Weather and climate in Carcassonne (France)

The climate of Carcassonne is almost Mediterranean, with quite mild winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the south-west of France, in the Occitania region, north of the Pyrenees and 50 km (30 miles) from the Mediterranean.
The city is windy because it is located in one of the corridors (together with the Rhone valley, where the mistral blows from the north) through which the air masses of Atlantic origin flow into the Mediterranean (meteorologists call it "Carcassonne gate"). The "Tramontane" wind blows here from the west-north-west (because the air is channeled between the Black Mountain in the north and the Pyrenees in the south) and is locally called cers (south of the Pyrenees, in Spain, the wind that blows in the Ebro valley is called cierzo). Another wind, mild and humid, the "marin", can blow from the east.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 650 millimeters (25.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 30 mm (1.2 in) in the driest month (July) to 75 mm (3 in) in the wettest (April). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is quite mild. When the westerlies prevail, Atlantic disturbances bring mild and rainy weather, sometimes windy: in these cases, the temperature can reach and even exceed, 15 °C (59 °F).
The most intense Atlantic depressions can bring strong winds.
On the other hand, when a high pressure area dominates, fog can form at night, and there may be slight frosts, while during the day the temperature becomes quite mild, and the sun can come out.
On the contrary, when the wind blows from Russia, there can be cold waves, with snowfalls, usually not abundant.
The temperature drops below -10 °C (14 °F) very rarely, and only during the coldest winters. The coldest record is -15 °C (5 °F) and was set in February 1963.
In summer, there are periods with pleasant temperatures which lend themselves to outdoor activities, although sometimes there can be rains and thunderstorms. However, there are also hot and sultry periods, in which the daytime temperature reaches or exceed 32 °C (90 °F).
At times, heat waves can occur, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 35 °C (95 °F). The highest record is 43 °C (109.5 °F) and was set in August 2023.



On average, there are around 2,120 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

To visit Carcassonne, you can choose the months of May and September. In summer, sometimes the heat is bearable, while at other times, especially from late June to late August, it can be intense.

Carcassonne - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) and a maximum of 10 °C (50 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.7 °C (18.1 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 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 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.5 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -9.1 °C (15.6 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) and a maximum of 15 °C (59 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) in March 2002.
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 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.9 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.9 °C (30.4 °F) in April 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 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.9 °F) and a maximum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in May 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 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 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °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 10 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in June 2019.
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 39.8 °C (103.6 °F) in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 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 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.0 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.8 °C (83.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.3 °C (48.7 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 38.7 °C (101.7 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.3 °C (63.1 °F) and a maximum of 29 °C (84.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 41.9 °C (107.4 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.8 °C (76.6 °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 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (10 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °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 -1.3 °C (29.7 °F) in October 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 30.7 °C (87.3 °F) in October 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 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 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.9 °C (57 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 25.6 °C (78.1 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 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 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.4 °C (45 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F) and a maximum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.1 °C (19.2 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 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 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).