France weather although generally moderate, can be divided into four distinct variations: oceanic in the western parts of the country, continental in most parts of eastern and central France, temperate in the northern regions, and Mediterranean in the south.
Western France
France weather in the western parts of the country is characterised by abundant rainfall and insignificant seasonal temperature fluctuation. Being under the influence of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, the western coast, from the Loire valley to the Pyrenees, experiences warmer and more moderate conditions in comparison to North American regions that lie at similar longitudes. Winters in the area are generally cool and seldom cold; January is the coldest month of the year with an average temperature of 7C. Cool conditions prevail throughout summer and temperatures average 16C. Rain falls on approximately 180 per year, although a light misty rain can be experienced at any given time of the year. The area receives around 800 mm/32 in of precipitation annually.
Eastern and Central France weather
Most parts of Eastern and Central France experience a continental type of climate. Summers are generally warm and winters cold and often snowy (especially in the higher areas) and rainfall ample.
South France weather
Understandably, France weather veers towards the Mediterranean variety the closer a region is situated to the south of the country. Except in the mountains southwest, the region enjoys hot and dry summers, its winters being rather mild and humid. The prevailing fine weather of the spring and autumn seasons is often intercepted by and brief and sudden downpours. However, the area receives considerably less rainfall than the rest of France. The average temperature is 7C in January and 23C in July.
During the winter and spring season a strong wind known locally as la Mistral, blows over the region, especially in the Cote d'Azur, in Provence and in the Rhone valley.
Northern France weather
If you are familiar with the prevailing climatic conditions typical of southern England, then France weather in the Northern parts of the country should be anything but a mystery. Like Southern England, Northern France – including Paris – experiences temperate weather patterns, characterised by warm summers, cold winters and rainfall throughout the year.
Yet despite the regions abundant rainfall, Paris is by far the driest area of France. As a matter of fact, weather in France’s capital city is greatly influenced by the conditions usually associated by its neighbouring Brittany and Alsace. Summers in the area are rather warm, veering towards hot, eventually reaching scorching proportions during the month of August. Paris’ winters are cold and frequently freezing, with January temperature averages usually hovering around 2C. Despite the limited rainfall, downpours can occur at any given time of the year.
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More Information about France Weather
France weather is marked by significant climate variations, as France is a big country and its regions have considerable differences in altitude. Although most of northern and western France is quite flat, there are some high mountain regions in the south and east, which rise to over 1,800 m in its southern and central parts. The weather is quite variable throughout France, at all times of the year, except the along the Mediterranean coast, where the summers are usually settled, with consistent warm and sunny weather.
France is divided into five climatic regions.
Southwestern France weather has a Mediterranean climate and is warmer than the north. The winters are usually mild, with cold weather extremes. The summers are quite warmer and sunnier than northern France, and they can be quite rainy.
Northern and northwestern France weather is influenced by the Atlantic disturbances and it has a maritime weather, rather similar to that of the UK. The winters are normally mild, with infrequent snow and frost, and regular rainfall throughout the year. The summers are fairly warm, with hardly any heat extremes.
Central and eastern France weather, have a more continental climate, as they are not affected by the sea. The winters are cold, with occasional frost and snow, and the summers are moderately warm. Rainfall is generally low and tends to decrease during summer when mostly thunderstorms occur.
The Mediterranean Coast and Corsica enjoy warm and sometimes hot and dry summers. This area is not very rainy, and most of the precipitation comes in thunderstorms. Winter weather is generally mild and sunny, however is often disrupted by a northerly wind called the mistral.
The high mountain areas have a different kind of weather, with heavier precipitation, and thus most of it occurs in snow. These areas are the wettest and coldest regions of France. During the summer frequent and sudden clouds occur on the peaks of the mountains. In winter, France weather is quite changeable, with mountains rising into clear blue skies and the valleys covered in cloud and fog. Frosts occur in settled mild weather in the valley regions during winter.
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