Weather and climate in Ajaccio (Corsica)

The climate of Ajaccio is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers, sometimes sultry, but tempered by the breeze.
The city is the capital of Corsica, and is located on the west coast, in an area exposed to the Mistral wind, which blows from the Gulf of Lion.
The average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of 9 °C (48 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 640 millimeters (25.2 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (July) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest (November). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is mild, with sunny periods alternating with rainy periods.
Every now and then, when the wind blows from Russia, there can be cold waves as well, even though Corsica is quite sheltered because it is an island.
Snow is very rare, and snowfalls with accumulation on the ground only occur in the coldest winters. In February 1986, 25 cm (10 in) of snow fell, while at the end of February 2018, 15 cm (4 in) fell.
Generally, in the coldest nights of the year, the temperature drops to around -2 °C (28 °F), however, on colder winters, it has dropped to lower values. The coldest record is -8 °C (17.6 °F) and was set in February 1986.
Summer is hot and sunny, with very rare rains.
Compared to Sardinia, Corsica is less prone to heat waves, although the sirocco from Africa can sometimes come this far, but for short periods, maybe only a day or two. However, as we are on the west coast, the southeast wind descends from the mountains, and therefore a föhn-like effect can be added. The highest record is 40 °C (104 °F).



On average, there are around 2,750 sunshine hours per year. The amount of sunshine is at the highest levels in France, however, it is similar to that of the coast of Provence. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 14 °C (57 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F); the sea becomes warm enough for swimming from July to September. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Ajaccio is the spring, from mid-April to mid-June. September is also a good month, but sometimes it can rain a lot, especially in the second half of the month. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy, even though it's the best time for those who also want to swim in the sea. Winter is generally mild, but it can sometimes get cold and it can rain.

See also the climate of Corsica.

Ajaccio - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.4 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.7 °C (40.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.2 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (23.9 °F) in February 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.0 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) and a maximum of 16 °C (60.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.4 °C (27.7 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 14 °C (57 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.4 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) in April 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (58.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.0 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in May 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 25.9 °C (78.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 40.1 °C (104.2 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (69.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.6 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F) and a maximum of 29.2 °C (84.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 12 °C (53.6 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) in August 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (76.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.8 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.1 °C (79 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in September 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) and a maximum of 22.8 °C (73 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) in October 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (69.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in November 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and a maximum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) in December 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.