Weather and climate in Biarritz (France)

The climate of Biarritz is oceanic, with mild winters and warm summers.
The city is located in the southernmost part of the French Atlantic coast, a short distance from the Spanish border, in a very rainy area, also due to its proximity to the Pyrenees. We are in the department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques, and in the French Basque Country.
Further east, we find the city of Anglet, and then, on the banks of the Adour river, the city of Bayonne. The three cities form a single conurbation.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 8.6 °C (47.5 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 21.2 °C (70 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,450 millimeters (57.1 inches) per year. It ranges from 70 mm (2.8 in) in the driest month (July) to 185 mm (7.3 in) in the wettest (November). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter is mild. The average temperature is reminiscent of that of the French Riviera (and the Ligurian Riviera). On the other hand, the sky is more often cloudy, the humidity is high and there are periods when the wind blows moderate or strong. Rainfall is frequent.
Cold waves are quite rare, and the temperature hardly drops to very low values, however, it can even snow from time to time. The coldest record is -12.7 °C (9.1 °F) and was set in January 1985.
In summer, there are quite cool days, with highs around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F, and in June even below 20 °C or 68 °F), and in which it can also rain. However, there are also pleasantly warm, sunny days.
Sometimes, there can be short, very hot periods, maybe only a day or two, in which the temperature can reach and exceed 35 °C (95 °F). In fact, on the one hand we are close to Spain, so warm air arrives quite easily, on the other hand, ocean currents tend to return soon. The highest record is 43 °C (109.4 °F), set in June 2022. The previous record was 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) and was set in August 2003.



On average, there are around 1,920 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 12 °C (54 °F) and 22 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea never gets warm, but it is less cold than in Brittany or in northern France, and all in all, in July and August you can try swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Biarritz runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year.
To go to the beach, the best months are July and August (and the beginning of September when the weather is still good).

Biarritz - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 12.2 °C (54 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.7 °C (19.9 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) in January 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.2 °C (17.2 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 27.3 °C (81.1 °F) in February 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% 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 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) and a maximum of 15.3 °C (59.5 °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 -7.2 °C (19 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) and a maximum of 16.9 °C (62.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (56 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F) and a maximum of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) in May 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.7 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.9 °C (58.8 °F) and a maximum of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.7 °C (44.1 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 25 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 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.6 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.9 °C (62.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. 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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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.2 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (63 °F) and a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.6 °C (47.5 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% 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 22 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.9 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) in September 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in October 2003.
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 31.8 °C (89.2 °F) in October 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.4 °C (22.3 °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 °F). However, it reached 27.8 °C (82 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.3 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) and a maximum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -8.9 °C (16 °F) in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 24.3 °C (75.7 °F) in December 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 34% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. 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.