Climate - Lyon (France)

The climate of Lyon is moderately continental, with quite cold winters and warm to hot summers.
The city is located in the south-east of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, approximately 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Geneva, and at the meeting point of the Saone and Rhone rivers. The climate is similar to that of the Po valley (see Milan), although a little milder (as far as the average temperatures are concerned, because in reality, Lyon is exposed to both cold and heat waves).
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 3.4 °C (38 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 22.2 °C (72 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 830 millimeters (32.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest months (January, February) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest (October). Here is the average precipitation.

The winter is cold. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, cold and humid periods in which fogs and low clouds form, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing. Sometimes it can snow. On average, 15-20 cm (6/8 in) of snow fall per year.
At times, there can be cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. The temperature dropped to -22.5 °C (-8.5 °F) in February 1929, to -23 °C (-9.5 °F) in January 1963, to -22.5 °C (-8.5 °F) in January 1971, to -20 °C (-4 °F) in January 1985, to -13 °C (8.5 °F) in February 1986, to -14 °C (7 °F) in January 1987, to -12 °C (10.5 °F) in January 1997, to -11 °C (12 °F) in December 2009, to -12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in February 2012, and to -10 °C (14 °F) in February 2018.
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 30/32 °C (86/90 °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 temperature reached 39.5 °C (103 °F) in July 1983, 38 °C (100.5 °F) in June 2003, 40 °C (104 °F) in August 2003 (record), 39 °C (102 °F) in August 2009, 38.5 °C (101.5 °F) in August 2015, and 39 °C (102 °F) in July 2019 and in July 2020.



On average, there are around 2,000 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

To visit Lyon, 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.