The climate and weather in France
Overall, Metropolitan France enjoys a temperate climate. The weather is often mild but there are big differences between the seasons and regions. Keep that in mind while you're packing your bags.
Very different seasons
Metropolitan France has a temperate climate. It's neither too hot nor too cold, but the weather changes significantly with the seasons
In the spring, from March to May, the weather is pleasant. There is mild temperature and sunshine to offset the frequent precipitation. In the summer, from June to September, it may be hot, especially in the South, but it rarely gets above 35 degrees Celsius.
From October to December, there are some beautiful days in the autumn, but it is often damp. Without being particularly hard, the winters are cold. Snow sometimes comes on the heels of rain and the temperature can dip into the negatives, especially in the mountains.
It also depends on where you go. Metropolitan France has 4 seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer.
If you go to cities located in the north like Lille, Paris, Nantes, Strasbourg: Autumn and Winter are cold and rainy but international students normally adapt themselves well. By spring and summer, the weather is good and, in general, not as hot as in South Africa.
If you go to cities in the South like Marseille, Aix en Provence, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Montpellier, the weather is not as cold. Spring and Summer are wonderful, people can go to the seaside and swim (more in Summer than Spring), Autumn is ok. Winter is colder from a South African point of view but much better than the North of France. In any case, if you go to France, you should take with you clothes for both cold and hot weather. But remember that you will need to buy a coat in France (nothing you buy here – even if it’s a good brand – will measure up to their winter and to what you can buy there).
If you go to an overseas department (except Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) you will find, in general, a tropical climate with hot weather (perfect to go to the seaside) and a raining season rather than a winter season.
Bring warm clothing as well as light clothing so you are ready for every season.
Each region has its own climate
Along the Atlantic seaboard, in the West of France, there is an oceanic climate. Temperature differences are moderate and the winters are mild but damp. It rains relatively frequently.
In the East, the climate is continental. Summers are warm, with some thunderstorms, and winters are cold. Temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius and, in the mountains, are frequently accompanied by snow.
In the South, the climate is Mediterranean. Summers are hot and winters mild and dry. The autumn often brings thunderstorms and heavy rain that can lead to flooding.
In the overseas departments, the climate is tropical and temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees Celsius.
