, and is influenced by the Atlantic and the proximity of the mountains.
Lourdes is a French town located in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, in the Occitanie region, at the foot of the Pyrenees and 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level. We are practically at the prime meridian. Just over 20 km (12,5 mi) to the southeast is the 2,877-meter-high (9,438 ft) Pic du Midi de Bigorre, which houses a famous astronomical observatory. About 10 km (6 mi) to the south lies the border with Spain.
is quite common, and can increase the sensation of cold, even though the föhn wind can sometimes blow from the Pyrenees, able to bring mild days even in winter.
fall, well distributed over the seasons, however, the (relatively) driest season is summer. July is the driest month, November the wettest.
, from December to February, is relatively mild. At night, the temperature is normally around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while during the day, it's about 10 °C (50 °F). However, there may be variations depending on the weather situation. When the winds blow from the ocean, the temperature is quite mild but the rains are frequent. On the other hand, the cold winds from the north or the east can bring snowfalls and frosts.
During the most intense cold spells, the temperature can drop below -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F). In January 1985 it dropped to -16 ° C.
, from March to May, is cool and quite rainy. Temperatures can change quickly, and the first mild or even warm days alternate with quite cold days.
, from June to August, is mild or pleasantly warm, with cool nights. In periods of good weather, it can get hot during the day: the temperature can reach or exceed 30 °C (86 °F).
At times, hot periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 33/34 °C (91/93 °F). The record is 39 °C (102 °F), set in August 2003, in August 2010, and in June and July 2022.
In the afternoon, thunderstorms may erupt, usually of short duration, while occasional Atlantic disturbances can bring some cool and rainy days, even in mid-summer. After all, owing to Atlantic fronts and afternoon thunderstorms, it rains on average for 10/12 days per month even in summer.
, from September to November, is initially mild, in fact, in September, there may still be some summery days. But with each passing week, it gradually becomes more cool, cloudy and rainy.
in Lourdes is decent, but not great, all year round: good weather is more frequent in summer, but the sky can become cloudy in the afternoon, while in the other seasons, disturbances pass often enough over the region. On average, there are 1,950 hours of sunshine per year.
to visit Lourdes runs from June to September, since it is the warmest and driest period of the year. May and October, though rainier, may be fine too, although it can sometimes get cold, especially in the first half of May and in the second half of October. Those who cannot stand the heat, in order to avoid the albeit rare hot days, can choose May, September and October.
The following meteorological data were recorded at Tarbes-Ossun airport, located at 370 meters (1,200 ft) above sea level, a little north of Lourdes.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.8 °C, with a minimum of
1.2 °C and a maximum of
10.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.9 °C in January 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
21.7 °C in January 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.5 °C, with a minimum of
1.5 °C and a maximum of
11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10.9 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
27.1 °C in February 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 13 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 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.2 °C, with a minimum of
3.8 °C and a maximum of
14.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.5 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
26 °C in March 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 13 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 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.3 °C, with a minimum of
6.1 °C and a maximum of
16.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.9 °C in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
30.1 °C in April 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.8 °C, with a minimum of
9.8 °C and a maximum of
19.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.6 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
32.9 °C in May 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.
June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.2 °C, with a minimum of
13.2 °C and a maximum of
23.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.1 °C in June 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
37.9 °C in June 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 12 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 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
July is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.2 °C, with a minimum of
15.1 °C and a maximum of
25.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
7.6 °C in July 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
37.7 °C in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 0 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.4 °C, with a minimum of
15.2 °C and a maximum of
25.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.8 °C in August 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
39 °C in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.5 °C, with a minimum of
12 °C and a maximum of
23 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
0.7 °C in September 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
34.6 °C in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
19.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.3 °C in October 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31.9 °C in October 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.4 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.1 °C, with a minimum of
4.4 °C and a maximum of
13.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.2 °C in November 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27.6 °C in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.7 °C, with a minimum of
2 °C and a maximum of
11.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.3 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
24.3 °C in December 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
95 mm, distributed over 13 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 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.2 kph.