, including Brittany and Normandy, has a temperate oceanic climate. Summers are mild rather than excessively hot, winters are cool but moderate, and rainfall is shared fairly evenly across the year. Cloudy and breezy days are common along the coast, and the small annual temperature range keeps the landscape green.

Southern France, from Provence and the Côte d'Azur west to the Languedoc coast, has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, winters are mild and wet, and sunshine is abundant. The Rhône valley can also see strong, cool winds such as the mistral.

The Paris Basin, Burgundy, Lorraine and Alsace form a continental zone. Winters are cold, summers are warm to hot, rainfall is heaviest in summer, and the annual temperature range is much larger than in the west.

The Alps, the Pyrenees and the Massif Central have an alpine climate: cold, snowy winters and cool summers, with temperature dropping sharply as altitude rises, so snowfields sit not far below a Mediterranean coast.

Temperatures

January means run from about 1 °C to 7 °C in the north and 6 °C to 8 °C in the south. In July they rise to roughly 16 °C to 18 °C in the north and 21 °C to 24 °C in the south. Summer temperatures usually stay below 30 °C, which is why French summers generally feel comfortable. Paris has an annual mean of about 11 °C to 12 °C, with mild winters, moderate summers and evenly distributed rainfall.

Rainfall

Annual precipitation is about 890 mm across much of the west and northwest, exceeding 1,270 mm in mountainous areas, while the far south is markedly drier in summer and wettest in winter.

When to go

Because of this variety the best season depends on the region: late spring and early autumn suit the Atlantic coast, midsummer is best for the Mediterranean, and winter snow needs the Alps or the Pyrenees.