Narbonne sits 15km from the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France. The commune receives a Mediterranean climate of long, hot summers and mild winters, with an average of 300 days of sunshine each year. Narbonne is in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, known for its exceptional wine. The region is a flat coastal plain covered in vineyards which are enabled to flourish by the largely frost-free winters and baking summers. Narbonneâs climate is largely determined by its flat topography and proximity to the warm Mediterranean. The city is just an hourâs drive from Franceâs border with Spain, and close to Girona whose airport serves Barcelona.
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Summer, from June till September, sees hot, dry and bright weather. Day time temperatures usually sit in the mid 20s from the start till the end of the season. The average high temperature gets too 25°C in June, 26°C in July and August, and back down to 23°C in September. Night times are sultry with temperatures rarely dropping out of the high teens; in August, the hottest month of the year, the average low is 21°C. Sunshine levels peak in July at an average of eleven hours per day, and the rest of summer could hardly be called gloomy. Rainfall is very low but Narbonne retains some of its greenery due to its position on the Canal de la Robine. If the heat becomes a bit too much then you can always escape to the nearby seaside where the similarly perfect summer weather is tempered by the sea breeze.
Autumn, in October and November, is mild, relatively bright, and, despite seeing Narbonneâs wettest weather of the year, not too wet at all. Days are still very warm long into October but from the start of the season nights can be quite cool. November is much cooler so youâll beed to bring a coat if visiting then. The average high temperature drops to 19°C in October and 14°C in November, while the average low drops to 11°C and 7°C respectively. October is the wettest month in the year but the amount of rain that falls is comparable to that in London at any time of year and is more likely to fall in short showers than interminable drizzle. Sunshine levels do drop considerably, but with an average of six and five hours per day on the respective months, clear, bright weather is still very frequent.
Winter, from December till February, sees cool, bright weather with moderate rainfall. The average high temperature sits around 11°C for the entire season while the average low drops to 5°C in December and 4°C in January, then climbs to 7°C in February. Frosts and snow are not completely alien to Narbonne, but they are not to be counted on. Sunshine levels will seem fantastic to anyone coming from the UK with an average of around five hours per day of sunshine throughout the season.
Spring, from March till May, warms up quickly. The average high temperature gets up to 14°C in March, 16°C in April and 20°C in May. Nights remain cool with the average low climbing up through the low teens. Rainfall, which falls towards the end of winter, does spike up again in April, but again showers are not really something to worry about as the odd one shouldnât interfere too much with your holiday plans. A cool wind can sometimes push the temperature back down, but generally, Spring weather is ver pleasant and for some preferable to the stifling heat of summer.