Weather Paris
Paris in France has a temperate, oceanic climate with warm summers and cold winters. There is a marked difference between the seasons but extreme hot or cold temperatures are rare.
Rainfall is moderate and steady year-round. The city is known for its sudden showers, although its annual average rainfall is low compared with other regions in France.
Location Of Paris
France's location on Europe's Atlantic coast means its weather is greatly affected by weather blowing in from the ocean. As in England, this means regular rain and an absence of extreme temperatures.
Western France is generally quite flat, allowing these conditions to blow uninhibited far inland, staving off a more continental climate that might be expected of Paris' north-central location.
Summer Weather in Paris
Is Paris Hot In The Summer?
Summer is generally warm in Paris, with the occasional heatwave. Peak summer is July and August with daytime highs regularly in the mid-20s.
The temperature won't fall much below the mid-teens at night. Paris, as in the rest of France, often experiences summer heatwaves when temperatures can rise into the 30s.
2019 Paris Heatwave
The hottest temperature recorded in Paris was 25 July 2019 when the city recorded a temperature of 42.6°C as a result of hot, dry air coming from northern Afric, trapped between cold stormy systems. This topped the previous all-time national heat record of 44.1°C set in August 2003.
When Was The Hottest Day In France?
28 June 2019 was the hottest day ever recorded in France with 45.9°C recorded in the southern village of Gallargues-le-Montueux.
Does It Rain In France In Summer?
Rainfall levels are moderate but the occasional downpour could fall at any time. The rain can arrive unexpectedly, often in the form of violent thunderstorms as the heat and humidity builds and builds.
Thunderstorms are likeliest in August and September, especially on particularly hot years. Summer months average about 60mm of rain which is actually slightly higher than in London.
On average you can expect about 12 days in the month to have some rain. This means summer usually sees slightly more rain than the rest of the year, but fewer rainy days. Summer rain generally falls in heavy showers.
Summer Sun Hours In Paris
Despite the rain, sunshine levels are pretty good in summer, peaking in June and July at eight hours per day.
Autumn Weather in Paris
Autumn Temperatures In Paris
Autumn is a time of change in Paris. The summer weather quickly gives way to the start of winter. It is still warm in late September but starts to cool quite quickly.
October sees average highs of 15°C and November only 10°C. Nighttime lows drop into single figures from the end of September, reaching a chilly average low of 8°C in October.
Average Sunshine Hours
Sunshine levels start well but quickly drop and November can be rather grey with an average of two hours of sunshine per day.
Early autumn is beautiful as the parks and tree-lined avenues turn golden, and if you're prepared for the cool temperatures it can be a fantastic time to visit if you're trying to avoid the crowds.
Is Paris Wet In Autumn?
Rainfall in autumn is much the same as at any time of the year, with a monthly average of around 50mm. In November showers are more likely than brief storms.
Winter Weather in Paris
How Cold Is Paris In Winter?
Winters are quite cold in Paris. January, the coldest month on average, sees highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C. The surrounding months are only marginally warmer. It regularly falls below freezing but not by very much and rarely in the day.
Is Paris Wet In Winter?
Sunshine levels are low at around two hours per day. Rainfall levels are, again, around 50mm per month, though you'll get more grey drizzly days than proper showers, and the rain can be incredibly cold.
December and January see an average of 16 or 17 wet days each. The weather is generally similar to the UK.
Does It Snow In Paris?
It does sometimes snow in Paris, though it's uncommon. The effects of the city thousands of clustered, heated buildings, cars and people mean that temperatures are often one or two degrees warmer than outside the city. This is known as the 'urban heat island effect'.
The winter of 2009 was particularly harsh across Europe. Unusually cold and snowy weather prevailed for the entire winter and into early spring.
In mid December five Eurostar trains were trapped for sixteen hours in the Chunnel between the UK and France due to the unforeseen extreme weather.
Spring Weather in Paris
In spring the cold winter weather gives way to warmer temperatures and longer days. March signals the arrival of change as temperatures once again regularly climb into double figures.
Evenings in early spring can still be chilly but by May it's much more summer-like with the arrival of sunny days in the 20s. Early spring has some of the highest rainfall of the year so it's always best to come prepared for some wet weather.
Unusual Weather in Paris
When Was The Great Flood of Paris?
1910 saw the 'Great Flood of Paris'. After several months of high rainfall the river Seine gradually began flooding the city.
The river didn't actually burst its banks but the water slowly crept through sewers, drains and subway tunnels until it began filling basements and finally the streets. In total 200,000 people were made homeless.
Hurricanes In Paris
A freak hurricane force wind that peaked at over 80 mph struck Paris in December 2004. The storm struck without warning and only lasted a few minutes but caused havoc across Paris and northern France.