France Apartments overview of weather in France

France is more than twice the size of the UK, stretching from the English channel to the Mediterranean coast, with such a large land mass the climate is particularly varied. Much of the landscape is flat and low lying but this gives way to mountain regions in the south and East of the country. When traveling through France you are guaranteed to experience weather not seen in the UK.

Although the weather varies greatly across the country, weather in France can be generalised into the following four climate types:

Oceanic

We define oceanic regions as the northern most part of France between Nord pas de Calais and Brittany and then from Brittany down to Lorraine in the far south west.

The north coast of France, between Nord pas de Calais and Brittany, along the English channel shares a similar climate to that of the UK. Generally mild in the summer with light showers, in the winter you can expect frost in the mornings and chilling winds.

The west coast of France, from Brittany to Lorraine, clashes with the Atlantic ocean creating some of the most dramatic scenery in all of France. Much like the UK, France also benefits from the gulf stream which results in a mild climate all year round. As with the rest of France, the further south you go, the warmer the climate becomes.

Continental

Much of eastern France is landlocked which results in similar weather to the rest of continental Europe. East of Paris the weather is often comparable to that of Germany and Switzerland.

Blazing heat in the summer (Average temperature in July is 18C) and cold winters (Average temperature in January is 2C). The summer heat can result in torrential deluges of rain similar to the rest of continental Europe, showers like this tend to pass quickly and clear the air for several days afterwards.

Mediterranean

Southern France benefits from the warm air produced in the Mediterranean, this results in long hot summers and mild but humid winters. Pleasant sea breezes help to cool the coastal areas, which makes the summer heat more bearable than inland.

Between the months of November and April you may encounter the famous mistral winds which travel down from the centre of the country along the Rhone Valley. The mistral helps to regulate temperatures along the south coast, clearing out hot humid air from the region ready for the next mild spell. The mistral can reach speeds of up to 100 knots with little warning, perhaps the reason for its infamy.

Mountain

France has several mountain regions, the Vosges, the Pyrenees, Massif central, the alpes and Jura. They are spread across France, from the Pyrenees in the south west to the Vosges in the East. The highest of which is the Mont Blanc Massif in the Alps which rises to 4,810 (15,780 feet).

The altitude of these regions, make for cool summers, freezing winters and lots of precipitation. The winter precipitation creates perfect ski conditions all across France.

Latest weather in France:

View the latest weather in France, Courtesy of meteofrance.com.

For more detail on the climate in a particular region please visit our Region Guide .