What is the climate of France?

France occupies a large and diverse land mass that produces varied weather patterns. West & North West The Atlantic coast enjoys a temperate maritime climate with mild wet winters and cool summers. The prevailing wind from the west is humid : rain and mist is frequent. Northern France is flat allowing this weather pattern to move further inland. East The landlocked east of France has a continental climate producing hot summers with cold winters. The mountainous parts have mountain weather, with rain (snow) increasing with altitude. Central The centre of France has a continental climate modified by the maritime effect increasing towards the coast. Mediterranean The Mediterranean coast enjoys hot dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall is at the same level as much of central France but tends to fall as torrential rain in relatively few days over the winter. Winds The west coastal area weather is influenced by the prevailing winds from the Atlantic. The Rhone valley has occasional cold Mistral winds blowing from the north. The west Languedoc area has a similar wind : the Tramontaine that blows from the NW. Weather history table ... http://www.the-france-page.com/france/france-weather.html The variation can be seen in the annual sunshine hours by town : CHARLEVILLE-MEZIERES (08 - Ardennes) 1 551 LILLE (59 - Nord) 1 600 STRASBOURG (67 - Bas-Rhin) 1 637 ABBEVILLE (80 - Somme) 1 638 METZ (57 - Moselle) 1 638 BEAUVAIS (60 - Oise) 1 650 NANCY (54 - Meurthe-et-Moselle) 1 652 SAINT-QUENTIN (02 - Aisne) 1 658 ALENCON (61 - Orne) 1 680 LE TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE (62 - Pas-de-C) 1 680 ROUEN (76 - Seine-Maritime) 1 687 MELUN (77 - Seine-et-Marne) 1 693 TRAPPES (78 - Yvelines) 1 703 ROMORANTIN-LANTHENAY (41 - Loir-et-Cher) 1 716 COLMAR (68 - Haut-Rhin) 1 723 SAINT-DIZIER (52 - Haute-Marne) 1 725 REIMS (51 - Marne) 1 729 LUXEUIL-LES-BAINS (70 - Haute-Saône) 1 733 EVREUX (27 - Eure) 1 734 BREST (29 - Finistère) 1 749 CHARTRES (28 - Eure-et-Loir) 1 749 SAINT-GIRONS (09 - Ariège) 1 751 LANGRES (52 - Haute-Marne) 1 755 AUXERRE (89 - Yonne) 1 758 CAEN (14 - Calvados) 1 764 MULHOUSE (68 - Haut-Rhin) 1 768 TROYES (10 - Aube) 1 788 BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE (91 - Essonne) 1 790 PARIS (75 - Paris) 1 797 ORLEANS (45 - Loiret) 1 805 CHATEAUDUN (28 - Eure-et-Loir) 1 818 LE MANS (72 - Sarthe) 1 825 AVORD (18 - Cher) 1 830 DIJON (21 - Côte-d'Or) 1 831 BOURGES (18 - Cher) 1 832 TOURS (37 - Indre-et-Loire) 1 845 PAU (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques) 1 849 NEVERS (58 - Nièvre) 1 851 RENNES (35 - Ille-et-Vilaine) 1 851 DINARD (35 - Ille-et-Vilaine) 1 853 BESANCON (25 - Doubs) 1 872 VICHY (03 - Allier) 1 880 GUERET (23 - Creuse) 1 890 CLERMONT-FERRAND (63 - Puy-de-Dôme) 1 907 TARBES (65 - Hautes-Pyrénées) 1 913 DAX (40 - Landes) 1 920 MACON (71 - Saône-et-Loire) 1 925 POITIERS (86 - Vienne) 1 930 BIARRITZ (64 - Pyrénées-Atlantiques) 1 935 SAINT-ETIENNE (42 - Loire) 1 937 ANGERS (49 - Maine-et-Loire) 1 944 AURILLAC (15 - Cantal) 1 950 CHAMBERY (73 - Savoie) 1 950 MONT-DE-MARSAN (40 - Landes) 1 954 NANTES (44 - Loire-Atlantique) 1 956 LIMOGES (87 - Haute-Vienne) 1 974 LYON (69 - Rhône) 1 976 BERGERAC (24 - Dordogne) 1 980 AGEN (47 - Lot-et-Garonne) 1 984 BRIVE-LA-GAILLARDE (19 - Corrèze) 1 990 NIORT (79 - Deux-Sèvres) 1 990 LORIENT (56 - Morbihan) 2 024 COGNAC (16 - Charente) 2 025 BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE (73 - Savoie) 2 026 GRENOBLE (38 - Isère) 2 031 AUCH (32 - Gers) 2 040 TOULOUSE (31 - Haute-Garonne) 2 047 GOURDON (46 - Lot) 2 056 MONTAUBAN (82 - Tarn-et-Garonne) 2 080 BORDEAUX (33 - Gironde) 2 084 MILLAU (12 - Aveyron) 2 163 CARCASSONNE (11 - Aude) 2 190 LA ROCHELLE (17 - Charente-Maritime) 2 250 MONTELIMAR (26 - Drôme) 2 498 EMBRUN (05 - Hautes-Alpes) 2 506 PERPIGNAN (66 - Pyrénées-Orientales) 2 506 ORANGE (84 - Vaucluse) 2 595 ANTIBES (06 - Alpes-Maritimes) 2 640 BASTIA (20 - Corse) 2 655 NIMES (30 - Gard) 2 669 CALVI (20 - Corse) 2 683 MONTPELLIER (34 - Hérault) 2 687 NICE (06 - Alpes-Maritimes) 2 694 AJACCIO (20 - Corse) 2 737 SAINT-RAPHAEL (83 - Var) 2 748 CARPENTRAS (84 - Vaucluse) 2 774 MARIGNANE (13 - Bouches-du-Rhône) 2 835 TOULON (83 - Var) 2 899 Peter

I was stationed in North Eastern France in the Lorraine Valley from 1964 - 1965 about 35 miles from Metz. In the Summertime the temp. was around 75 degrees. In the Winter the temp. was 35 degrees below zero. With the wind blowing from 30 mph with long lasting gusts to 60 mph. It got so cold that you could spit and it would be frozen before it hit the ground and would bounce like shattered glass. Deep winter is from December to January. The Heart of Summer is in July and August. The weather can be harsh but don't get me wrong France can be and is Ouh La La. Quite an Extraordinary and the most Exciting Fun place on Earth. Dress for the weather while outside. You don't need that much clothes inside and neither do the French. They have great Museums, a Grand Canyon, The longest and Highest Span Bridge in the World. Lasco and also the Eiffel Tower. Just to mention just a few attractions.

mediterranean