Weather and climate in Brittany (France)

In Brittany, the climate is oceanic on the coasts, especially on the western coast (see Brest), where the winters are mild and rainy, the summers cool and the wind frequent, while in the inland eastern part (see Rennes), the climate is suboceanic, as it is a little more continental and less rainy.
The region is located in the north-west of France, and faces the English Channel to the north. In the Gulf of Saint-Malo are the Channel Islands, belonging to Great Britain.

In Saint-Malo, located in the northern part of the coast, the average temperature ranges from 6.5 °C (43.5 °F) in January to 18 °C (64.5 °F) in August. Here are the average temperatures.

In the interior, the climate is slightly more continental. Here are the average temperatures in Rennes, the capital, located in the eastern part of the region.

Precipitation is abundant on the west coast (see Brest), where it exceeds 1,100 millimeters (43 inches) per year, while it drops to 950 mm on the south coast (see Lorient), below 800 mm (31.5 in) along the north coast (see Saint-Malo), and to about 700 mm (27.5 in) in the eastern inland area (see Rennes), although the rains are frequent throughout the year everywhere. The least rainy season is summer, when it rains for about 10/12 days per month.
On the highest peak in Brittany, Monts d'Arrée, an ancient mountain massif that today is only a hill 387 meters (1,270 feet) high, precipitation reaches 1,500 mm (60 in) per year, and in winter it snows more often than in the plains.
Here is the average rainfall in Saint-Malo.

The seasons

Winter, from December to February, is quite mild: the temperatures are usually above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even at night, though wind and humidity increase the feeling of cold.
When the southern currents prevail, the temperature can reach 12/14 °C (54/57 °F) even in winter, although the wind can be strong.
The small islands west of Brittany (see Ushant) are particularly mild. The average January temperature exceeds 8 °C (46.5 °F), and generally, the temperature does not drop below freezing even on the coldest days of the year. On the other hand, the summer is particularly cool.
Given the exposed position on the ocean, Brittany is less prone to cold waves than the rest of France (excluding the Mediterranean coast). However, cold periods may occur, with temperatures below freezing, when France is affected by cold air masses from Russia. In these cases, there can be snowfalls, generally not abundant, and frosts.
Generally, the least cold area is the west coast, while it is a bit colder on the inside and east. In February 2012, one of the coldest months of the last twenty years, the temperature dropped to -8.5 °C (16.5 °F) in Rennes and Saint-Malo, to -5.5 °C (22 °F) in Brest, and to -1 °C (30 °F) in Ushant.

In spring, from March to May, temperatures gradually rise. There are still several rainy days, and sometimes cold days when the north winds blow. Occasionally, in March it can still snow, as it happened in March 2013. In April, and sometimes in the first half of May, there can still be cold days.
However, we also begin to see the first very mild days, in which the temperature can reach 20 °C (68 °F), especially in inland areas. In addition, the days are longer, and you can even see the sun, maybe between one shower and another, or with clouds running across the sky.

Summer, from June to August, is generally mild; some days can be pleasantly warm, but cooled by lively afternoon breezes. The coolest part is the west coast: in Brest, highs in July and August are around 21 °C (70 °F); on the north and south coasts, in cities like Saint-Malo and Lorient, they are around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F), while in Rennes, situated at a certain distance from the sea, they even reach 24 °C (75 °F). However, the temperature varies according to weather situation: when Atlantic disturbances reach the region (which may occur even in summer), the weather is cool and cloudy, with some chance of rain, but when the Azores anticyclone settles in the region, usually for a few days, there can be fine and sunny days.
Sometimes, it can even get hot: the temperature can reach 27/28 °C (80/82 °F) on the west coast, and 30 °C (86 °F) in inland areas.
Compared to the rest of France, Brittany is less affected by the heatwaves that have hit France more frequently in recent decades due to global warming. The most protected area is the west coast, while the most exposed to the heat is the inland and eastern area. Heatwaves typically last a few days, sometimes only a day or two.
In August 2003, considered as unique and exceptional at the time, the temperature reached 35 °C (95 °F) in Brest, 39 °C (102 °F) in Saint-Malo and 39.5 °C (103 °F) in Rennes. In recent years, heat waves are becoming more frequent. In July 2019, the temperature reached 31 °C (88 °F) in Brest, 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in Saint-Malo and even 40 °C (104 °F) in Rennes. In July 2022, it reached 40.5 °C (105 °F) in Rennes, 40 °C (104 °F) in Saint-Malo and Vannes, 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in Brest, 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in Lorient and 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) in Ouessant.

Autumn, from September to November, is still mild and pleasant in September, but later, it gradually becomes more cold, dull and rainy, as well as windy.



The amount of sunshine in Brittany is low in late autumn and winter, when the sky is often cloudy, while it becomes quite acceptable from April to September. Of course, we are still in the least sunny region of France (along with Normandy and the north-east), but there can be some sunny days, or more easily, days with variable weather.
In Saint-Malo there are 1,665 hours of sunshine per year.

The temperature of the sea in Brittany is very cool even in summer, and may be too cold for swimming, at least for tourists coming from southern Europe or for those who suffer from the cold: it reaches 17 °C (63 °F) in August in Brest, and 18 °C (64 °F) in Saint Malo. Here are the average sea temperatures near Saint-Malo.

Best Time

The best time to visit Brittany is summer, from June to August, since it is the warmest of the year, although even in this season it's better to bring a sweatshirt, a light jacket and an umbrella. June is a bit cooler, so you may prefer July and August. September is a good month as well: it's a bit rainier than the summer months, but the temperatures are still pleasant, especially in the first part.
In Saint-Malo, frequented mainly by tourists from central and northern Europe, as previously mentioned, the sea is very cool even in summer, however, on sunny days, when the breeze is not too cool, you can sunbathe.

See also the temperatures by month.