What Is the Weather Usually Like in Paris?

The weather in Paris, France, can vary depending on season.

The weather in Paris, the capital of France, varies by season. Found in the center of the Ile de France region, Paris' temperate weather reflects its proximity to Brittany near the coast and Alsace, a mountainous region to the east. Visitors in Paris can generally expect summers with highs below 80 degrees F and temperatures barely above freezing in the winter. Rain in Paris can be erratic and come without warning, but any time of the year is a good time to visit because the city boasts the lowest annual precipitation in the country.

Spring

Tulips planted in the Tuileries Gardens near the Louvre each fall bloom during the first weeks of spring.

After an often cold winter, spring in Paris brings people and flowers alike to the wide boulevards and plentiful parks between rain showers. April and May are the rainiest months of the year, but the temperature in Paris on spring days is typically mild. The average low temperatures in March, April and May range from 38 degrees F in March to 49 degrees F in May. The average high temperatures are in the 50s in March and April and climb to 64 in May.

Summer

In the summer, Parisians turn the quays of the Seine River into "beaches" with umbrellas and lounge chairs.

Summer temperatures typically aren't sweltering. The average high temperature is 70 degrees F in June and 75 degrees F in July and August, with lows in the upper 50s. July is usually the hottest month of the year. Although summer isn't the rainy season in Paris, an erratic rainstorm can come seemingly out of nowhere in short bursts. The warm weather makes sitting at the outdoor cafes and waterfront walkways near the Seine a popular summer activity.

Fall

Fall foliage in Paris parks and gardens and along the boulevards is a common sight in Paris in the autumn months.

Fall brings cooler temperatures to Paris, with the weather getting progressively cooler as winter nears. In September, the average high is 69 degrees F, and the average low is 52. In October and November, the temperatures drop, with the average high decreasing to 49 degrees F by the end of fall in November, and the average low temperatures dropping to 39 degrees F. November begins the rainy period in Paris, which continues through the winter.

Winter

Winter can often be overcast in Paris.

Winter is the off-season for visiting Paris, but the temperatures are mild compared to the more mountainous regions to the east. The average low temperature in Paris during the winter is above freezing in the mid-30s, but at times the temperatures drop below freezing. The average high temperatures in the winter are in the mid-40s. February is the coldest month of the year in Paris. It does occasionally snow in Paris, but for the most part, precipitation comes in the form of cold rain from December to February.

Weather Extremes

Although temperatures are typically mild in Paris, the hottest temperature recorded in Paris was 104.7 degrees F on July 28, 1948. Several days of temperatures in the upper 90s in August 2003 created a heat wave that made international news for the deaths caused by the heat. It doesn't snow often in Paris, but high winds during a winter storm on Dec. 27, 1999, downed trees and caused massive property damage.

References

• Lonely Planet: Paris--When to Go and Where
• The Weather Channel: Average Weather in Paris, France
• The Louvre: Gardens and Tuileries--Flowers and Trees
• Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau: Seasons in Paris
• Discover France: Paris Climate--Weather Records

Resources

• Frommer's: Paris--When to Go
• MSN Weather: Weather Averages Paris, France