Climate - Dunkirk (France)

The climate of Dunkirk (Dunkerque), the northernmost city in France, is oceanic, generally cool and wet, rainy and windy all year round, but especially in autumn and winter.
The city is located in the extreme north of France, in the North Department, in the Hauts-de-France region. We are in the small portion of France washed by the North Sea. A short distance away is the Belgian border.
Due to its position exposed to both westerly and northerly winds, the city is particularly windy.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.5 °C (42 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 700 millimeters (27.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 40 mm (1.6 in) in the driest month (February) to 80 mm (3.1 in) in the wettest (October). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter is a bit milder than in the rest of northern France, because ocean currents prevail. On the other hand, the sky is often cloudy, the humidity is high and there are periods when the wind blows moderate or strong. Rainfall is frequent.
The wind from the North Sea brings cold and unstable weather, though not freezing.
Cold waves from eastern Europe are a little less intense than in Paris and in the interior of France. Generally, the temperature does not drop below -6/-7 °C (19/21 °F) on the coldest days of the year, although it can sometimes drop to lower values. The cold record, -18 °C (-0.5 °F), was set back in February 1929.
In summer, temperatures are mild or cool. It can also rain, but less often than in winter.
Hot days are rare: the temperature hardly reaches 25 °C (77 °F), and in the past, it used to reach a maximum of 28/29 °C (82/84 °F) on the warmest days of the year. Dunkirk is quite sheltered from the heat waves that have been hitting France in recent decades due to global warming. However, short hot periods, usually just a day or two, cannot be ruled out. The highest record is 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) and was set during the short but exceptional heat wave of July 2019.



The sea temperature ranges between 7 °C (45 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). So, it never becomes warm for swimming. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Dunkirk runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the mildest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, nights can be cool or even a little cold even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket for the evening.

Dunkirk - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Dunkirk is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.5 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -11.5 °C (11.3 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 15 °C (59 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7.5 °C (46 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Dunkirk is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 3.7 °C (38.7 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in February 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (44 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Dunkirk is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 5.4 °C (41.7 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in March 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 7 °C (44.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Dunkirk is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.2 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Dunkirk is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13.3 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51.1 °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 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in May 1997.
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 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Dunkirk is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.2 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 18.9 °C (66 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 30 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 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 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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In July, the weather in Dunkirk is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.4 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 41.3 °C (106.3 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In August, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Dunkirk is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.8 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 15.9 °C (60.6 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 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 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Dunkirk is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.5 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 32.9 °C (91.2 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Dunkirk is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 10.5 °C (50.9 °F) and a maximum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to -0.3 °C (31.5 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Dunkirk is usually mild. The average temperature is of 9.0 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 7.1 °C (44.8 °F) and a maximum of 11 °C (51.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -5.2 °C (22.6 °F) in November 1998.
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 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Dunkirk is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.2 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -6.7 °C (19.9 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.