Climate in Briançon (France)

The climate of Briançon is temperate, with cold winters and and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The city is located in a valley, at 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) above sea leve, in the Hautes-Alpes department, and enjoys a relatively mild microclimate due to the protection of the mountains, which are arranged so as to block the cold currents and allow the currents to pass from the south. To the west are the Dauphiné Alps, and in particular the Écrins massif, whose highest peak reaches 4,102 meters (13,548 feet), while a few kilometers to the east is the border with Italy (Montgenèvre pass).

The winter is cold, although, as we have said, it is mild if we consider the altitude. However, there are several sunny days. In Briançon, there are more hours of sunshine than in almost all of central-southern France, mainly due to the good amount of sunshine in winter. In addition, the föhn can sometimes blow, a warm, dry wind that descends from the mountains, so there can be mild days even in the middle of winter.
In periods of bad weather, however, the temperature drops below freezing and it snows. Occasionally, snowfalls can be abundant. In late January 2009, one meter (40 inches) of snow fell, while in February 1978, the snow reached 126 cm (50 in).
During cold spells, the temperature can drop below -10 °C (14 °F). The coldest record is -18.4 °C (-1.1 °F) and was set in January 1971.

In summer, temperatures are pleasant and suitable for outdoor activities, although sometimes there can be rains and thunderstorms, and it can get very cool at night due to altitude.
Occasionally (but less than in the lowlands), there may be brief hot periods. In recent years, hot spells are becoming more frequent due to global warming. The highest record is 35.8 °C (96.4 °F) and was set in August 2012.

Best Time

The best time to visit Briançon runs from June to August, since it is the mildest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, nights can be cool or even cold even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket for the evening.

Briançon - Climate data

In Briançon, the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 0.1 °C (32.3 °F), that of the warmest months (July, August) is of 18.1 °C (64.6 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 760 millimeters (29.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest month (February) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
There are on average around 2235 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Briançon - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -4.9 °C (23.2 °F) and a maximum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11 °F). However, it dropped to -16.1 °C (3 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.2 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -4.5 °C (23.9 °F) and a maximum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -12 °C (10 °F). However, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.4 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.4 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -1.6 °C (29.1 °F) and a maximum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -13.6 °C (7.5 °F) in March 2016.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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April is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.2 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) and a maximum of 13 °C (55.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.6 °C (16.5 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.6 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 5.3 °C (41.5 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -4.7 °C (23.5 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 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 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 34.9 °C (94.8 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.1 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.1 °C (37.6 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 35.8 °C (96.4 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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September is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in September 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26.5 °C (79.5 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 3.3 °C (37.9 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 27.6 °C (81.7 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.2 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) and a maximum of 9 °C (48.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.1 °C (6.6 °F) in November 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 7 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 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1 °C (34 °F), with a minimum of -3.6 °C (25.5 °F) and a maximum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13 °F). However, it dropped to -17.2 °C (1 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in December 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.