Weather in France

Living in France, you’ll find that climate patterns are highly variable depending on your location. Generally speaking, though, you can look forward to a climate that is temperate and agreeable, although it has shown increasing signs of climate change in recent years.

The weather in France can range from warm summers on the southern coast to wet, snowy winters in the Alpine area. You should closely investigate the particularities of your region before drawing conclusions about its climate.

In north and northwestern France, rain occurs throughout the year, with a noticeable increase in autumn and winter rainfall. Winters are moderate, and summers are warm but not excessively hot, although summer dry spells are becoming more common.

Southwestern and Mediterranean France have the most attractive weather patterns. Sunshine is plentiful, summers are hot, and winters are mild. Rainfall in the region is predominantly associated with summer thunderstorms. Just be prepared for the occasional cold wind that blows for short periods during spring.

Central and eastern France have a continental climate characterised by cold winters and warm summers. Snow is more likely to fall here than in other regions of France except the Alpine region.

The mountainous regions of France march to the beat of their own meteorological drum. You can expect these areas to be the wettest and coldest in the country. In this region, snow typically falls between three and six months of the year, although higher temperatures have reduced snow cover duration by nearly a month since the 1970s.

On the whole, rainfall in France is moderate and occurs throughout the year, although nowhere near as much as in neighbouring countries like Belgium. Transitions between the seasons in France are distinct, and you can look forward to uniquely seasonal weather in spring, summer, winter and autumn.