South and South Western France
It is within this area that France experiences a multitude of weather conditions! The combination of inland France, the Pyrenees mountain ranges and the Atlantic coast leads to the south west being the base for three major climatic zones- Mediterranean, Oceanic and Continental.
Starting at La Rochelle, a resort town located in the coastal heart of the Poitou- Charentes region, the weather is fairly typical of a western coastal town. While it is not as warm here as its French Riviera counterparts, it certainly does experience its fair share of hot summers days. Average summer temperatures sit at 17 to 19 degrees from June to August, with temperatures in the high 20’s frequent. The summer is also when La Rochelle and neighboring areas receive the least amount of rain.
Because of the Gulf Stream influences in the region La Rochelle doesn’t generally experience winter extremes and the barometer generally hovers around 6 to 8 degrees throughout winter. Sunshine through winter stays plentiful with the region receiving about 2,600 hours of sunshine per year.
Like much of the French Atlantic coast, you can enjoy the sun set over the sea while drinking a glass of the regions best wine at 9:30 in the evening- the epitome of relaxation!
Moving further south you will find yourself in the famous Aquitaine wine region. Bordeaux experiences pleasant year round temperatures and mild but consistent rain fall throughout the year. April in the area sees an average high temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and the average low is 6 Celsius. Throughout this time the region will see an average of 13 precipitation days.
February to August will see Aquitaine at its driest, however there are still 12- 14 rain days per month which isn’t hugely different from the 15 to 17 rain days that are typical of the autumn/ winter months. December is when the region records its highest level of precipitation, averaging 109 mm.
Once you are within the Dordogne region is when the weather conditions start to go a bit haywire. Within the region the temperatures and rainfall can vary significantly within quiet a small area. This occurs because as you head from south west to north west the height above sea level rises- as a result the north receives great rainfall than the south.
In the south west of the Dordogne an annual average 750mm of precipitation is recorded, whereas an average of 1160mm annual precipitation is recorded in the north. Generally, Bergerac is the driest area of the region.
The combination of the Atlantic airstreams from the west coast with the continental conditions from the east and the north, affect the temperatures and sunshine in the region.
In the summer in the Dordogne region visitors can experience the thunderstorms which occur when the heat in the region builds to a climax and releases in a dramatic evening thunder show.
On the whole the region experiences rainfall year round, had warm to hot summers and mild winters which can occasionally get quite chilly. In the lower lying parts of the region such as Bergerac it is not uncommon for the mercury to rise above 30 degrees Celsius so it is best to pack your sunscreen along with your umbrella!
As you head even further south you will hit Bayonne and the Pyrenees mountain range which forms a natural border between France and Spain.
The Pyrenees brings winter extremes of below freezing temperatures and snow fall. As you head east along the mountain range the precipitation (rain and snow) levels decrease. For examples, the East Pyrenees, unlike the West, doesn’t have enough snowfall to support the formation of glaciers.
The higher the altitude the more extreme the climate, and the more west you head the climate becomes more maritime.