Climate - Le Mans (France)

The climate of Le Mans is temperate and influenced by the Atlantic Ocean: it is quite cold but not freezing in winter and pleasantly warm in summer. However, it has some continental characteristics too, so it can sometimes be very cold in winter and hot in summer.
The city is located in the north-west of France, in the Pays de la Loire, south-west of Paris.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 690 millimeters (27.2 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest months (June, August) to 70 mm (2.8 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

In winter, from December to February, the average temperatures are quite low: normally, the maximum temperatures are around 7/8 °C (45/46 °F).
When Atlantic currents prevail, the temperature can become mild and can even reach 13/14 °C (55/57 °F), but the weather in these cases is cloudy and rainy; in these periods, the wind blows frequently, and sometimes can be strong.
On the other hand, there can be cold periods due to north or north-east currents, which are able to lower the temperature to the freezing point (0 °C or 32 °F) or a few degrees above; in these situations, the feeling of cold can be exacerbated by the wind, which blows moderate, usually from the northeast.
The coldest periods occur under the influence of cold air masses from Russia, which can lead to a few days of snow, generally not abundant, and frost.
In Le Mans, the temperature rarely drops to around -10 °C (14 °F), though this may happen on colder winters. The coldest record is -21 °C (-5.8 °F) and was set in December 1964.
Summer, from June to August, is a pleasantly warm season: the days are very long, and the temperature generally lends itself to outdoor activities. However, the weather is variable: there are some cool and rainy days due to Atlantic fronts, when the maximum temperature remains below 20 °C (68 °F), while on other occasions, the Azores High can bring some hot and sunny days, maybe a little sultry, with highs around or even above 30 °C (86 °F); in these cases, some thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon.
Really hot days in Le Mans are quite rare, though sometimes they may occur because of hot air masses from Africa. In recent decades, heat waves are becoming more frequent due to global warming. The highest record is 41 °C (105.8 °F) and was set in July 2019.



On average, there are around 1,780 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Le Mans runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, it can be hot in July and August, while in other circumstances, 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.

Le Mans - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Le Mans is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F) and a maximum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14.8 °C (5.4 °F) in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it reached 17.2 °C (63 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In February, the weather in Le Mans is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (36 °F) and a maximum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 21.8 °C (71.2 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In March, the weather in Le Mans is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -11.3 °C (11.7 °F) in March 2005.
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 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 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 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Le Mans is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.3 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.8 °F) and a maximum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -3.9 °C (25 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in April 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In May, the weather in Le Mans is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 14.9 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F) and a maximum of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In June, the weather in Le Mans is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.2 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F) and a maximum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 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 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Le Mans is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.6 °C (58.3 °F) and a maximum of 26 °C (78.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 41.1 °C (106 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 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 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In August, the weather in Le Mans is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.2 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F) and a maximum of 26 °C (78.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In September, the weather in Le Mans is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In October, the weather in Le Mans is usually mild. The average temperature is of 13 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (63 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5.3 °C (22.5 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Le Mans is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) and a maximum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °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 -8.9 °C (16 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In December, the weather in Le Mans is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.8 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) and a maximum of 8.8 °C (47.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -11.3 °C (11.7 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) in December 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 25 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 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 88%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).